Order Cypriniformes ( Cypriniformes )
Family Cyprinidae ( Cyprinidae )
Subfamily ( Barbinae )
Genus Dawkinsia — Dawkinsia.
— Arulius Barb — Dawkinsia arulius [Jerdon, 1849]. Synonyms: Puntius, Barbus, Systomus arulius, Systomus rubrotinctus. (Eng: Arulius Barb, Long Finned Barb, Longfin Barb, Tamiraparani Barb, Silas Barb). Inhabits rivers of southern and southeastern India. 12 cm, in aquarium 8 cm. One of the largest barbs kept in hobbyist aquariums, the males of which are distinguished by the unusual shape of the dorsal fin. Mouth terminal with one pair of barbels. Iris yellowish-blue. Upper half of the body yellowish-gray with a metallic sheen. Sides, especially along the lateral line, yellowish-silver with a reddish sheen, scales on the lateral line with green shiny dots. Back red-brown with a green tint.
Three irregular, improperly shaped, bluish-black or dark brown stripes run across the body, more clearly expressed only under good maintenance conditions, starting at the dorsal ridge and ending above or below the middle line of the body. Three dark spots are also located here: one under the front edge of the dorsal fin, the second in the middle of the caudal peduncle, and the third at the base of the caudal fin.
The dark-edged scales have tiny iridescent rainbow-colored dots, better visible under side lighting of the fish. Throat and belly yellowish. Caudal and anal fins transparent, reddish, with a red margin along the edge. In the male, the dorsal fin is elongated in length and has the shape of a flag consisting of 4 dark red separate rays extending beyond its limits. Elongated rays of the dorsal fin occur only in males. Pectoral fins have a black border, pelvic fins have a smoky spot, and both fins are transparent.
During the spawning period, the male is colored bright blue, the upper part of the rear body is bright red. The vertical striation becomes more contrasty, and the edge of the anal fin and almost the entire tail acquire a bright scarlet color. The female is smaller, fuller, and less contrastly colored. Young fish are translucent, yellowish. They have a black spot on the back behind the gill cover, a transverse stripe across the body at the base of the dorsal fin, a spot at the base of the dorsal fin, and two transverse stripes on the caudal peduncle: one in the middle of it, the other at the base of the caudal fin. An albino form exists.
It will appear in all its glory in a relatively large aquarium (from 100 liters), where there will be enough space for swimming. A large barb, should not be kept with fish less than 3 cm — may be eaten. Neighbors can be various commensurable species of fish, except sluggish fish and fish with wide and long fins. These barbs gladly gnaw the elongated, veil-like fins of certain fish species. They do not refuse small fish or fry either, chasing them all over the aquarium with great enthusiasm.
Very active, excellent swimmers, the speed and grace of their movements is striking. It is best to keep a small school of 5–9 fish. There should be more females than males in the school. Males get along well with each other and often arrange very spectacular tournament fights under good conditions.
They stay in the middle and lower layers of water. Hardy plants (at the edges and near the back wall), various shelters (stones, driftwood) are planted in the aquarium to create hideouts. Water is soft to medium hard, they tolerate fresh water poorly. Very voracious and eagerly take all types of food. They love plants and algae very much and, if not fed a small amount of algae or boiled spinach, will nibble on aquarium plants.
Reach sexual maturity at the age of one year. If there is dense vegetation in the aquarium, successful self-breeding of arulius barbs is not uncommon, where the young grow successfully in the thickets and small juveniles soon join the school. Lifespan 3–4 years. pH 6.0–7.5; dH 6–12°; T 20–25°C.
— Black Spot Barb — Dawkinsia filamentosa [Valenciennes, 1844]. Synonyms: Puntius, Barbus filamentosa, Systomus filamentosa, maderaspatensis. (Eng: Black Spot Barb, Blackspot Barb, Filament Barb). Inhabits rivers and streams of Southern India and Sri Lanka. 12 cm. Body elongated in length, back profile more curved than the belly, no barbels.
Body coloration is golden-silver with a hazy dark zone below the pink dorsal fin and a large black spot near the tail. Upper and lower last rays of the caudal fin are bright pink with black tips. Side is silvery with a bluish, greenish, or golden sheen, belly reddish, becomes saturated red during the spawning period.
In mature males, the rays of the dorsal fin lengthen, giving it a fringed, filament-like appearance. Another sign of sexual maturity in males is the appearance of spawning dress on the snout — pearl tubercles. They look like freckles and are by no means a symptom of disease, as one might assume.
Young barbs are more elongated than adults, their body is thinner. At about a month of age, the babies acquire color, while they are not at all like their parents, their coloration is brighter and more attractive: red fins, four wide black vertical stripes stretch across the entire body over a silvery background, the one located on the head is paler.
The dark spot that adults have is absent in fry. With age (usually after half a year), the coloration pales, becomes less contrasty, the contours of the dark areas blur, and only a dark spot above the anal fin remains. The body becomes higher and acquires a silvery greenish-yellow coloration. Females are larger.
Peaceful, schooling, very active, stay in the middle water layer. Unsuitable for keeping in small aquariums, minimum volume 100 liters for a pair. But it is best to keep this fish in a school. The movements of the barbs are jerky, the school quickly turns and changes direction. Fish are very timid and wary of any approaching object, while at the same time they can be aggressive towards smaller specimens.
Frightened fish like to jump out of the water. They nip the fins of slow-moving fish. Fine-leaved vegetation and floating plants. Weekly water changes are desirable. Requires vegetable supplements, otherwise nibbles on young leaves. Reach sexual maturity at 1.5 years. Spawning occurs in thickets of plants, near the water surface. Fry grow very fast. T 22–25°C; dH 12–17°; pH 6.0–7.0.
— Rohan’s Barb — Dawkinsia rohani [Rema Devi, Indra & Knight, 2010]. Synonym: Puntius rohani. Southern India. 9 cm. Body olive-yellow, back darker, belly creamy-white. Young fish have three black stripes, of which adults retain a black horizontal elongated club-shaped spot, 1.5 scales wide, on the caudal peduncle. Unlike D. filamentosa, assimilis, rubrotinctus, there are no markings on the body, nor black stripes on the tips of the caudal fin.
Dorsal fin dark, with traces of red shades, first rays dark and elongated into a long, highly decorative filament. Pectoral and pelvic fins pinkish-purple. Anal fin with a bright red edge. Caudal fin pinkish-red, dark at the base. Adult males are more intensely colored than females and have tubercles on the head during spawning. The female can also develop filamentous rays in the dorsal fin.
Aquarium with densely planted plants, floating plants on the water surface to scatter light, driftwood, roots, or branches to create shelters. It is desirable to have a dark background so the fish look magnificent in all their bright coloration. Can be kept with other large species, obligatorily in a school of at least 6 specimens.
Needs plenty of swimming space. Do not introduce this fish into a biologically immature aquarium, they are sensitive to fluctuations in water chemistry. Sensitive to low oxygen levels. A quarter water change once a week is recommended. In the aquarium, they will accept small live and frozen food along with good quality flakes and pellets. pH 6.0–7.5; T 19–24°C.
Identification: Genus Dawkinsia — Dawkinsia filamentosa, rohani.
Puntius oligolepis, phutunio, rohani, sahyadriensis.
Puntius kuchingensis, Puntius lateristriga. 
