Barbus schuberti - Definition and Overview

The Gold Barb, Golden Barb, Green Barb, or Schuberti Barb (Barbus semifasciolatus Guenther, 1868) is a tropical fish belonging to the Barb family (Cyprinidae). Originating in Red River basin in southeast China, this peaceful green-gold fish is often used in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. An all-gold form has been bred in captivity. It will grow to a maximum length of 2 to 3 inches (5 - 7.5 centimeters).

The Gold Barb is an active, peaceful schooling species that spends most of its time in the mid-level and bottom of the water. Its typical lifespan in captivity is around four to six years. An egg-scatter, the adult barbs will spawn around a hundred eggs. This breeding occurs at the first light in the early morning.

Gold Barbs natively live in a subtropical climate and prefer water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5.0 - 19.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 64 - 75 °F (18 - 24 °C). Their diet consists of worms, insects, and plant matter.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

• "Barbus semifasciolatus" (TSN 163654) (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=163654). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. N.p.: Integrated Taxonomic Information System, 2004. Accessed on April 28 2004.
• Lambert, Derek J (1997). Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. pp. 17. ISBN 0-7858-0867-1.
• "Puntius semifasciolatus (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=4677)". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. April 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
• Sharpe, Shirlie (2004). "Gold Barb (http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/cyprinids2/p/goldbarb.htm)." Your Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. Accessed on December 15 2004.