Black ruby barb
Encyclopedia
The black ruby barb or purplehead barb is a tropical fish
belonging to the minnow
family (Cyprinidae). Originating from Sri Lanka
in forested streams from the Kelani basin to the Nilwala basin, they are found in streams on hills around 1000 ft (300 m) in elevation. The brightly colored population introduced to Mahaweli at Ginigathena, Sri Lanka are said to have diminished in number due to the aquarium export trade. It was originally named Barbus nigrofasciatus.
among cool, shady, quietly flowing forested streams with either gravel or sand substrate
s. Their diet mainly consists of filamentous algae
and detritus
. They prefer water with a 6.0–6.5 pH
, a water hardness of 5–12 dGH
, and a temperature range of 72–79 °F (22–26 °C).
s" for the aquarium trade.
more than 100 eggs in shallow water among the plants. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days and then will be free-swimming after 24 hours.
An active swimmer that is best kept in schools of at least three. It will happily school with other fish such as Black Widows (AKA Black Skirt Tetras).
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
belonging to the minnow
Minnow
Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or for fishing bait. More specifically, it refers to small freshwater fish of the carp family.-True minnows:...
family (Cyprinidae). Originating from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
in forested streams from the Kelani basin to the Nilwala basin, they are found in streams on hills around 1000 ft (300 m) in elevation. The brightly colored population introduced to Mahaweli at Ginigathena, Sri Lanka are said to have diminished in number due to the aquarium export trade. It was originally named Barbus nigrofasciatus.
Description
The young fish has a yellowish gray body with black vertical stripes. The silver body turns into a dark ruby red color in mature, breeding males. In the female, the basal part of all the vertical fins are black. In the male, the whole dorsal fin is a deep black, the anal fin blackish red, and the pelvic fins are reddish. The fish will grow to a maximum length of 2–3 inches (6–8 centimeters) with the female being slightly longer than the male.Water Conditions
Black ruby barbs natively live in a tropical climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
among cool, shady, quietly flowing forested streams with either gravel or sand substrate
Substrate (aquarium)
The substrate of an aquarium refers to the material used on the tank bottom. It can affect water chemistry, filtration, and the well-being of the aquarium's inhabitants, and is also an important part of the aquarium's aesthetic appeal...
s. Their diet mainly consists of filamentous algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
and detritus
Detritus (biology)
In biology, detritus is non-living particulate organic material . It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms as well as fecal material. Detritus is typically colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose the material...
. They prefer water with a 6.0–6.5 pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, a water hardness of 5–12 dGH
DGH
Degrees of general hardness is a unit of water hardness, specifically of general hardness.General hardness is a measure of the concentration of metal divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium per volume of water...
, and a temperature range of 72–79 °F (22–26 °C).
Commercial Importance
The fish has commercial importance in the aquarium hobby, and are successfully bred in captivity. They are also used to create hybrid forms of "tiger barbTiger barb
The tiger barb or Sumatra barb, is a species of tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Puntius genus of the minnow family. The natural geographic range reportedly extends throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, with unsubstantiated sightings reported in Cambodia...
s" for the aquarium trade.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer, the fish spawnSpawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
more than 100 eggs in shallow water among the plants. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days and then will be free-swimming after 24 hours.
In the aquarium
Plenty of room should be provided for this fish, with plenty of light with a shallow covering of floating plants and ample vegetation (half to two-thirds of the tank area). A layer of humus should be left on the bottom. This species is good for keeping with other barbs and similar fish. In captivity, the fish are omnivorous, with a healthy appetite.An active swimmer that is best kept in schools of at least three. It will happily school with other fish such as Black Widows (AKA Black Skirt Tetras).