Barb

Barbus Barbus

Last updated: March 9, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© benny337/Shutterstock.com

Barbs change colors during breeding season.


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Barb Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Cypriniformes
Family
Cyprinidae
Genus
Barbus
Scientific Name
Barbus Barbus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Barb Conservation Status


Barb Facts

Prey
Small fish, algae, insects
Main Prey
Fish, Shrimp, Algae
Group Behavior
  • School
Fun Fact
Barbs change colors during breeding season.
Estimated Population Size
unknown
Biggest Threat
water pollution
Most Distinctive Feature
vibrant colors
Distinctive Feature
Easily adaptable and rows of teeth
Gestation Period
3-4 days
Optimum pH Level
6.0 - 8.0
Habitat
Slow flowing rivers and lagoons
Predators
Fish, Birds, Reptiles
Diet
Omnivore
Favorite Food
Fish
Type
Cypriniformes
Common Name
Barb
Number Of Species
1768
Average Clutch Size
1500
Slogan
There are over 1768 known species!

Barb Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Yellow
  • Red
  • Black
  • White
  • Orange
  • Silver
Skin Type
Scales
Lifespan
3 - 7 years
Length
2-13 inches

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Barbs are freshwater fish belonging to a family of 1,184 species. They are popular aquarium fish because of their brilliant colors of gold, orange, rosy, silver, and cherry, along with others. Also, they are available for an inexpensive price at pet shops. Though small in size, they’re aggressive predators of fish, crustaceans, and insects.

Barb fish infographic

3 Barb Facts

• Breeding colors: The rosy barb is notable for changing colors during the breeding season to attract mates. Male rosy barbs change from silver to a combination of gold and red. It’s rare for a female rosy barb’s yellow and pink scales to change, but the color does become more intense.
• Tough fish: Barb fish have an aggressive nature. They’re likely to eat smaller types of fish. This is why aquarium owners should only pair barbs with other barbs or larger types of fish.
• High adaptability: These fish have the rare quality of being able to adapt to changes in their habitat. This includes changes in water temperature and pH level.

Classification and Scientific Name

barb fish with red spot

Barbs are freshwater fish belonging to a family of 1,768 species.

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©VladiMil/Shutterstock.com

The scientific name of the barb fish is Barbus barbus. The Latin word Barbus translates to beard. The word beard refers to the barbels or bristle structures on barb fish. Look very closely at the Zebra barb and the Denison barb, and you’ll find tiny barbels located near their mouth. These are used to sense and locate prey.

They are in the Cyprinidae family and the class Actinopterygii.



Just a few of the 1,184 species of barb fish:
Barbodes dunckeri
Puntius titteya
Sahyadria denosonii

Types of Barb Fish: The Different Species

barb fish

Barbs are popular pets — perfect for aquarium life.

©iliuta goean/Shutterstock.com

The Cyprinidae family contains hundreds of species that vary in size and color. This is what makes them so popular with people looking to add dynamic fish to a freshwater aquarium without paying a high price.

Some of the most notable and colorful examples of the barb family include:

• Cherry barb: These fish live in the Kelani basin near Sri Lanka. Normally, they have brown or tan scales with red and orange tones. But, during the breeding season, males turn a brilliant cherry red.
Tiger barb: It’s named for both its color and behavior. It has silver scales featuring black stripes with orange highlights on its fins and mouth. Not only does it have a color pattern like a tiger, but this fish is also known to nip at the delicate fins of other fish!
• Gold barb: The gold barb is also called a Chinese barb because it’s from the Red River basin in China. This three-inch fish adds a flash of orange or gold scales to its aquarium habitat. Gold barbs are one of the common types sold in pet stores.
• Rosy barb: These fish are native to the northern part of India. Rosy barbs have glowing red scales and a forked tail. They’re a little bigger than most barbs at six inches.

Appearance

two barb fish

Barbs are aggressive, but they’re also hearty and adaptable.

©Rostislav Stefanek/Shutterstock.com

The different types of barbs can be orange, red, black, gold, striped, or even rosy. Some barbs are as small as two and a half inches, like the black ruby barb, while other types can measure 12 inches long. The longest is the Tinfoil barb at 13.7 inches. Alternatively, some of the most popular barbs, like the gold barb and the Tiger barb, are three inches in size.

These small fish have tiny barbels or bristles near their mouth. Barbels are used in the wild to find prey in murky water.

Barbs have an aggressive nature. Along with eating algae, they are excellent hunters. They go after smaller fish, worms, and crustaceans.

It’s important for an aquarium owner to avoid putting smaller fish in the same tank as barbs. They are likely to eat the smaller fish!

Birds and larger fish are predators of barb fish. Not surprisingly, it’s difficult for a brightly colored barb to blend in with its environment to escape. So, these animals rely on their quick swimming abilities to get away from threats. Also, barbs live in schools allowing most of them to escape when they encounter a predator.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Underwater aquarium still life scene. Red color tropical fish Barb Puntius titteya swim on soft blue green background. Shallow depth of field.

