Care
The Mackerel Barb, also known as the Royal Butterfly Trout, is a temperate shoaling cyprinid known from 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. Plants are not necessary but may make the aquarium more aesthetically pleasing - choose robust species such as
Anubias and Java Fern which can be attached to the décor, and which can also withstand some current and are not too palatable to the fish. The Mackerel Barb 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, danionins,
Rhinogobius spp. gobies,
Garras, and loaches (nemacheilids or coolwater botiids) 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.
FeedingOffer a variety of small meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc., plus a good quality flake.
Breeding
There are a handful of reports suggesting that this species has been bred in the home aquarium, although 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. If the aquarium has areas of dense cover (in addition to the much needed swimming space along the front of the tank) some of the eggs may get blown to safety by the current. However, the adult fish are voracious eaters and will think nothing of feasting on any eggs or fry, so a means of separating them will likely be necessary.
