🐟 Spanner Barb (Barbodes lateristriga)
Freshwater Barb • Schooling Species • Active Swimmer • Peaceful Community Fish
 
📋 The Spanner Barb (Barbodes lateristriga) is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive T-bar marking along the flanks, which gives the species its common name. With a sleek silver-gold body and bold dark banding, it develops into a large, impressive barb that becomes a true focal point in bigger freshwater aquariums.
In the right setup, this species behaves as a peaceful community fish, especially when maintained in a group. Kept as an ideal schooling species of six or more individuals, Spanner Barbs display tight shoaling, natural hierarchy, and reduced stress. Their constant movement through the mid–top levels brings energy and structure to active community and river-style aquascapes.
Because they grow to a substantial adult size, Spanner Barbs are perfect for big tanks with long swimming runs, strong filtration, and compatible tankmates such as rainbowfish, larger tetras, gouramis, and other robust barbs. When provided with clean, well-oxygenated water and a varied omnivorous diet, they are hardy, long-lived, and highly rewarding to keep.
 
💡 Highlights
✨ Distinctive T-Bar Marking: Iconic lateral “T” pattern on the body
⚪ Peaceful Community Fish: Calm temperament with suitable tankmates
📏 Large, Impressive Barb: Reaches up to 18 cm in aquaria
✅ Ideal Schooling Species: Best color and behavior in groups
🐟 Perfect for Big Tanks: Thrives in large, well-filtered aquariums