Barb fish come from many different regions, such as China and Taiwan.

©Besjunior/Shutterstock.com

Barbs are freshwater fish. Different types of barbs are from different regions. For instance, the gold barb is native to rivers and streams around China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Rosy barbs live in lakes and streams around India. Tiger barbs are found in Borneo and Malaysia.

These fish can live in bodies of water three to 16 feet in depth.

The IUCN Red List reports the barb fish as Least Concern, but with an unknown population. There are no conservation efforts in place for these fish.

Predators and Prey

barb fish

Barbs eat algae, smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans.

©Vladimir Wrangel/Shutterstock.com

Barbs are omnivorous. They are notable for eating a variety of both plants and animals in their habitat.

What eats barb fish?

In the wild, barbs are eaten by larger fish, reptiles, and birds such as seagulls. They are also captured by humans for breeding and sale to aquarium enthusiasts.
Despite these threats, they are listed as the Least Concern.

What does a barb fish eat?

They eat algae, smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans. They are aggressive hunters and may go after larger fish, but that’s rare. Usually, their prey is smaller.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Xanthic Red Line Torpeedo Barb (Sahyadria denisonii var.) beautiful fish from captive breeding by human

Depending on their skin and lighting conditions, a glisten of gold tones may appear on the Denison barb’s scales.

©chonlasub woravichan/Shutterstock.com

Barbs reach sexual maturity at six weeks old. In the spring, when the water is warm, a female barb releases 200 to 300 eggs into the water at one time. A male barb releases sperm and fertilizes the eggs. The eggs hatch in two to three days.

Someone breeding barbs should know these fish are likely to eat the eggs. So, it’s a good idea to put the male and female into another aquarium right away.

Fishing and Cooking

Barbs are too small to eat. Their colorful patterns and inexpensive price have made them popular with fish enthusiasts of all experience levels.

They are hardy fish living up to five years.

