🐟 Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius)
Hardy Schooling Barb • Rosy Pink to Red Males • Lively and Loves Cooler Water
 
📋 The Rosy Barb is a hardy, fast, active schooling barb from cool hill streams and lakes across northern South Asia, from Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It has a rosy-silver body with a dark spot near the tail. Mature males turn a vivid red-pink when in condition, especially when spawning, while females are rounder and paler.
It's a tough fish that handles a wide range of water, and even cooler water than most tropicals. It's a subtropical species that prefers about 18-26°C, so in a warm climate it's best kept toward the cooler end.
It's generally peaceful, but it's active and boisterous. Kept in too small a group it becomes nervous and can bicker or nip fins, and its energy can unsettle shy or quiet fish, so keep at least six and give it open space and good flow. It isn't a good match for fish with elaborate, flowing fins. It will also eat fine and soft-leaved plants, so use hardy ones.
 
💡 Highlights
🌹 Rosy Pink to Red: Males colour up vividly in condition
🏊 Active and Lively: Best with robust, similar-sized fish
📏 Up to About 10cm: Larger than many barbs
👥 A Schooling Fish: At least six
❄️ Cool-Water Tolerant: Prefers about 18-26°C