Order Cypriniformes
Family Cyprinidae
Subfamily ( Barbinae )
Genus Systomus
Continued…
— Sumatra Barb, Tiger Barb — Systomus tetrazona [Beecker, 1855]. Synonym: Puntius, Barbus, Capoeta tetrazona, sumatrensis. (English: Black Tiger Barb, Gold Banded Barb, Green Tiger Barb, Kooliad Barb, Moosbarbe, Sumatra Barb, Sumatra Tiger Barb, Tiger Barb, Yellow Tiger Barb). Inhabits the waters of Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo islands. 5-7 cm.
The body is quite high and relatively short, compressed laterally; in old females, the back can become very high. Mouth terminal, 1 pair of short barbels, which may be absent. The upper part of the body is brownish-red, the lower yellowish-white. The back ranges from brownish to olive, the flanks have a reddish-brown sheen and a golden luster on the scale edges.
There are 4 vertical intensely black transverse stripes along the body: the first passes through the head across the eye, the second through the first quarter of the body behind the pectoral fins, the third in an arc along the base of the dorsal fin and the rear third of the body to the anus and the base of the anal fin, and the fourth separates the caudal fin from the body, capturing the caudal peduncle.
The scales are golden glossy above the lateral line and pink-blue below it. The dorsal fin is black with a red top. Paired fins have a bright red coloration, and in adult mature males, the front half of the head as well as the outer rays of the caudal fin have a bright red tint. The nose, lips, ventral fins, edge of the dorsal fin, and elongated rays of the caudal fin in females are pink.
In the female, the caudal fin is almost colorless, the outer rays are dark yellow, the lower half of the dorsal fin is black with a red border while the upper is transparent, and the pectoral fins are transparent. Males can be distinguished from females by the bright red upper part of the head in the male. The coloration of males is brighter, and the red color of the fins is more intense.
Systomus partipentazona is imported from Thailand, having 5 stripes on the body — the first and second are like the previous subspecies, the third forms a dark triangle at the base of the dorsal fin and drops at an angle onto the body of the fish, the fourth is vertical along the rear third of the body down to the base of the anal fin, and the fifth is closer to the tail. The stripes are less contrasting, matte black. The red color of the fins and the beautiful golden main body color are almost completely absent in these fish.
Identification: Sumatran Barb — Systomus tetrazona hyb.
In addition, many color variations not found in nature have been bred. Veil forms “Longfin Tiger Barb” have been developed. Currently, albinism, shifting and mixing of stripes and spots on the body, fork-tailed fins, and fin elongation are known. Several albino forms are distinguished — ranging from specimens with a pale pink body, white stripes, and golden coloration with a black mouth to specimens with scarlet pectoral fins, scarlet pupils, a scarlet stripe on the dorsal fin, and pink-gold stripes on a steel body background. Mutagenesis is also observed in Sumatra barbs towards changing the width and length of black stripes, up to their complete merger. As a result, velvet-black or marsh-green fish appear.
Mutagenesis can affect the number of stripes and result in the appearance of fish with spots and black speckles in the offspring. It has been noted that the second and third stripes on the body can shorten up to complete disappearance. Black spots or even black speckles may appear in place of the stripes. The albino form slightly outpaces standard barbs in growth rate, while “mutants” grow one and a half times slower than the original forms. — Systomus tetrazona Platin — Platinum. Features a platinum body with a green sheen and black fins, with reddish nose and pectoral fins.
The “Moss Green Tiger Barb” mutant is very popular, featuring a dark green or moss-green body coloration with red fins. If the fish is active, its body under top artificial lighting looks black-blue, while under sunlight or bright side light, a deep green sheen appears in the coloration. Instead of vertical stripes, it has an almost solid black-blue-green coloration; the transverse stripes in these fish are so wide that, having merged with each other, they cover almost the entire body. Only the throat, lower half of the gill covers, front quarter of the belly, and chest remain silvery-white, and males often have an additional black stripe running from the middle of the belly to the anal fin. At the base of the first ray of the dorsal fin, there is a more or less noticeable light spot.