1184 Types of Barb Fish

Barbus Species
Barbus ablabes
Barbus ablabes spurelli
Barbus aboinensis
Barbus acuticeps
Barbus acutirostris
Barbus aeneus
Barbus afer
Barbus affinis
Barbus affinis affinis
Barbus affinis brevibarbis
Barbus affinis nedgia
Barbus afrohamiltoni
Barbus afrovernaya
Barbus afrovernayi
Barbus ahlselli
Barbus akakianus
Barbus akavangoensis
Barbus akeleyi
Barbus albanicus
Barbus alberti
Barbus aliciae
Barbus alloiopleurus
Barbus alluaudi
Barbus aloyi
Barbus altianalis
Barbus altianalis altianalis
Barbus altianalis eduardianus
Barbus altianalis labiosa
Barbus altianalis lobogenysoides
Barbus altianalis longifilis
Barbus altianalis paucisquamata
Barbus altianalis radcliffi
Barbus altianalis radcliffii
Barbus altianalis urundensis
Barbus altianalis var. lobogenysoides
Barbus altianalis var. paucisquamata
Barbus altianalis var. paucisquamatus
Barbus alticola
Barbus altidorsalis
Barbus altus
Barbus alvarezi
Barbus amanpoae
Barbus amatolicus
Barbus ambassis
Barbus amboseli
Barbus amguidensis
Barbus ampalong
Barbus amphibius
Barbus amphigramma
Barbus analis
Barbus anatolicus
Barbus anchisporus
Barbus andrewi
Barbus anema
Barbus angustatus
Barbus annamensis
Barbus annandalei
Barbus annectens
Barbus anniae
Barbus anoplus
Barbus anoplus anoplus
Barbus anoplus cernuus
Barbus anoplus oraniensis
Barbus anoplus typica
Barbus ansorgii
Barbus antinorii
Barbus aphantogramma
Barbus aphya
Barbus apleurogramma
Barbus apoensis
Barbus apogon
Barbus apogonostomatus
Barbus arabicus
Barbus arambourgi
Barbus arcislongae
Barbus arenatus
Barbus argenteus
Barbus argyrotaenia
Barbus armatus
Barbus armenicus
Barbus arulius
Barbus ashmeadi
Barbus asoka
Barbus asper
Barbus aspilus
Barbus aspius
Barbus atakorensis
Barbus athi
Barbus atkinsoni
Barbus atlanticus
Barbus atromaculatus
Barbus aurantiacus
Barbus aureus
Barbus aurotaeniatus
Barbus auxartiacus
Barbus babaulti
Barbus bagbwensis
Barbus balcanicus
Barbus balleroides
Barbus bampurensis
Barbus banguelensis
Barbus bangwelensis
Barbus bantamensis
Barbus bantolanensis
Barbus barbulus
Barbus barbus
Barbus barbus barbus
Barbus barbus bergi
Barbus barbus bocagei
Barbus barbus borysthenicus
Barbus barbus gallicus
Barbus barbus macedonicus
Barbus barbus plebejus
Barbus barbus sclateri
Barbus barbus thessalus
Barbus barilioides
Barbus barnardi
Barbus barotseensis
Barbus barroisi
Barbus barryi
Barbus baschakirdi
Barbus batesi
Barbus batesii
Barbus baudoni
Barbus baudoni baudoni
Barbus baudoni ubangensis
Barbus baudoni ubanguensis
Barbus bawkuensis
Barbus bayoni
Barbus beasleyi
Barbus beavani
Barbus beddomi
Barbus beddomii
Barbus belayewi
Barbus bellcrossi
Barbus bergi
Barbus bernardcarpi
Barbus beso
Barbus bifrenatus
Barbus bigornei
Barbus biharicus
Barbus bilkewitschi
Barbus binduchitra
Barbus bingeri
Barbus binny
Barbus binotatus
Barbus biscarensis
Barbus biscarensis amguidensis
Barbus biscariensis
Barbus blanci
Barbus blitonensis
Barbus blythii
Barbus boboi
Barbus bocagei
Barbus bocagei sclateri
Barbus bomokandi
Barbus bonvaloti
Barbus bortschalinicus
Barbus borysthenicus
Barbus bottegi
Barbus boulengerii
Barbus bourdariei
Barbus bourdarieri
Barbus bovanicus
Barbus bowkeri
Barbus brachycephalus
Barbus brachycephalus brachycephalus
Barbus brachycephalus caspius
Barbus brachygramma
Barbus brachynemus
Barbus bramoides
Barbus brazzae
Barbus brazzai
Barbus breijeri
Barbus brevibarbis
Barbus brevicephalus
Barbus breviceps
Barbus brevidorsalis
Barbus brevifilis
Barbus brevilateralis
Barbus brevipennis
Barbus brevipinnis
Barbus brevis
Barbus brevispinis
Barbus brevispinis monunensis
Barbus brevispinnis
Barbus brichardi
Barbus brookingi
Barbus brucii
Barbus brucii gunningi
Barbus brunellii
Barbus brunellii acutirostris
Barbus brunellii brunellii
Barbus bulu
Barbus burchelli
Barbus burgi
Barbus burmanicus
Barbus bynni
Barbus bynni bynni
Barbus bynni occidentalis
Barbus bynni rudolfianus
Barbus bynni waldroni
Barbus cadenati
Barbus caldwelli
Barbus calidus
Barbus callensis
Barbus callensis figuigensis
Barbus callewaerti
Barbus callipterus
Barbus camptacanthus
Barbus camptacanthus camptacanthus
Barbus camptacanthus liberiensis
Barbus camptacanthus melanepiptera
Barbus canalii
Barbus candens
Barbus caninus
Barbus canis
Barbus capensis
Barbus capito
Barbus capito capito
Barbus capito conocephalus
Barbus capito massaensis
Barbus capito pectoralis
Barbus carcharhinoides
Barbus cardozoi
Barbus carens
Barbus carletoni
Barbus carnaticus
