Rohan's Barb

About

Rohan's Barb (Dawkinsia rohani) comes from the fast-flowing hill streams of the Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu, India, where its waters drain westward toward the Arabian Sea. It's a relatively compact cyprinid, identifiable among its close relatives by a distinctive club-shaped black blotch on the caudal peduncle that extends forward along the lateral line, with no additional body markings in front of it. A clean, unfussy pattern that sets it apart from several similar-looking Dawkinsia species. The genus itself was only formally separated from the old catch-all genus Puntius in 2012, so you'll still encounter older references listing this fish under Puntius rohani. In the aquarium, Rohan's Barb is an active, schooling species that really should be kept in groups of eight or more. Larger groups keep individual fish calmer, produce more natural-looking movement in the tank, and tend to redirect any minor squabbling into harmless social jostling within the group rather than harassment of tankmates. It pairs well with other peaceful riverine fish of comparable size and confident enough temperament to hold their own alongside an energetic schooler. Suitable companions include other schooling cyprinids and the various loach families from similar South Asian habitats. Overall it's a manageable species for a keeper with some community tank experience.