Burmese Rainbow Barb

About

Occasionally sold under the trade name 'Burmese Rainbow Barb', this active schooling fish, Mystacoleucus obtusirostris, hails from a broad sweep of mainland Southeast Asia and southwestern China, where it inhabits riverine systems across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and beyond. Visually, it's a handsome mid-sized cyprinid. Most body scales carry a dark crescent-shaped base, and the dorsal and caudal fins are edged with black, giving the fish a crisp, well-defined look. One thing worth knowing before you net this species: like all Mystacoleucus, it possesses a small procumbent spine in front of the dorsal fin that points toward the head. It isn't obvious to the eye, but it can snag in aquarium netting, so take care when moving fish around. Behaviorally, this is a vigorous, energetic schooler that causes no deliberate trouble but can easily fluster shy or slow-moving tankmates during feeding. Pairing it with robust riverine species, other cyprinids, loaches, and similarly active fish, works much better than mixing it with delicate or timid animals. A group of at least six keeps them behaving naturally. Captive breeding hasn't been documented, though wild fish spawn during the rainy season between April and September. An approachable choice for a keeper who wants an active, shoaling fish with a bit of character.