Barbus carottae
Barbus carpathicus
Barbus carpenteri
Barbus carpio
Barbus castrasibutum
Barbus cataractae
Barbus catenarius
Barbus caucasicus
Barbus caudimacula
Barbus caudimarginatus
Barbus caudosignatus
Barbus caudovittatus
Barbus cauveriensis
Barbus cercops
Barbus cernuus
Barbus chagunio
Barbus chantrei
Barbus cheilynoides
Barbus chelynoides
Barbus chicapaensis
Barbus chilinoides
Barbus chilotes
Barbus chilotes sakaniae
Barbus chiumbeensis
Barbus chlorotaenia
Barbus chola
Barbus choloensis
Barbus chondrorhynchus
Barbus chonglingchungi
Barbus chrysopoma
Barbus chrysopterus
Barbus ciscaucasicus
Barbus citrinus
Barbus claudinae
Barbus clauseni
Barbus clavatus
Barbus clavatus bartoni
Barbus clavatus burtoni
Barbus codringtoni
Barbus codringtonii
Barbus cogginii
Barbus colemani
Barbus collarti
Barbus collingwoodii
Barbus comiza
Barbus comiza nasus
Barbus comizo
Barbus communis
Barbus communis
Barbus communis cyclolepis
Barbus compinei
Barbus compiniei
Barbus compressiformis
Barbus compressus
Barbus conchonius
Barbus conchonlus
Barbus condei
Barbus congicus
Barbus conirostris
Barbus conocephalus
Barbus cookei
Barbus cookii
Barbus cosuatis
Barbus crassibarbis
Barbus crocodilensis
Barbus cumingi
Barbus cumingii
Barbus cummungi
Barbus curmuca
Barbus curtus
Barbus cyclolepis
Barbus cyclolepis cholorematicus
Barbus cyclolepis cyri
Barbus cyclolepis strumicae
Barbus cyclolepis waleckii
Barbus cyri
Barbus cyri var. chaldanica
Barbus cyri var. chaldanicus
Barbus dageti
Barbus dainellii
Barbus dainellii macrocephalus
Barbus dartevellei
Barbus daruphani
Barbus deauratus
Barbus decioi
Barbus decipiens
Barbus degeni
Barbus degeni leptorhinus
Barbus deguidei
Barbus deliciosus
Barbus dendrotrachelus
Barbus denisoni
Barbus denisonii
Barbus deserti
Barbus devosi
Barbus dezwaani
Barbus dialonensis
Barbus diamouanganai
Barbus diliciosus
Barbus diplocheilus
Barbus diplochilus
Barbus ditinensis
Barbus dobsoni
Barbus doggetti
Barbus dolichosoma
Barbus donaldsonsmithi
Barbus donyensis
Barbus dorsalis
Barbus dorsimaculatus
Barbus dorsolineatus
Barbus douronensis
Barbus dubius
Barbus duchesnii
Barbus duchesnii ibridus
Barbus duchesnii leptorhinus
Barbus duchesnii maximus
Barbus dukai
Barbus dunckeri
Barbus duvancelli
Barbus duvancellii
Barbus duvaucelii
Barbus dwaarsensis
Barbus eburneensis
Barbus eduardianus
Barbus elephantis
Barbus elongatus
Barbus enoploides
Barbus enoplos
Barbus enoplus
Barbus ensis
Barbus entaenia
Barbus eques
Barbus eques
Barbus ercisianus
Barbus erlangeri
Barbus erubescens
Barbus erythrozonus
Barbus escherichii
Barbus esocinus
Barbus ethiopicus
Barbus euboicus
Barbus euboicus sperchiensis
Barbus euchilus
Barbus eugrammus
Barbus eumystus
Barbus euphrati
Barbus eurystomus
Barbus eutaenia
Barbus evansi
Barbus everetti
Barbus exulatus
Barbus faciolatus
Barbus fairbairnii
Barbus faoensis
Barbus fasciatus
Barbus fasciolatus
Barbus fasolt
Barbus fergussonii
Barbus figuiensis
Barbus figuigensis
Barbus figuiguensis
Barbus filamentosa
Barbus filamentosus
Barbus fitzsimonsi
Barbus flomoi
Barbus fluviatilis
Barbus fluviatilis alba
Barbus fluviatilis aurata
Barbus fluviatilis borysthenicus
Barbus fluviatilis tyberinus
Barbus fluviatilis tyrasensis
Barbus foerschi
Barbus foureaui
Barbus foutensis
Barbus foxi
Barbus francisci
Barbus fraseri
Barbus fritschii
Barbus fritschii fritschii
Barbus fritschii harteti
Barbus fucini
Barbus gambiensis
Barbus gananensis
Barbus gardonides
Barbus gelius
Barbus gerlachi
Barbus gestetneri
Barbus gibbosus
Barbus gilchristi
Barbus girardi
Barbus globiceps
Barbus gobioides
Barbus goktschaicus
Barbus gonionotus
Barbus goniosoma
Barbus gorgorensis
Barbus gorguari
Barbus gorguarii macrophtalmus
Barbus gourmansis
Barbus graceus
Barbus gracilis
Barbus graecus
Barbus graecus prespensis
Barbus graellsii
Barbus graelsii
Barbus grahami
Barbus greenwoodi
Barbus gregorii
Barbus gribinguensis
Barbus grouti
Barbus gruveli
Barbus grypus
Barbus gudaricus
Barbus guentheri
Barbus guganio
Barbus guildi
Barbus guineensis
Barbus guirali
Barbus guirali melanepiptera
Barbus guiraonis
Barbus gulielmi
Barbus gunningi
Barbus gurneyi
Barbus guttatus
Barbus haaseanus
Barbus haasi
Barbus haasianus
Barbus habereri
Barbus hainani
Barbus halei
Barbus hamiltoni
Barbus hampal
Barbus hampal bimaculata
Barbus hampaloides
Barbus harringtonii
Barbus harterti
Barbus harteti
Barbus helleri
Barbus hemipleurogramma
Barbus hemispinus
Barbus hemispinus cincta
Barbus hemispinus cinctus
