Striped barb

About

Found across the blackwater swamps and still, grass-lined shallows of Malaysia and Indonesia, this small barb, Puntius lineatus, is one of four laterally striped species from Southeast Asia that can trip up even experienced hobbyists trying to tell them apart. The easiest way to distinguish it from its closest look-alike, 'P.' johorensis, is the near-absence of barbels, lineatus has zero to one pair versus two pairs in the others, and the lack of vertical bars in juveniles. It also carries a distinctive fleshy groove on the lower lip that separates it from all other Southeast Asian Puntius relatives. Taxonomically it sits in limbo; the broader Puntius group has been under revision for years and this species may eventually land in an entirely new genus. In the aquarium it's a genuinely easy, forgiving fish that suits newcomers well. It does best in a soft, slightly acidic setup that echoes its native blackwater habitat, and it really should be kept in groups of eight or more. Smaller numbers make the fish nervous and washed-out, while a proper school brings out the males' best colors as they posture and compete with each other. It pairs naturally with other peaceful Southeast Asian species like small rasboras, loaches, and anabantoids.