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Indian flying barb

A silver cyprinid with long barbels and jumping ability.

Photo: Balaram Mahalder, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Indian flying barb is a small freshwater fish found across South Asia. It features an elongated silver body, gold fins, and distinctive long barbels. First described in 1822, it shares habitats with zebra danios and requires secure aquarium lids due to its jumping nature.

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  • Reaches a maximum length of 15 cm.
  • Named for its exceptional jumping ability.
  • Found in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
  • Requires a tight-fitting aquarium lid.
  • First scientifically described in 1822.

What it is

The Indian flying barb is a slender, silver-coloured fish belonging to the carp family. It possesses an elongated body marked by a distinct black lateral line and bright gold fins. Its most notable physical feature is the pair of extremely long barbels, which extend nearly to the anal fin. These sensory whiskers help the fish navigate its environment. Adults typically reach a maximum length of 15 centimetres. The species is visually distinct from similar fish like Esomus metallicus.

Where it lives

This species inhabits freshwater systems across several South Asian nations, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It often shares localities with other small cyprinids such as Danio rerio and Danio dangila. Specific recorded locations include the Jorai Rivulet, a tributary of the Sankosh river in the Coochbehar district of West Bengal. The fish thrives in water with zero salinity and prefers temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.

How it lives

The Indian flying barb is named for its exceptional ability to jump out of the water. This behaviour necessitates careful containment in captivity. It is a fast-moving fish that requires ample swimming space. In terms of water chemistry, it prefers a pH of 7.6 and soft to medium water hardness. Phylogenetic research indicates that the genus Esomus is closely related to Danio, sharing a more recent common ancestor with them than with Devario.

Breeding and life cycle

Breeding this species in captivity is considered moderate to hard. It is not commonly seen in home aquaria compared to other danios. The typical lifespan ranges from three to five years. Successful keeping requires a tank with a tight-fitting lid to prevent escape, as gaps can allow the fish to jump out. General compatibility is good, provided tank mates are similarly fast and active.

Indian flying barb
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Locally, the fish is known as Boirali maach in some regions and Dedhawa in the Nepalese Terai. While it is technically suitable for the aquarium trade, it is rarely kept by hobbyists. Its moderate difficulty in breeding and specific spatial needs may contribute to its lower popularity. It is primarily observed in its natural habitat rather than in commercial or home tanks.

Questions people ask about Indian flying barb

Why is it called the flying barb?

The name comes from the fish's exceptional ability to jump out of the water. This behaviour is so prominent that aquarists must use tight-fitting lids to prevent escape.

What are the ideal water conditions for this fish?

It prefers freshwater with zero salinity. The ideal temperature range is 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, with a pH of 7.6 and soft to medium water hardness.

How large does the Indian flying barb grow?

This fish has an elongated body and reaches a maximum length of 15 centimetres, or approximately 6 inches, when fully mature.

Is this fish common in home aquariums?

No, it is rarely seen in aquaria. Breeding is considered moderate to hard, and it requires significant space due to its fast swimming and jumping nature.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Indian flying barb", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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