Scientific Name: Puntius nigrofasciatus
Common Name: Black Ruby Barb, Ruby Barb, Black Barb, Purple-Headed Barb
Adult Size: 2 inches
Life Expectancy: 5 years
Habitat: Sri Lanka
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F
- pH Range: 6.0 - 765
- Water Hardness: 5 - 12
Temperament: Tiger Barbs will nip the fins of slower moving fish.
Diet & Nutrition: Omnivorous - does well with flake food. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat.
Breeding & Spawning: A separate softwater spawning aquarium should be established with a substrate of marbles and fine-leaved plants. Spawning is often triggered when the first rays of morning sunshine hit the aquarium glass. Up to 500 eggs will be scattered over the plants and marbles, and the parents must be removed immediately after the spawning or else they will predate on the eggs. The tank should be kept in darkness as the eggs are light-sensitive. The eggs usually hatch within 24-36 hours and once the fry become free-swimming, they can be offered tiny foods such as infusoria.
Gender: Mature males are larger and much more brightly colored. Females fuller bodied.
