Black Ruby Barb

Pethia nigrofasciata

The Ugly Duckling Miracle (2.5 inches / 6 cm). The Black Ruby Barb is arguably the most overlooked, tragically ignored fish in pet stores. As stressed juveniles in bare retail tanks, they look like dull, faded, ugly gray fish with faint black smudges. But when brought home, fed properly, and matured, the Alpha Male undergoes an unbelievable transformation: his entire rear body turns pitch black like velvet, while his head and chest explode into a deep, glowing crimson ruby-red.

Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Sri Lanka
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Temperature

20 °C - 26 °C

6 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Middle

Adult size

6 cm

Care and observations

Tank Setup and The Color Secret:

The Shaded Blackwater Mandate. If you throw them into a brightly lit tank with white sand, they will permanently remain stressed, ugly, and gray. You MUST provide a dimly lit environment with a dark substrate and thick plants. Adding Indian Almond Leaves (Catappa) to create slightly brown 'Blackwater' tannins will instantly trigger the males to show off their spectacular, blazing ruby-red and velvet-black breeding dress.

Compatibility (The Better Tiger Barb):

The Peaceful Alternative. Most people avoid Barbs because of the Tiger Barb's vicious fin-nipping reputation. The Black Ruby Barb is the perfect, incredibly peaceful alternative. While it shares the chunky shape and speed of the Tiger Barb, it almost completely lacks the desire to bite other fish's fins. As long as they are kept in a large school (minimum 8-10 individuals), they are wonderfully well-behaved community fish, safely coexisting with Gouramis, Tetras, and Corydoras.

Fish profile

Tank level: Middle
Adult size: 6 cm
GH: 5 dGH - 15 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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