Black ruby barb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black ruby barb |
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The black ruby barb (also called the purplehead barb) is a small, colorful fish. Its scientific name is Pethia nigrofasciata. This fish lives only in Sri Lanka, a tropical island country. You can find them in shady streams that flow through forests. They like streams on hills about 1000 feet (300 meters) high. Sadly, their numbers have gone down in some areas because many are caught to be sold as pets.
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What They Look Like
Young black ruby barbs are yellowish-gray with black stripes. As they grow up, especially the males, they become very colorful.
Colors of Males and Females
- When male fish are ready to breed, their bodies turn a deep ruby-red color.
- Their top fin (dorsal fin) becomes completely black.
- Their bottom fin (anal fin) turns blackish-red, and their belly fins (pelvic fins) become purple.
- Female fish keep more of their silver color. The bottom part of all their upright fins is black.
Size
Black ruby barbs usually grow to be about 2 to 3 inches (6 to 8 centimeters) long. Females are often a little bit longer than males.
Where They Live
Black ruby barbs live in tropical places. They prefer cool, shady streams in forests. These streams usually have gravel or sand at the bottom.
What They Eat
In the wild, these fish mostly eat thin green algae and tiny bits of dead plants and animals (called detritus).
Water Conditions
They like water that is slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. The water should be somewhat soft, between 5 and 12 dGH. They prefer warm water, from 72 to 79 °F (22 to 26 °C).
Why They Are Important
Black ruby barbs are popular in the aquarium hobby. Many people keep them as pets. They are also bred in captivity, which means they are raised in tanks by humans. Sometimes, they are even used to create new types of fish called "hybrid" forms for pet stores.
How They Have Babies
Black ruby barbs lay their eggs by scattering them. The female can lay more than 100 eggs. She usually lays them in shallow water among plants. The eggs hatch very quickly, in just one to two days. After about 24 hours, the baby fish can swim freely on their own.
Keeping Them in an Aquarium
If you want to keep black ruby barbs as pets, they need a good home.
Tank Setup
- They need plenty of space to swim around.
- The tank should have good light.
- It's good to have some floating plants on top of the water.
- There should be lots of other plants in the tank, covering about half to two-thirds of the area.
- A layer of humus (decayed plant matter) on the bottom is also good.
Behavior
Black ruby barbs are very active swimmers. They are happiest when they live in a group. It's best to keep at least six of them together. They usually get along well with other types of barbs and similar fish. In an aquarium, they will eat many different kinds of food and have a good appetite.
See also
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
