Compatibility
This species is quite boisterous and can easily intimidate less robust species with its activity levels and sheer bulkiness. In a spacious tank it can be combined with other rheophilic Asian fishes such as larger Danio, Devario, Barilius, Garra and balitorine loaches. This could make for a very interesting biotope-style community. That said it can actually be kept alongside many species of suitably rugged temperament that are too large to be considered food. There are numerous barbs, characins, catfish and even cichlids that are suitable.
It can be confusing when trying to decide whether to keep Puntius lateristriga in a group or not. In nature juveniles of the species can be found swimming in large schools but as the fish mature collectors have reported that they tend to become more solitary. Adult specimens can actually become rather spiteful in the closed environment of an aquarium and in small tanks may bully tankmates, especially at feeding time. Conversely, some keepers are adamant that it can be maintained in groups and claim to have never witnessed any aggression from their fish. It´s likely that some of the regional variants of the fish vary in temperament a little and in general we recommend a group of 6 or more specimens in a large tank.
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