🐟 Clown Barb (Barbodes dunckeri, formerly Puntius dunckeri)
Freshwater Large Active Schooling Barb • Orange-Red Body With Bold Dark Blotches • Needs a Large Tank and Very Clean Water
 
📋 The Clown Barb, also called the Big Spot Barb, is a lively schooling barb from Peninsular Malaysia, with an orange-red body, reddish fins and large dark blotches along its flanks. It is peaceful but big and very active, reaching about 12cm, so it needs a large tank (a base of at least 120 × 45cm) and a school of at least six.
It comes from clean forest streams and does not tolerate accumulating waste. Expect to keep the water near-spotless, with weekly water changes of 30–50%, good oxygenation and moderate flow. It suits a peaceful community of similar-sized, active fish, and its tank mates should be too large to be seen as food and confident enough not to be intimidated by it.
A note on naming: for decades this fish was sold as Barbus (Puntius) everetti, which is a different species. The true Barbodes everetti comes from Borneo, is rarely traded and grows larger. The farmed Clown Barb sold in the hobby is Barbodes dunckeri, and that is what this listing is.
 
💡 Highlights
✨ Orange-Red Body, Bold Blotches: A colourful, active display barb
⚪ Peaceful but Large: Best with similar-sized, confident tank mates
📏 Up to 12cm: Needs a big tank, at least 120 × 45cm
👥 Schooling Fish: At least six, which also calms the group
💧 Wants Very Clean Water: Regular large water changes