Chubbyhead barb (Barbus anoplus)

Scientific name: Barbus anoplus Weber, 1897

The Chubbyhead barb (Barbus anoplus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–22°C (41–72°F).

Chubbyhead barb care at a glance

Temperature
5–22°C (41–72°F)

Biology

Favors cooler waters. Occurs in small groups and shoals, in various habitats from small streams to large rivers and lakes. Frequently associates with cover or shelter such as fallen logs, brushwood or marginal vegetation. Feeds on insects, zooplankton, seeds, green algae and diatoms. Oviparous. Breeds during summer when rivers are swollen after rain and lays adhesive eggs amongst vegetation. Is preyed upon by larger fishes and birds.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Barbus anoplus
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
10.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Africa: Widely distributed from Limpopo to upland Natal, Transkei and the middle and upper Orange basin, including the Karoo. Absent from the lower Orange. Present in the coastal rivers of the Cape (Olifants, Gourits, Gamtoos, Sundays and Great Fish) but absent from Cape Fold Mt. streams.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=1; tmax=2)

Sources

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

Last updated