Barbus schuberti
| Chinese barb | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Gold barbs (var. 'Schuberti') | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Barbodes |
| Species: | B. semifasciolatus |
| Binomial name | |
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Barbodes semifasciolatus (Günther, 1868) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Barbus aureus Tirant, 1883 (Ambiguous) |
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Barbus aureus Tirant, 1883 (Ambiguous)
Barbus hainani Lohberger, 1929
Barbus semifasciolatus Günther, 1868
Capoeta semifasciolata Günther, 1868
Puntius sachsii Ahl, 1923
Puntius semifasciolata Günther, 1868
Puntius semifasciolatus Günther, 1868
Barbodes semifasciolatus, the Chinese barb, is a species of cyprinid fish native to the Red River basin in southeast Asia where they occur in fresh waters at depths of 5 metres (16 ft) or less. The captive variant popularly known as the gold barb or Schuberti barb is an extremely popular aquarium fish.
Adults of this species have highly arched backs and a short pair of barbels on the upper jaw at the corners of the mouth. The back is light to reddish brown, the sides are metallic green or yellow-green, with a brassy or golden sheen below. The belly is whitish, turning orange-red in males at mating time. Females can be distinguished by their dull colors and their overall bulk.
This species can reach a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) TL though most do not exceed 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) SL.
Their diet consists of invertebrates (such as insects, crustaceans and worms) and plant matter.
An egg-scatter, adult barbs will usually spawn around a hundred eggs, although up to 400 eggs have been observed from an exceptional female. This breeding occurs at the first light in the early morning.
The popular gold strain P. semifasciolatus var. Schuberti (gold barb or Schuberti barb) was developed by hobbyist Thomas Schubert of Camden, New Jersey in the 1960s through selective breeding. For many years it was thought to be a distinct species but is in fact a selected sort of the indigenous (green) species which is rarely found in aquaria. The gold barb is an active, mildly aggressive 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. This gold fish is often used in community tanks by fish keeping hobbyists. It breeds readily in outdoor pools and free-standing ponds during summer months, and withstands cooler temperatures better than other tropical fish. However, it does not stand the cold as well as its original plainer China barb counterparts.
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Wikipedia