Barbus herrei
Barbus heteronema
Barbus hexagonolepis
Barbus hexagonolepsis
Barbus hexastichus
Barbus hexazona
Barbus hindii
Barbus hindii mawambiensis
Barbus hoevenii
Barbus holasi
Barbus hollyi
Barbus holotaenia
Barbus holubi
Barbus homozonus
Barbus hondeensis
Barbus hosii
Barbus hospes
Barbus huangchuchieni
Barbus huguenini
Barbus huguenyi
Barbus huloti
Barbus hulstaerti
Barbus humeralis
Barbus humilis
Barbus humphri
Barbus hursensis
Barbus hypostomatus
Barbus hypsolepis
Barbus ilgi
Barbus inaequalis
Barbus incomoides
Barbus inermis
Barbus inermoides
Barbus innocens
Barbus innominatus
Barbus intermedius
Barbus intermedius
Barbus intermedius australis
Barbus intermedius brevicauda
Barbus intermedius eurystomus
Barbus intermedius gorgorensis
Barbus intermedius intermedius
Barbus intermedius latirostris
Barbus intermedius leptosoma
Barbus intermedius microstoma
Barbus issenensis
Barbus iturii
Barbus ivis
Barbus ivongoensis
Barbus jacksoni
Barbus jacksonii
Barbus jacksonii mitior
Barbus jacobusboehlkei
Barbus jae
Barbus janssensi
Barbus janthochir
Barbus jarsinus
Barbus javanicus
Barbus jerdoni
Barbus jerdoni maciveri
Barbus jerdoni muciveri
Barbus johnstonii
Barbus jubbi
Barbus kahajani
Barbus kakus
Barbus kalopterus
Barbus kamaia
Barbus kamaiae
Barbus kamolondoensis
Barbus karkensis
Barbus karoualensis
Barbus karunensis
Barbus kassamensis
Barbus katangae
Barbus kemoensis
Barbus kersin
Barbus kerstenii
Barbus kerstenii kerstenii
Barbus kerstenii luhondo
Barbus kessleri
Barbus khudree
Barbus khudree malabaricus
Barbus kimberleyensis
Barbus kiogae
Barbus kiperegensis
Barbus kissiensis
Barbus kivuensis
Barbus kniluensis
Barbus koilometopon
Barbus kolus
Barbus kosswigi
Barbus krapfi
Barbus krempfi
Barbus kreyenbergii
Barbus ksibi
Barbus kubanicus
Barbus kuiluensis
Barbus kurumani
Barbus kusanensis
Barbus labeo
Barbus labialis
Barbus labiatomimus
Barbus labiatus
Barbus labiosa
Barbus lacerta
Barbus lacerta cyri
Barbus lacerta escherichii
Barbus lacertoides
Barbus laevis
Barbus lagensis
Barbus lagoensis
Barbus lamani
Barbus lancrenonensis
Barbus laoensis
Barbus lapsus
Barbus lateristriga
Barbus laticeps
Barbus lauzannei
Barbus lawak
Barbus lawrae
Barbus layardi
Barbus lefukiensis
Barbus leonensis
Barbus leonhardi
Barbus lepidotus
Barbus lepidura
Barbus lepidus
Barbus lepineyi
Barbus leptopagon
Barbus leptopogon
Barbus leptosoma
Barbus lestradei
Barbus liberiensis
Barbus limbata
Barbus lineamaculatus
Barbus lineatus
Barbus lineolatus
Barbus lineomaculatus
Barbus lineomaculatus lineomaculatus
Barbus lineomaculatus quadrilineatus
Barbus linnellii
Barbus lissochiloides
Barbus litamba
Barbus lithopidos
Barbus lobochilus
Barbus lobogenys
Barbus lobogenysoides
Barbus longicauda
Barbus longiceps
Barbus longifilis
Barbus longirostris
Barbus longirostrum
Barbus longispinis
Barbus longissimus
Barbus lorenzi
Barbus lornae
Barbus lorteti
Barbus loveridgii
Barbus luapulae
Barbus luazomela
Barbus lucius
Barbus lufukiensis
Barbus luhondo
Barbus luikae
Barbus lujae
Barbus lukindae
Barbus lukusiensis
Barbus luluae
Barbus lumiensis
Barbus luteus
Barbus lydianus
Barbus macedonicus
Barbus machadoi
Barbus macinensis
Barbus macmillani
Barbus macracanthus
Barbus macrocephalus
Barbus macroceps
Barbus macrolepidotus
Barbus macrolepis
Barbus macronema
Barbus macronema parenzani
Barbus macrophtalmus
Barbus macropristis
Barbus macropristis meruensis
Barbus macrops
Barbus macrotaenia
Barbus macrurus
Barbus maculatus
Barbus maculatus
Barbus maculatus hagenii
Barbus magdalenae
Barbus magniatlantis
Barbus mahakkamensis
Barbus malabaricus
Barbus malacanthus
Barbus mandarinus
Barbus manguaoensis
Barbus manicensis
Barbus marequensis
Barbus margarianus
Barbus margaritae
Barbus marginatus
Barbus mariae
Barbus marleyi
Barbus marmoratus
Barbus martorelli
Barbus massaensis
Barbus massaensis labiosa
Barbus massaensis labiosus
Barbus massaensis massaensis
Barbus mathoiae
Barbus matris
Barbus matsudai
Barbus matthesi
Barbus mattozi
Barbus mawambi
Barbus mawambiensis
Barbus mayori
Barbus mbami
Barbus mediosquamatus
Barbus megalepis
Barbus megastoma
Barbus melanampyx
Barbus melanepiptera
Barbus melanhypopterus
Barbus melanopterus
Barbus melanostigma
Barbus melanotaenia
Barbus meneliki
Barbus mentalis
Barbus mento
Barbus meridionalis
Barbus meridionalis meridionalis
Barbus meridionalis petenyi
Barbus meridionalis rebeli
Barbus meruensis
Barbus mfongosi
Barbus microbarbis
Barbus microcephalus
Barbus microlepis
