Color: Both male and female striped from eyes through tail with
alternate lines of blue and silver. Underparts of male slightly
yellowish—female silvery white. Female—deeper in body.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—non-adhesive eggs fall to bottom. Cover
bottom of breeding tank with several layers ½″ pebbles or glass
marbles, not over 3 inches of water above marbles. Place male and
female (kept separate several days) in prepared tank. Spawning
usually takes place within 24 hours. Spawning is preceded by very
fast swimming. Remove parents after spawning. Fry hatch in 2 to 8
days. Feed fry infusoria.
Temperature: 45° to 80° F.
Maturity: Breed when 4 to 5 months.
Temperament: Peaceful, swim in school, constantly moving.
(See Pearl Danio.)
PEARL DANIO (above): DANIO ALBOLINEATUS
(Burma)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Iridescent mother-of-pearl and opal tints. Dull red line through
center of body and tail. Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—prepare aquarium same as for Zebra. Long
tank best for both. As they snatch eggs when they turn, long tank
eliminates many turns. Advisable to use two males to one female.
(See Zebra.)
Temperature and Temperament: Same as Zebra.
Maturity: 6 to 8 months.
GIANT DANIO DANIO MALABARICUS
(Malabar Coast)
Color: Deep metallic blue with two horizontal stripes of yellow gold.
Female—slightly heavier.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—very small semi-adhesive eggs deposited on
plants. Fry need great amount of food. Remove parents after
spawning. (see Rosy Barb.)
Temperature: 60° to 80° F.
Maturity: 8 to 10 months.
Temperament: Peaceful, but will attack small fish.
Danios (Zebra, Pearl and Giant) are always active, and are large
consumers of oxygen, therefore are more susceptible to the effects of
lack of sufficient oxygen in the aquarium. Being fast swimmers and
especially fond of their own eggs, water in the breeding tank should
not exceed 6 inches and they should be removed as soon as spawning is
over.
ROSY BARB: BARBUS CONCHONIUS
(India)
[Illustration: average size]
Color: Silvery green, dark spot at base of caudal. Male has black dash
on dorsal and takes on rosy hue during spawning season.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—lay eggs on fine plants similar to goldfish.
Stock aquarium well with fine plants like Myriophyllum or Cabomba,
weight down ends with a stone. Separate male and female for a few
days. Spawning usually takes place within 48 hours after pair is
placed together. After spawning is completed remove plants
containing eggs and place in tank free from other fish and
scavengers. Fry hatch in about a week and should be fed with Brine
Shrimp.
The following Barbs are prettily colored and easy to take care of.
Their breeding habits are like those of the Rosybarbs.
BARBUS SUMATRANUS
BARBUS EVERETTI (CLOWN BARB)
BARBUS SEMIFASCIOLATUS (HALF BANDED)
BARBUS SEMIFASCIOLATUS var. Schuberti, (GOLD BARB)
BARBUS NIGROFASCIATUS
Temperature: 45° to 80° F. Spawn best at 70° to 80° F.
Maturity: Mature in about 9 months.
Temperament: Peaceful.
BARBUS OLIGOLEPIS (below)
(Sumatra)
Color: Male—Large scales with blue-black spot, all fins orange-red with
dark edge. Female—Duller in color with 4 or 5 black spots on
sides.
Breeding Habits: Egg layers—Stock aquarium with Cabomba. Male turns
almost black during spawning period. Remove both parents as soon
as eggs are deposited on fine plants. Fry hatch in about 72 hours.
Temperature: 70° to 80° F.
Maturity: 10 months.