Bowstripe barb (Barbus viviparus)

Scientific name: Barbus viviparus Weber, 1897

The Bowstripe barb (Barbus viviparus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–24°C (72–75°F).

Bowstripe barb care at a glance

Temperature
22–24°C (72–75°F)

Biology

Occurs in vegetated pools of streams and rivers and lake margins. Feeds on aquatic insects and other small organisms. Breeds in summer, breeding pairs lay eggs on submerged roots and vegetation. Reaches maturity within a year. Generally confined to low-land and coastal plain regions but penetrates inland in larger systems such as the Limpopo.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Barbus viviparus
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
7.0
Environment
Freshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 10 benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: East coastal rivers and freshwater lakes from the Ruvuma (Tanzania-Mozambique border) southwards to the Vungu in southern Natal. Generally confined to lowveld and coastal plain regions but penetrates inland in larger systems such as the Limpopo. Found in Kafue River system.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Aquarium: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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