Barbus micronema
Barbus microphthalmus
Barbus micropogon
Barbus micropogon mysorensis
Barbus micropogon periyarensis
Barbus microps
Barbus microterolepis
Barbus milesi
Barbus miliaris
Barbus mimus
Barbus minchinii
Barbus miochilus
Barbus miolepis
Barbus miolepis miolepis
Barbus miolepis rubrostigma
Barbus mirabilis
Barbus mirabilus
Barbus mirei
Barbus mocoensis
Barbus moeruensis
Barbus mohasicus
Barbus mohasicus mohasicus
Barbus mohasicus paucisquamata
Barbus mosal
Barbus motebensis
Barbus motebensis kamaiae
Barbus motebensis motebensis
Barbus mottozi
Barbus moulouyensis
Barbus moulouyensis bouramensis
Barbus moulouyensis grandisquamata
Barbus moulouyensis moulouyensis
Barbus multilineatus
Barbus multimaculatus
Barbus mungoensis
Barbus mursa
Barbus mursoides
Barbus mussullah
Barbus musullah
Barbus musumbi
Barbus myersi
Barbus myitkyinae
Barbus mylodon
Barbus mysorensis
Barbus mystaceus
Barbus nairobi
Barbus nairobiensis
Barbus nanningsi
Barbus narayani
Barbus nashii
Barbus nasus
Barbus nasutus
Barbus natalensis
Barbus nedgia
Barbus neefi
Barbus neglectus
Barbus neilli
Barbus neumayeri
Barbus neuvillei
Barbus neuvillii
Barbus nicholsi
Barbus nigeriensis
Barbus nigrifilis
Barbus nigriparipinnis
Barbus nigrodorsalis
Barbus nigrofasciatus
Barbus nigrolinea
Barbus nigroluteus
Barbus nigrovittatus
Barbus niluferensis
Barbus niokoloensis
Barbus njassae
Barbus normani
Barbus nounensis
Barbus nummifer
Barbus nyanzae
Barbus nyassae
Barbus oatesi
Barbus oatesii
Barbus obesus
Barbus obtusirostris
Barbus occidentalis
Barbus occidentalis foureaui
Barbus okae
Barbus okavangoensis
Barbus oligogrammus
Barbus oligolepis
Barbus oliogolepis
Barbus olivaceus
Barbus ophicephalus
Barbus oreas
Barbus oresigenes
Barbus orphoides
Barbus osseensis
Barbus owenae
Barbus oxycephalus
Barbus oxyrhynchus
Barbus pagenstacheri
Barbus pagenstecheri
Barbus pahangensis
Barbus palavanensis
Barbus pallaryi
Barbus pallidus
Barbus paludinosis
Barbus paludinosus
Barbus paludonosus
Barbus palustris
Barbus papilio
Barbus pappenheimi
Barbus parabablabes
Barbus parablabes
Barbus paradoxus
Barbus paradoxus quinquefasciatus
Barbus parajae
Barbus parallens
Barbus parawaldroni
Barbus parieschanica
Barbus parrah
Barbus partipentazona
Barbus paucisquamatus
Barbus paytonii
Barbus pectoralis
Barbus pellegrini
Barbus peloponnesius
Barbus pentazona
Barbus pentazona pentazona
Barbus pentazona schwanefeldi
Barbus percival kitalensis
Barbus percivali
Barbus percivali percivali
Barbus pergamonensis
Barbus perince
Barbus pernice
Barbus perniciosus
Barbus perplexicans
Barbus perplexicans mbami
Barbus perplexicans perplexicans
Barbus pessuliferus
Barbus petchkovskyi
Barbus petenyi
Barbus petenyii
Barbus petitjeani
Barbus pfefferi
Barbus phlegethon
Barbus phlegetun
Barbus phutunio
Barbus pienaarii
Barbus pienaarti
Barbus pierrei
Barbus pietschmanni
Barbus pietschmanni hollyi
Barbus pietschmanni pietschmanni
Barbus pingi
Barbus pinnauratus
Barbus plagiostomus
Barbus platydorsus
Barbus platyrhinus
Barbus platysoma
Barbus platystomus
Barbus platystomus daga
Barbus platystomus dekkensis
Barbus platystomus platystomus
Barbus platystomus prognathus
Barbus platystomus vatovae
Barbus plebeius
Barbus plebeius
Barbus plebejus
Barbus plebejus ercisianus
Barbus plebejus euboicus
Barbus plebejus kosswigi
Barbus plebejus pergamonensis
Barbus plebejus plebejus
Barbus plebejus tauricus
Barbus pleurogramma
Barbus pleuropholis
Barbus pleurotaenia
Barbus pobeguini
Barbus pobeguini mauritanica
Barbus pobeguini pobeguini
Barbus podonemus
Barbus poechii
Barbus poehli
Barbus pojeri
Barbus polydori
Barbus polylepis
Barbus polyspilos
Barbus portali
Barbus potamogalis
Barbus prespensis
Barbus prionacanthus
Barbus procatopus
Barbus proctozysron
Barbus proctozystron
Barbus profundus
Barbus progeneius
Barbus progenys
Barbus pseudognathodon
Barbus pseudognathus
Barbus pseudotoppini
Barbus puckelli
Barbus puellus
Barbus pulchellus
Barbus pumilis
Barbus pumilus
Barbus punctatus
Barbus punctitaeniatus
Barbus punjabensis
Barbus punjaubensis
Barbus puntio
Barbus putitora
Barbus pygmaeus
Barbus pyrhopterus
Barbus quadralineatus
Barbus quadrilineatus
Barbus quadrimaculatus
Barbus quadripunctatus
Barbus quinquemaculatus
Barbus radcliffi
Barbus radcliffii
Barbus radiatus
Barbus radiatus aurantiacus
Barbus radiatus barotseensis
Barbus radiatus profundus
Barbus radiatus radiatus
Barbus raimbaulti
Barbus rapax
Barbus rebeli
Barbus regani
Barbus reinii
