Care
The Draped Fin Barb is a shy, timid species which should be kept in groups of 8 or more in a densely planted mature softwater aquarium. This is a delicate fish which can be quite sensitive to the shipping process, so do ensure any that you intend to buy are fully rested and healthy before you purchase. The aquarium should have a soft sand substrate in order to protect the tiny delicate sensory barbels on the underside of the jaws of these fish; they spend most of their time in the lower 1/3 of the aquarium, often foraging for food on the bottom of the tank. Include plenty of driftwood pieces and an abundance of plant life (including floating varieties) so that there is an excess of shady hiding spots and visual barriers. The more retreats that you provide for these retiring little cyprinids, the more you will see them out and about displaying their natural behaviour. When settled, the colours of the fish intensify greatly and they take on a glowing yellow hue "“ particularly in the impressive showy dorsal fin of the males. Occasionally male fish may bicker amongst themselves, but provided there are plenty of hiding places for respite, no real harm should ensue. Tankmates must also be small and peaceful; good choices would include Kuhli Loaches (Pangio species), Badis or Dario spp., Honey/Croaking/Dwarf Gouramis, small Rasbora, Trigonostigma, or Boraras species. Ensure excellent water quality at all times; due to the sensitivity of Draped Fin Barbs, it is advisable to carry out plenty of small, frequent changes rather than more infrequent larger changes.
Feeding
Offer a variety of small frozen foods such as daphnia, mosquito larvae, baby brineshrimp, cyclops etc. In time some specimens may take flake and micropellets.
Breeding
In a suitable environment (as detailed above) it is likely that small batches of fry will appear from time to time without any intervention from the fishkeeper. This species is an egg scattering continual spawner, which means that if conditions are to their liking, small numbers of eggs will be scattered/fertilised on an almost daily basis. Eggs take around 72 hours to hatch, and the miniscule fry will utilise their yolk sacs for the first few days, after which they can start to take appropriately sized foodstuffs such as infusoria.
