Chinese barb

The golden barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus), also known as the Chinese barb or green barb, is a hardy cyprinid native to slow-moving tributaries, swamps, and irrigation channels across Vietnam, Taiwan, southwestern China, and northern Laos. The wild 'green' form displays an attractive metallic green flank with reddish-brown fins and a series of dark vertical bars — arguably among the most attractive small cyprinids. However, the fish almost universally seen in the aquarium trade is the selectively-bred 'golden' strain, developed in the 1960s by American Thomas Schubert, which displays a brilliant uniform gold-orange coloration. Both forms are farmed in huge numbers and are among the most popular freshwater aquarium fishes.

Golden barbs are a shoaling species and should be maintained in groups of 8–10 or more, where they form a lively, constantly active school that adds considerable movement to any community tank. They are very peaceful and mix well with comparably-sized, non-aggressive tankmates. In nature they are foraging omnivores feeding on benthic diatoms, algae, organic detritus, small insects, worms, crustaceans, and other zooplankton. In the aquarium they accept a wide range of foods including quality dried flakes, granules, and pellets supplemented with small live and frozen offerings such as bloodworm, Daphnia, and Artemia. A varied diet with some plant or algal content brings out their best color and condition.

An aquarium with base dimensions of at least 90 × 30 cm (roughly 80 liters) is recommended. While very adaptable, they show better coloration in a heavily-planted set-up with a dark substrate. The addition of floating plants and driftwood roots to diffuse overhead light is also appreciated. Recommended water parameters include a temperature of 16–24°C, pH 6.0–8.0, and hardness 36–357 ppm. Notably, this species thrives in cooler water compared to most tropical community fish — temperatures consistently above 24°C may shorten their lifespan. Breeding is straightforward as with most small cyprinids: adults are egg-scatterers exhibiting no parental care, and eggs hatch within 24–48 hours.