TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Barbs / Denison barb
★New · no ratings yet

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Denison barb

Dawkinsia denisonii · Sahyadria denisonii, Roseline shark, Red line torpedo barb, Denisoni

Fast, peaceful schooler needing long tanks and strong flow.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
15 cmAdult size ✓
18–25 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.8pH ✓
250 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (18–25 °C vs 26–30 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful denison barb.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (18–25 °C vs 27–30 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

316 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–25 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–6 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Fast, peaceful schooler needing long tanks and strong flow.

Food

Pellets, frozen foods, vegetables.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Adult females grow a little larger, are heavier-bodied and a little less colourful than males.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer ·

Rarely bred in home aquariums; commercial fish are produced on farms, presumably with hormone stimulation. Occasional aquarium spawnings have been reported (e.g. Chester Zoo).

Pairing

Rarely bred by hobbyists. Buy captive-bred fish from known farms; use a group of 6 or more.

Setup

Large tank (300 L+) with cool, well-oxygenated, flowing water, rocks and plants. Commercial breeders use hormone induction.

What starts it

Strong current and seasonal-like conditions; farms use hormones.

Eggs

Up to a few hundred eggs; hatch in about 24-48 hours.

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria and baby brine shrimp, then crushed flakes. Keep water clean and well oxygenated. Fry grow slowly; give plenty of space.

Common mistakes
  • Tank too small
  • Low oxygen
  • Expecting natural spawning at home
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionWestern Ghats of southern India – Kerala & Karnataka
Rivers and lakesWest-flowing rivers such as the Chaliyar and Valapattanam
HabitatFast, clear, oxygen-rich hill rivers with rocky beds
Native rangeAbout 250 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the denison barb

From fast-flowing hill streams of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Karnataka, India. Named after Sir William Thomas Denison, governor of Madras 1861-1866. IUCN lists it as Endangered, with collection for the aquarium trade held largely responsible for declines, so captive-bred fish are the better choice.

British ichthyologist Francis Day described this fish in 1865. It became a global hobby star from the late 1990s, and heavy wild collection then raised conservation concern. Captive breeding now supplies many of the fish sold.

First described by Francis Day in 1865. Named for Named after Sir William Denison, governor of Madras.

  • Its range is limited to a small region of the Western Ghats.
  • It needs strong current and lots of oxygen.
  • It is also known as the red-line torpedo barb or Miss Kerala.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources