Java barb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Java barb |
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Barbodes gonionotus (Bleeker, 1850) |
The Java barb (Barbonymus gonionotus), also known as the silver barb, is a type of ray-finned fish. It is a popular fish for farming in many parts of Asia. People also catch it for food.
This fish is known by different names in various countries. For example, in Thailand, it's called Ta-phian, and in Laos, it's Pa keng.
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What Does the Java Barb Look Like?
The Java barb has a body that looks flat from the sides. Its back is curved, making it appear tall. It has a small head with a short, pointed snout. Its mouth is at the very front of its head.
This fish has tiny whiskers, called barbels, near its mouth. The ones on top are very small and sometimes even disappear.
When fresh, the Java barb is shiny silver-white. Sometimes it has a golden tint. Its top and tail fins are grey or yellowish-grey. The fins on its belly and near its tail are light orange with reddish tips. Its side fins are pale yellow.
Male Java barbs can grow up to about 40.5 centimeters (16 inches) long.
Where Do Java Barbs Live?
The Java barb naturally lives in parts of Asia. You can find it in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta and Dong Nai River. It also lives in the wider Mekong River basin and the Chao Phraya basin in Thailand.
This fish is also found on the islands of Sumatra and Java. It has been seen in the Rajang River basin in Sarawak, Borneo. Some Java barbs have also started living in Peninsular Malaysia after being introduced there.
Java Barb's Home and Habits
Java barbs usually live in the middle or bottom parts of rivers, streams, and flooded areas. They sometimes live in reservoirs too. They seem to prefer calm water rather than fast-flowing water.
When water levels rise, like during the rainy season, these fish move into flooded forests. Their diet mainly consists of plants, such as leaves and water weeds like Ipomea reptans and Hydrilla. They also eat some small invertebrates.
Java barbs don't travel very long distances. However, they do move locally in the Mekong River. During the rainy season, they swim from the main river into smaller streams and canals, then into flooded areas. When the water goes down, they return to the main river. Their journey upstream seems to start with the first rains and rising water levels.
Why Are Java Barbs Important for Farming?
The silver barb is one of the top five most important freshwater fish species farmed in Thailand. It's a fish that grows quickly. Like tilapia, it can be farmed using simple methods and less effort compared to other fish. This makes it a popular farmed fish in Bangladesh, where it's called Thai sharputi.
Scientists often use a part of the Java barb's brain, called the pituitary gland, to help other fish species reproduce in fish farms. Farmed Java barbs that have escaped have created their own populations. These wild populations now support fishing in several Southeast Asian islands.
This fish is also helpful for controlling too much plant growth in reservoirs. Sometimes, you can even find them for sale in the aquarium trade.
In fish farms, silver barbs usually don't get bigger than 40 centimeters (16 inches) long or weigh more than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds). However, a very large one weighing 2.8 kilograms (6.2 pounds) was caught in Thailand's Teak Tree Lake. The biggest one ever caught with a fishing rod and reel weighed 13 kilograms (28.7 pounds) and was 90 centimeters (35 inches) long! This record-breaking fish was caught in Malaysia.
Java Barb in Cooking
The Java barb is an important food fish in Thai, Lao, and Cambodian cuisine. In Laos, it's often used to make a dish called larb. In Thailand, people usually pickle it to make pla som (ปลาส้ม) or boil it in a spicy soup called tom yam.
See also
In Spanish: Barbonymus gonionotus para niños
