Cuming's Barb

About

Cuming's Barb (Pethia cumingii) is a small, lively cyprinid found only in Sri Lanka, where it inhabits the clear, faster-moving waters of southwestern drainages. Primarily between the Kelani and Gin river basins. It's a compact fish, rarely exceeding two inches, and is identified by two distinct black blotches along the flank, one just behind the gill plate and one on the caudal peduncle, set against a warm body tone with yellow dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. Worth noting: what was once sold as a red-finned color variant is now recognized as a separate species, Pethia reval, so the fish you're most likely to encounter in the hobby with yellow fins is the true P. cumingii. In the aquarium it's a genuinely peaceful schooling fish that does best kept in groups of at least six to ten. Males color up more intensely and behave more naturally when they have rivals to display against. It mixes well with other small, non-aggressive community fish and doesn't place heavy demands on water chemistry, making it a solid choice for a hobbyist with some experience maintaining a community setup. Breeding is straightforward for those familiar with egg-scattering cyprinids, though the adults will readily consume their own eggs if given the chance.