Puntius arulius

[digital_run]

Hi there...

I was at my local Ifs and they had 4 arulius barbs, all between 3&4". I've read that they are a harder to find barb and ithink they would do quite well with the 5 clown barbs and 1 mean old RTB i have in a 50gal tank. Does anyone keep these guys? Any info would be great.

 

[modernhamlet]

They sound like a great fish and quite appropriate for your tank. Here are a couple of things I found about Arulius barbs...

The Arulius Barb, Barbus arulius, is what I consider to be the discus of the barb world. It is a seldom seen, four-inch beauty with a purple sheen and vertical black bars. Males have a dorsal fin that sports filaments which extend nearly to the caudal fin in older specimens. It can be kept in groups.

source: Those Bold and Beautiful Barbs

Arulius Barb At slightly over four inches it just about made it in to the smaller Barbs section. This is an outstanding Barb for the larger aquarium with its large decorative dorsal fin. This is a tough unfussy species which can be housed with similar robust species. One draw back is that it is a slow to mature species and doesn't look its best until it is almost full size.
Conditions: Keep in a shoal of at least 6 individuals in a tank with lots of plants and bogwood
pH: 6.5 to 7, soft water up to 10GH.
Food/Feeding: Flake, Frozen and live food are all eagerly accepted. Vegetable based food should be used to supplement the diet on a very regular basis.
Size: 4"
Breeding: Small broods are common with this species, it is like most Barbs an egg scatterer and lays its eggs over fine leaved plants. The males have longer dorsal fin extensions and are more colourful.

source: www.fishtanksandponds.com

 

[digital_run]

Thanls hamlet....really helpful...They only had 4 of them at the Ifs and i called and they said that they would be getting anymore...someone turned them in last week. They will probably be ok considering they are going in a tank with other larger barbs so they should be ok...???

 

[modernhamlet]

Given the low likelihood of someone who already keeps adult arulius buying them, I think providing 4 of them with a good, stable home is a solid option. It beats them ending up in someone's 20g...

 

[Lateral Line]

I agree, that sounds like a nice addition. I'm not sure they are unusual though, they seem generally available here. Nice fish. One of the few that seems to get better looking with age IMHO.

 

[digital_run]

We'll i got them ...And they are amazing littlle fish. They have been in the tank for no more than 45mins and they are already at home. There was some initial shock/aggression from my clown barbs, but everything seems to be working out. This is by far my most active tank, nothing buy non-stop movement. The two groups of barbs actually seem to be working out a pecking order amongst themselves. I'll work on getting a camera as these guys are great looking.

Thanks for all the help guys!!

Ðigital

 

[ryan]

A great Barb species that get more attractive with age. I have never found them to be all that common here, they will pop up from time to time but normally only one or two fish that are given in.

 

[digital_run]

Ya these guys were turn ins. yesterday i added 7 tiger barbs to the tank....And i have to say i love it. Thanks for all the help.