At a glance the quick version
Seriously Fish gives 9 to 10 cm standard length; FishBase and Wikipedia give 12 cm total length
Looks how to spot one
Scaled cyprinid (barb)
An olive-brown back fades to silvery sides and a white belly, with three soft-edged dark marks along the flank, the last on the tail base. The fins are thin and see-through. Adult males grow elegant thread-like extensions on the dorsal fin rays.31
Personality what they are like
A lively schooling barb that suits a community of other barbs, loaches and fish of similar size. Keeping a good-sized group keeps it focused on its own kind.13
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An energetic swimmer that needs a large tank with open space, flowing water and plenty of oxygen.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Seriously Fish suggests a tank base of at least 120 x 45 cm (about 240 litres). Water: 19 to 25 C, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Clean, well-oxygenated water with some current suits it.12
Home where they are happiest
In nature it lives in clean, well-oxygenated streams and rivers with gravel and rocky bottoms that change with the monsoon seasons. A river-style tank with gravel, rocks and current works well.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Omnivorous. Offer good flakes or granules along with small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp.12
Company who they like around
Keep in a group of eight to ten for the most natural behaviour.1
The story where it all began
Thomas Jerdon described the arulius barb in 1849 from southern India. In 2012 it was moved from Puntius into the new genus Dawkinsia, named in honour of the biologist Richard Dawkins.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its genus Dawkinsia is named after Richard Dawkins for his work in making evolutionary science accessible to the public.2
- 2
Adult males develop long filament-like extensions on their dorsal fin rays.3
- 3
It tends to spawn near the water surface.2
- 4
In the aquarium trade it has often been confused with its close relative Dawkinsia tambraparniei.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Assessed as Endangered (EN), June 20102
- Scientific description
- Described by Jerdon in 18492
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Arulius Barb. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Dawkinsia arulius seriouslyfish.comused for distribution, size, care parameters, diet, group size, habitat, taxonomy
- FishBase: Dawkinsia arulius summary fishbase.seused for IUCN status, describer, max length, water parameters, etymology, spawning
- Wikipedia: Dawkinsia arulius en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, size, colour, temperament, male fin filaments
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.