This barb is too small for my barb tank... but I get excited every time I see this picture...

[Magnum Man]

Checkered Barb

Oliotius oligolepis – Checkered Barb (Capoeta oligolepis, Puntius oligolepis) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

Centerfold picture...

 

[GaryE]

You're making me want to go back into barbs. No Gary, no!

 

[Innesfan]

Checkered Barbs are a wonderful species and an old favorite. They are being mass produced in SE Asia and some strains aren't as brilliantly colored as others. I'd love to get my hands on some wild stock. When they are settled in the males take on a dusky hue and the flecks of violet iridescence on their scales make for a gorgeous contrast.

 

[fishorama]

They've always been on my short list. Never available when I had a suitable tank for them, but I haven't given up!

 

[Innesfan]

They've always been on my short list. Never available when I had a suitable tank for them, but I haven't given up!

My local Petco, of all places, had a tank full of them today when I stopped by for dog supplies. And Wetspot has them on their list now, $2.99.

Interesting taxonomy too. When they blew up Puntius and created all the new genera, Pethia, Puntigrus, Dawkinsia etc. containing numerous former Puntius species each, the Checkered Barb became the only species in the new genera Oliotius, a monotypic genus. So far, anyway. There seems to be a new Pethia every few months so who knows.

 

[fishorama]

Oh, Innesfan, I'm not ready to learn all those new barb names, lol. But now I'll have to check out Petco...I "almost" have a tank they'd fit in

 

[Lateral Line]

Interesting taxonomy too
They were all "Barbus xxxx" when I started.

 

[Innesfan]

Interesting taxonomy too
They were all "Barbus xxxx" when I started.

Yes, the old debate was Barbus vs Puntius. Under either name, though, it was still a catch-all that needed revision.