🐟 Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii)
Fast Schooling Barb • Red Line and Black Stripe • A Flashing Torpedo of a School
 
📋 The Denison Barb, also called the Roseline Shark, Red Line Torpedo Barb, or Miss Kerala, is a torpedo-shaped barb from the fast, clear hill streams of the Western Ghats in southern India. It has a red line through the eye and along the head and a black stripe along the body, and a school of them flashing through a tank is a real showstopper. It's peaceful and does well with other active, mid-sized fish.
The secret to a happy Denison school is giving them room to run. They're fast, active swimmers that reach 12-15cm, so they love a long tank with strong flow, a base of at least 120cm, and a school of at least six. Two or three in a small tank is the most common way people go wrong, because small groups get stressed and fade, while a proper school stays vivid and confident. They're strong jumpers, so use a tight lid, and they'll eat dwarf shrimp and other very small invertebrates.
The species is Endangered in the wild, mainly from over-harvesting for the aquarium trade and habitat loss. Most aquarium stock is now commercially bred, and choosing captive-bred fish helps protect wild populations.
 
💡 Highlights
🔴 Red Line and Black Stripe: A torpedo-shaped fish that flashes as it schools
🕊️ Peaceful: Suits active community tanks with mid-sized fish
📏 Up to 12-15cm: Loves a long tank, at least 120cm
👥 A Schooling Fish: Happiest in a school of six or more
🌊 Loves Flow and Oxygen: Strong flow, clean water, and a tight lid