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Clown Barb

Everett's barb

Family: CyprinidaePuntius everettiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Nick Duhning

   The Clown Barb sports a reddish gold sheen, red fins, and spotted "bands",... making it look rather clownish!

   The handsome Clown Barb is definitely one of the most attractive barbs for an aquarium. It a lively and peaceful barb that will do well in a community aquarium. If kept with others of its own kind it will tend to school. This barb also prefers warmer water, 79-82° F (26-28° C), so you should select tankmates of a similar size and temperament that will also thrive at higher temperatures.

   As the Clown barb will nibble on plants, an aquarium with rocks and wood for hiding places and an open swimming area make a good central decor. You can also add hardy plants that can thrive in warmer water and place them around the inside perimeter of the sides and back.

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Clown Barb or Everett's Barb was described by Boulenger in 1894. They are found in Southeast Asia, Singapore, Borneo, and the Bungarian Islands where they inhabit still and slow moving waters.

• Scientific Name: Puntius everetti
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   This fish sports a body color pattern that is true to its name, the Clown Barb. It is orangish brown on its upper body, orangish red on the sides, and has a yellow to whitish belly giving it an overall reddish gold sheen. Then there are several (usually about four) dark spotted band type markings on the sides , red fins, and sometimes a touch of red in the iris of the eye. All of these elements give this fish a rather 'clownish' appearance.

• Maximum Size: 6.0 inches (15.24 cm) - In the wild these fish can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm), but in captivity they generally only get about 4 inches (10 cm).

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivorous, the Clown barb will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
  An aquarium best suited to the Clown Barb should have rocks and wood for hiding places. They will nibble on plants, so use hardy varieties placed around the inside perimeter along the sides and back, leaving lots of open swimming space. As they get rather large and are quite active, a minimum 30 gallon tank is suggested.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Monthly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 25 gal (95 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 79.0 - 82.0° F (26.1 - 27.8° C)
• Range ph: 6.5-7.0
• Hardness Range: 8 - 12 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: All - These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium. Prefers the middle of the aquarium.

Social Behaviors

   Although they are commonly listed as a lively peaceful species that make an excellent community fish, several of the comments (see below) indicate that they may eat other fish, especially fish that are smaller or of the same size. They also can be fin nippers and may terrorize other fish because of their liveliness. In general they are probably not a good beginner fish should be kept only by experienced fish keepers and maybe only in a species tank. They should be kept with fish that like warmer water.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive - This fish is not neutral enough in personality to fit the description community fish, although it is usally not too aggressive particularly if kept in a group of its own kind. That being said, it is a skilled hunter and will eat fish of a smaller and suprisingly similar size.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Monitor
  • Semi-Aggressive: (): Monitor
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive

Sex: Sexual differences

   Female is heavier especially during the spawning season. The males are more brightly colored and slender.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The Clown barbs are egg layers. These fish are not easily spawned. To breed the Clown barb you need a larger aquarium with shallow water, and the age of the fish will have an impact on a successful spawning. The male does not mature until it is 1 1/2 years old. The female matures at 1 year. See the description of breeding techniques in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Propagation: Difficult - Spawning is not easy to induce.

Availability

   The Clown barb is readily available basically anywhere, both in stores and online. Prices range about $1.50 - $5.00 USD per individual,

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough. CFS.

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Lastest Comments on Clown Barb View all 5 comments on Clown Barb Add Your Comment

lola - 2010-08-02 I would definitely agree, that rather than being good community fish, they are a semi-aggressive, fast moving fish that can be kept with other fish if they are of a similar size and temperament. I would recommend keeping a school rather than just a couple, that way any aggression is spread out. I have six which are living very successfully and peacefully with the same number of giant danios. There is some chasing, but no fighting, and everyone's fins are intact. Mine have proved both hardy and fun and will eat from my hand. Click For Replies (1) Frank - 2011-08-09 I was thinking of adding a few to my American Datnoid, Black Diamond Cichlid, Parrot Cichlid, Polypterus bichirs, Redtail Shark. I'm guessing this will be OK? I want them more as a dither fish. Im kinda worried about my Ghost Knife tho since it's only 5 inches at the moment. Reply

Harry S. White - 2007-03-15 Now we're scared of Clown(barb)s! Just placed a dozen Rummy Nose Tetra in our 55 Gallon tank last night now that our fish-gulping Spanner-T Barb has passed on. Had bought no new fish for months bordering on a year due to it's high-priced "sushi" appetite. Between our 2 Clown Barbs, we now have 6 Rummy Nose left this morning. Both Barbs were sporting Rummy Nose tail moustaches when we turned the lights on and were seemingly stalking their next snacks when we left for work. That Clown Barbs are community fish seems a bit overstated... saying they are omnivorous is too modest. Click For Replies (1) raymond - 2010-04-25 We have 4 green barbs, 12 tiger barbs, a algae eater, and 2 puntius everetti (clown barbs). . The clown barbs only hide under or in decorations (i. E. Castle, logs, etc. ). They seem to be coward fish always running and yet fast when we chase them from their hiding places. Was going to get rid of them since they only hide. Welcome information, etc. Reply

Clayton - 2005-12-16 I have a pair of them, they are really interesting to watch. The first day I brought home the 2nd of the pair it was chased around constantly, until the lights came on the next morning, atleast 12 hours. I tend to have to over feed the fish to keep the community tank happy, this really seems to keep the nipping to a minimum. Also slightly colder than recommended temp at 75-76'. All combined this seems to keep them from being thugs. I must say that I do see chasing each other as I'm writing this. they are nose to nose fighting. But so far not one other fish has been nipped. I have 7 tiger barbs, 2 dwarf gourami,4 golden barbs, 2 Clown barbs, and 1 swordtail platy. Reply

Rickie - 2005-01-27 I have 5 of these fish. I adore them as they are wonderful to watch, however they are gluttons. they are extremely lively and very very territorial and they do not get along with other fish well at all. In 2 months they have consumed 1 Angel fish, 1 Gourami, 1 upside down catfish and yesterday I caught one with the tail of a sucking catfish hanging out of its mouth. So peaceful stikes me as amusing, I would not recommend them for community tanks at all. I feed them well twice daily. Reply

Mike - 2004-07-30 i have 2 of these little critters and they are a great fish to have. they are somewhat terrotorile(did i spell that right), and will nip or play with the other fish. i recommend them highly for any fish owner. i dont think they are good starter fish though. Reply

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