Purple barb

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Purple barb
Purple headed barbel (male)

Purple headed barbel (male)

Systematics
without rank: Otophysa
Order : Carp-like (Cypriniformes)
Subordination : Carp fish-like (Cyprinoidei)
Family : Carp fish (Cyprinidae)
Genre : Pethia
Type : Purple barb
Scientific name
Pethia nigrofasciata
( Günther , 1868)

The Black Ruby Barb ( pethia nigrofasciata , Syn. : Puntius nigrofasciatus ) is from Sri Lanka originating fish from the family of carp fish (Cyprinidae). It is the type species of the genus Pethia, which was newly established in 2012 .

distribution

The purple-headed barb lives in the south of Sri Lanka in slow-flowing forest streams and rivers, including in the Kelani , which reaches the sea near Colombo . It occurs up to a height of 300 meters. In western Sri Lanka it was released in the Mahaweli , which flows into the Indian Ocean at Trincomalee . Because of the destruction of the natural habitats and the catch for aquarium purposes, the purple-headed barb is threatened with extinction in the meantime.

Multiplication

During courtship, the couples swim around each other in tight spirals and very quickly. Usually a similar looking power struggle between competing males precedes. The mating or spawning itself takes place preferentially in the protection of plants and lasts only a few moments. Brood care does not take place. The fry are initially very slim and, like the females, only marked in silver-gray with three black stripes. Only later does the body shape change into its final compact form and the males take on the typical and eponymous coloration.

Appearance

Purple headed barbels are five to six inches long. They are of a tall build. The flanks have three to four blackish cross bars. Both sexes have a purple head. The fins of the males are brightly black or purple in color. At spawning time, the entire front body of the male turns purple. In the females the colors are less pronounced, the dorsal and anal fins are only colored on the parts close to the body, otherwise transparent. Purple headed barbs have no barbels . In their appearance they resemble the tiger barbs .

Aquarium keeping

The purple-headed barb was first introduced to Germany in 1935 for keeping aquariums. They should be kept in small schools, in aquariums that are not too brightly lit and densely planted . The temperature should be 22 to 26 ° C, the pH value should be in the slightly acidic range (up to pH 6.0), the water with a maximum of 12 ° dGH should not be too hard. They are very peaceful and suitable as residents of community aquariums. In stressful situations, such as those that arise when changing aquarium tanks, it can happen that the purple-headed barbels take on an almost completely black color.

literature

Web links

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