Care
Named for their trout-like body shape and lifestyle, these danio relatives are at home in swiftly flowing, highly oxygenated, clear streams and rivers with substrates of gravel, cobbles, and various sized boulders.
The aquarium should be mature and offer plenty of space for these active swimmers. Good filtration and a frequent partial water change regime are important as these fish (like all species from fast flowing freshwaters) will not tolerate an elevated nitrate level. Powerheads can be used to further create areas of decent current, and the output should be angled in such a way that it causes rippling at the surface of the water in order to keep dissolved oxygen levels high. Driftwood and cobbles can be used to decorate the aquarium but do leave an open swimming space along the front of the tank. This is a gregarious species which should always be maintained in groups of 6 or more. Problems with aggression from the dominant fish may arise if they are kept in too low numbers. Tankmates must be fairly robust and enjoy the same cool, fast-flowing conditions; many of the medium sized barbs, danios, Rhinogobius spp. gobies, Garras, and loaches make excellent companions. Avoid keeping with any shy species, especially those which would be easily outcompeted at feeding times by these boisterous fish. Ensure that the tank has tightly fitting coverslides, and no small escape holes where any equipment feeds into the aquarium, as these fish are some of the most accomplished jumpers known.
Up until recently, this species was known as Barilius bakeri and may appear under that name.
Feeding
Offer a good quality dry food staple in the form of flakes or granules, alongside a variety of small meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc.
Breeding
Details are few and far between. Substrate choice could well be important for these egg scatterers, as some members of the closely related Barilius genus have modified pelvic fins and have been observed digging burrows in gravelly substrates during the breeding season. Therefore, a substrate of smooth, rounded gravel would seem a prudent choice. It has been speculated that these fish are continuous spawners in much the same manner as rainbowfish, and if conditions are to their liking, will scatter eggs on a daily basis in season. Spawning is said to coincide with a slight increase in water temperature.
