Spanner barb

The spanner barb, or T-barb, is a species of cyprinid fish native to the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It can reach a length of TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Distribution and habitat

This species is an inhabitant of clear streams in mountain areas, particularly common at the base of waterfalls. They are native to the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. It prefers areas with plentiful boulders and rocky stream beds.

Diet

Its diet consists of such invertebrates as insects, worms and crustaceans as well as plant material.

Reproduction

The spanner barb scatters it eggs in the substrate and then abandons them.

In the aquarium

In an aquarium the spanner barb will adapt to water up to a pH of 7.2, and can live in slightly harder water than in their natural habitat. They are a mostly peaceful fish if kept in a school of at least five fish, but their large size makes them unsuited to a community of small fish.