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Pool barb

Pool barb

Small tropical cyprinid from Asian inland waters

The pool barb is a small freshwater and brackish fish native to Asia. It lives in rivers and ponds across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. This shoaling species reaches 18 cm and breeds in warm, rainy conditions.

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  • Reaches adult size of 18 cm
  • Native to rivers and ponds in Asia
  • Breeds in temperatures of 20–30 °C
  • Shoaling fish found in brackish water
  • First described by Hamilton in 1822

What it is

The pool barb is a tropical fish belonging to the carp family. It grows up to 18 cm long and weighs about 70 grams. Females reach sexual maturity at roughly 4.7 cm. The body is streamlined for life in flowing and still waters. It is also known as the spotfin swamp barb or stigma barb.

Where it lives

This species inhabits inland waters across South and East Asia. Its range includes India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yunnan province in China. It thrives in rivers, streams and ponds found in plains and submontane areas. The fish tolerates both fresh and slightly salty brackish water.

How it lives

Pool barbs are plentiful shoaling fish that live in groups. They prefer habitats with moderate temperatures and seasonal rain. While specific dietary habits are not detailed here, their presence in varied inland waters suggests adaptability. They remain active in plains and lower mountain regions.

Breeding and life cycle

Spawning occurs when water temperatures stay between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Rainfall exceeding 50 mm triggers the breeding cycle. Females require a gonadosomatic index of 10.5 units to reproduce. They must also reach a body condition factor of 1.6 to 1.7 units before spawning decisions are made.

Fish and people

This fish appears in lists of freshwater aquarium species. Its small size and shoaling nature make it suitable for community tanks. It is primarily recognised by aquarists and biologists studying Asian cyprinids.

Questions people ask about Pool barb

How large does a pool barb grow?

An adult pool barb reaches a maximum length of 18 cm. It typically weighs around 70 grams. Females become sexually mature when they reach a size of approximately 4.7 cm.

Where can you find pool barbs in the wild?

They are native to inland waters in Asia. You can find them in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yunnan, China. They live in rivers, streams and ponds.

What conditions do pool barbs need to breed?

Breeding requires water temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Rainfall must exceed 50 mm. Females need a specific body condition and gonadosomatic index to spawn successfully.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pool 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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