Identification: Sumatran Barb — Systomus tetrazona hybr.
The male has bright red ventral fins (sometimes with black speckles at their base or in the center), a red tail (except for the middle part), a bright red border on the black dorsal and anal fins, and a red nose (light orange in the female). Pectoral fins are also reddish. A black mutant with redness on the gill covers is known. If both parents are mutants (or albinos), the fry resembling the parents can make up to 75% of the brood, with the rest having the coloration of the original form. If only one parent is a mutant (or albino), the ratio is reversed — about 25%, rarely up to 40%.
Small size, lively movements, and beautiful coloration make them one of the most interesting inhabitants of the home aquarium. Keeping them in groups in spacious aquariums with clean, regularly changed water is recommended. In the aquarium, they prefer to stay in schools, and may sometimes chase or harass their aquarium neighbors. An exceptionally active schooling fish that should not be kept with long-finned fish. They nip the fins of slow-moving fish.
The fish should be slightly underfed, as overeating leads to obesity and even death. They require plant-based supplements; if lacking, they will nip young leaves. They mature at 5-8 months (albinos at 5-6, mutants at 9-12 months). At 3-4 weeks of age, fry acquire the appearance and coloration of adult fish, and at 2.5-3 months of age, males can be distinguished by a reddish tint on the caudal fin. Lifespan is 4-5 years. pH 6.5-7; dH up to 10°; T 23-28°C.
1) Systomus tetrazona;
2) Systomus partipentazona;
3) Systomus pentazona;
4) Systomus hexazona.
It is worth noting that when kept in small numbers (2-3 fish), these barbs can exhibit strong aggression both toward each other and other aquarium inhabitants. In addition, a school of Sumatrans moving rapidly through the aquarium can cause constant stress and discomfort to other less active inhabitants. The usual posture of the fish at rest or sleep is head-down, at approximately a 45° angle. If barbs at rest assume another position, especially head-up, it indicates unfavorable conditions in the aquarium. These fish do not like to stay in the shade, preferring illuminated open areas.
Vegetation should consist of fine-leaved and floating plants. A dark substrate is better; otherwise, the fish acquire a paler coloration. Aeration, filtration, and water changes are necessary. Barbs do not like very old water, so changing the water in the aquarium where these fish live must be done every week. In old, infrequently changed water, they are susceptible to diseases. Soft, neutral water is best. The temperature should not drop below 23 degrees.
Identification: Sumatran Barb — Systomus tetrazona.
— Four-striped Barb, Anchisporus barb — Systomus anchisporus [Vaillant, 1902]. Synonym: Puntius, Barbus anchisporus, Puntius pulcher. Known only from Borneo island, Kapuas River basin. 5-6 cm. Body high, rhombic. The main body background is apricot, with four wide black stripes across. The dorsal fin is black with a red outer edge, and the ventral fins are bright red. Females are easily recognized by a full belly containing eggs. They are deeper-bodied compared to males, and their coloration may be less intense. On the dorsal fin of females, the red and black stripes are separated by a transparent stripe.
The fish S. tetrazona and S. anchisporus are indeed very similar in body shape and especially in their four black stripes, which start and end at practically the same points on the body. Only the ventral fins are red not in Systomus tetrazona, but in Systomus anchisporus.
Peaceful, but exceptionally active barbs. Because of this, they rush around the entire aquarium tirelessly. For slow, timid, and small fish, these barbs are poor company, as they can nip fins, especially in veil-finned forms. Barbs should be kept in a school of 8-10 individuals, as this increases the likelihood that the fish will chase each other rather than their aquarium neighbors. The aquarium requires shelters made of fine-leaved plants and open swimming space.
Undemanding regarding water quality, they live well in medium-hard water. They feed on all types of aquarium foods, live and artificial, eat semolina, and sometimes nip the tops of plants. Feeding should be varied, changing their diet frequently. Sexual maturity occurs at 7-8 months of age. Spawning is in pairs. pH 6.0-7.0; T 23-25°C.
Puntius ticto, padamya, stoliczkanus.
Puntius semifasciolatus, “Schuberti”, sachsii. 
