Eugrammus Barb Care Guide
Barbodes eugrammus is a Southeast Asian striped barb of the Cyprinidae, a peaceful schooling fish from rivers and blackwater habitats.
Overview
The Eugrammus Barb (Barbodes eugrammus) belongs to the family Cyprinidae and is part of the Southeast Asian striped barb complex. The historical name Puntius eugrammus was long associated with the striped barb of the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra. Fish of this group carry several horizontal dark lines along a compressed, silvery body and are active, peaceful shoaling cyprinids.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Barbodes
- Scientific name: Barbodes eugrammus
- Related historical names in this complex: Puntius eugrammus, Barbus eugrammus
Habitat
Striped barbs of this group occur across the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra, with records extending into southern Thailand and Singapore. They inhabit slow-moving rivers, streams and ditches, and the most acidic populations live in peat swamps and associated blackwater streams stained brown with humic acids and carpeted with leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
Diet
This barb is an omnivore. In the wild, related striped barbs forage on small invertebrates, diatoms and algae. In the aquarium they accept quality dried foods together with small live and frozen items such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
The Eugrammus Barb is a peaceful, mid-water schooling fish that should be kept in a group of at least six, and ideally more, to settle its behaviour and colour. It suits a community of similarly sized, calm Southeast Asian species. Very small or timid tankmates that could be outcompeted are best avoided.
Breeding
Like other members of the group it is an egg-scatterer that provides no parental care. Spawning is non-trivial and considered intermediate in difficulty; eggs are released among fine-leaved vegetation or over the substrate.