Barbus rendahli
Barbus repasson
Barbus rhinoceros
Barbus rhinophorus
Barbus rhoadesii
Barbus rhodesianus
Barbus rhomboocellatus
Barbus riggenbachi
Barbus robinsoni
Barbus rocadasi
Barbus rogersi
Barbus rohani
Barbus rosae
Barbus roseipinnis
Barbus rothschildi
Barbus roulei
Barbus roussellei
Barbus rouxi
Barbus roylii
Barbus ruandae
Barbus ruasae
Barbus rubellus
Barbus rubripinnis
Barbus rubripinnis
Barbus rubrostigma
Barbus rudolfianus
Barbus rueppellii
Barbus ruspolii
Barbus ruspolii brevispinis
Barbus ruspolii ruspolii
Barbus sabiensis
Barbus sachsi
Barbus sachsii
Barbus sacratus
Barbus salessei
Barbus salmo
Barbus samniticus
Barbus samniticus
Barbus sarana
Barbus sarana caudimarginatus
Barbus sarananella
Barbus saranella
Barbus sauvagei
Barbus schanicus
Barbus scheemanni
Barbus schlegelii
Barbus schneemanni
Barbus schoutedeni
Barbus schwanefeldi
Barbus schwanefeldii
Barbus schwanenfeldi
Barbus schwanenfeldii
Barbus scincus
Barbus sclateri
Barbus sealei
Barbus sector
Barbus seeberi
Barbus seguensis
Barbus semibarbus
Barbus semifasciolatus
Barbus sensitivus
Barbus senticeps
Barbus serengetiensis
Barbus serra
Barbus serrifer
Barbus serrula
Barbus setifensis
Barbus setigerus
Barbus setivimensis
Barbus setivimensis labiosa
Barbus setivimensis setivimensis
Barbus sewelli
Barbus sexradiatus
Barbus seymouri
Barbus shacra
Barbus shanensis
Barbus sharpeyi
Barbus simus
Barbus sinensis
Barbus sinensis denticulatus
Barbus singhala
Barbus somereni
Barbus somerini
Barbus somphongsi
Barbus sophore
Barbus sophore stigma
Barbus sophoroides
Barbus soro
Barbus soroides
Barbus speleops
Barbus sperchiensis
Barbus spilopholus
Barbus spilopterus
Barbus spilurus
Barbus spinulosus
Barbus spurelli
Barbus spurrelli
Barbus squamosissimus
Barbus srilankensis
Barbus stanleyi
Barbus stappersii
Barbus stauchi
Barbus steindachneri
Barbus stevensonii
Barbus stigma
Barbus stigmasemion
Barbus stigmaticus
Barbus stigmatopygus
Barbus stigmatosomus
Barbus stoliczkanus
Barbus stracheyi
Barbus strigatus
Barbus strumicae
Barbus subinensis
Barbus sublimus
Barbus sublineatus
Barbus subnasutus
Barbus subquincunciatus
Barbus surkis
Barbus sursunicus
Barbus susanae
Barbus svenssoni
Barbus swierstrae
Barbus sylvaticus
Barbus syntrechalepis
Barbus szechwanensis
Barbus taeniopleura
Barbus taeniurus
Barbus taitensis
Barbus tambra
Barbus tambroides
Barbus tanapelagius
Barbus tanensis
Barbus tangandensis
Barbus tauricus
Barbus tauricus escherichii
Barbus tauricus kubanicus
Barbus tauricus oligolepis
Barbus tauricus rionica
Barbus tauricus tauricus
Barbus tegulifer
Barbus tenuis
Barbus terio
Barbus tetrarupagus
Barbus tetraspilus
Barbus tetraspilus
Barbus tetrastigma
Barbus tetrazona
Barbus tetrazona johorensis
Barbus tetrazona partipentazona
Barbus tetrazona tetrazona
Barbus teugelsi
Barbus thamalakanensis
Barbus thamalakenensis
Barbus thermalis
Barbus thessalus
Barbus thikensis
Barbus thomassi
Barbus thysi
Barbus ticto
Barbus ticto stoliczkae
Barbus tiekoroi
Barbus titius
Barbus titteya
Barbus tomiensis
Barbus tongaensis
Barbus tonkinensis
Barbus toppini
Barbus tor
Barbus trachypterus
Barbus traorei
Barbus treurensis
Barbus trevelyani
Barbus trimaculatus
Barbus trinotatus
Barbus trispiloides
Barbus trispilomimus
Barbus trispilopleura
Barbus trispilopleura arcislongae
Barbus trispilos
Barbus trispilos quinquepunctata
Barbus trispilous
Barbus trispilus quinquepunctata
Barbus tropidolepis
Barbus truncatus
Barbus truttiformis
Barbus tsanensis
Barbus tshopoensis
Barbus tsotsorogensis
Barbus tugelensis
Barbus turkanae
Barbus tyberinus
Barbus uellensis
Barbus umbeluziensis
Barbus unimaculatus
Barbus unitaeniatus
Barbus urmianus
Barbus urostigma
Barbus urostigma
Barbus urotaenia
Barbus urundensis
Barbus usambarae
Barbus valenciennesii
Barbus validus
Barbus vanderysti
Barbus venustus
Barbus vernayi
Barbus versluysii
Barbus victoriae
Barbus viktorianus
Barbus vinciguerrai
Barbus vittatus
Barbus viviparus
Barbus volpinii
Barbus voltae
Barbus vulgaris
Barbus vulneratus
Barbus waageni
Barbus waandersi
Barbus waldoi
Barbus waldroni
Barbus waleckii
Barbus walkeri
Barbus weidholzii
Barbus wellmani
Barbus welwitschii
Barbus wenchowensis
Barbus werneri
Barbus wurtzi
Barbus wynaadenis
Barbus wynaadensis
Barbus xanthopterus
Barbus xanthos
Barbus yeiensis
Barbus yongei
Barbus yunnanensis
Barbus zalbiensis
Barbus zambezensis
Barbus zanzibaricus
Barbus zaphiri
Barbus zelleri
Barbus zonatus
Barbus zuaicus
Barbus zuluensis

