Golden Dwarf Barb Care Guide

Golden Dwarf Barb
(Puntius gelius)

Common names: Golden Dwarf Barb, GelI Barb, Golden Barb, Dwarf Barb.

Size: 6cm

pH: 6.0 – 7.0

Tempº: 18ºC - 25ºC

Tank region: Middle Bottom layer

Origin: India, Bangladesh.

Gender: Males are smaller and have more intense colouration.

Notes: The Golden Dwarf Barb is a small, slightly sensitive Barb suitable for communities of small, peaceful fish. The Golden Dwarf Barb is a schooling species, and thus should be kept in groups of 6 or more. As with most small schooling species, it feels most comfortable in a Planted Aquarium with lots of cover. This species does not appreciate heavy currents, and will accept commercially prepared foods.

 

Maybe they're called "Golden Dwarf Barbs" since B. semifasciolatus (Barbodes semifasciolatus, Gold Barb, Golden Barb, Goldfinned Barb, Chinese Barb, or Schuberti Barb) has the same name but gets at least 2.5" and prefer cooler temperatures. They're different species but share common names. And calling two different fish from separate locations the same name would be very confusing

 

I love these fish. I used to have a group of them. Very peaceful

 

This care guide entry is quite old, and some information is outdated. The genus is now Pethia, and the fish in the photo is actually Pethia canius, rather than gelius. It is identified by the fact that the first spine in the dorsal is curved, rather than straight. It is, however, the most commonly seen of the three species (the third is aurea) that make up the group of Golden Dwarf Barbs, and the most attractive.