Melon Barb

We ignore one particular Indian gem the Melon barb, Haludaria fasciata at such considerable loss. Lets start with the merits.

Right off the bat theres this fishs acceptance of a wide range of conditions. Theres nothing extreme about the Melon barbs, and theyll be just as happy in a tank at 6.5pH as they are at 7.5pH. Ive known them to be kept successfully at 7.8pH, and aquarium literature cites that theyll happily go down to 6.0pH. Hardness is tolerated from a range as low as 2H up to over 16H. The sweet spot for temperature sits between 22C and 26C.

The best might be loosely translated as some approximation of their home habitat. Start with a decent sized tank, 120cm long. Next, youre aiming to decorate it like its some Indian river or canal, with dark substrates (light sand like silver sand will rinse their colours out) and ideally a combo of sand (black quartz or JBLs Sansibar dark will fit the bill) mixed in with river cobbles (I get mine by the sack from a garden centre, rinse them and keep them for when I need some).

Filtration is important when keeping barb. The wild fish lives in streams and the barb will therefore prefer a well circulated aquarium with oxygen rich water.

This species is the ideal choice for any community aquarium containing mid-size species that appreciate the same environment. Melonbarbs will not harm or harass fish that are too big to eat. They should however not be kept with timid species that might be spooked and/ or stressed by this fast moving species.

Melon barb is a shoaling species and it should always be kept in shoals of 8 or more fish. If they are kept in smaller groups they will not feel secure and will not show their true colors. They might harass other fish species if kept in too small groups.

The melon barb is very easy to feed and will ferociously devour any food that is given to it. In the wild they are omnivores feeding on both meaty foods and plants. In aquariums their diet can be based around flake food as long as the diet also includes frozen and live food as well as vegetables. They will survive on flake food only but will not show their true colours and their immune system can also become weakened.

More information:

Size:3-4CM
pH: 6.0- 8.0
Temperature: 19-25 C (66-77F)
Hardness: tolerates most conditions

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