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About the Author

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.

Barb FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Where are barbs found?

These are freshwater fish living in streams, lakes and rivers around Europe, southeast Asia, and Africa.

Are barbs aggressive fish?

Yes, they are known to be aggressive.

Are barbs good fish?

Yes. They are fun to watch and admire!

What barb fish are peaceful?

The tinfoil barb is one exception and is known to have a more peaceful nature than other barbs. However, any barb fish can become aggressive toward smaller fish.

Are barb fish hardy?

Yes, they are hardy and adaptable to their environment.

Why are they called barb fish?

The name barb translates to beard. This relates to the tiny barbels located near a barb’s mouth.

How big do barb fish get?

Some types of barbs only grow to three inches long while others, like the tinfoil barb, can be as long as 13.7 inches!

How to say Barb in ...
Catalan
Barb comú
German
Barbe
English
Barbel
Croatian
Mrena
Dutch
Barbeel

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. , Available here: https://ourmarinespecies.com/c-fishes/barb-fish-characteristics-habitats-types-and-more/
  2. , Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown_barb
  3. , Available here: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2561/97789324
  4. , Available here: https://www.learnaboutnature.com/animals/fish/cherry-barb/
  5. , Available here: https://theaquariumadviser.com/barb-fish/
  6. , Available here: https://www.thesprucepets.com/barb-species-1380768
  7. , Available here: https://helpusfish.com/1/24/are-barb-fish-aggressive.html

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