Pool barb (Puntius sophore)

Scientific name: Puntius sophore Hamilton, 1822

The Pool barb (Puntius sophore) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22°C (72°F). Native range: Asia, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Yunnan, China, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

Pool barb care at a glance

Temperature: 22°C (72°F)

Biology

Inhabits rivers, streams and ponds in plains and submontane regions. Collected from a large river with high turbid monsoon flow and with diverse substrate consisting of sand, mud, gravel, pebble, cobble, and boulders. A very plentiful shoaling fish. Remains small in domestic aquaria and becomes mature at 7 to 8 cm.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Puntius sophore
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 8.0 - ? benthopelagic; amphidromous
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Asia: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Yunnan, China, Bhutan and Afghanistan
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.6-1.3)