Spotted barb - Barbodes everetti

Scientific name: Barbodes everetti

Common name: Spotted barb

Family: Cyprinidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 14 - 15 cm (5.51 - 5.91 inch)

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Recommended pH range: 6.2 - 6.8

Recommended water hardness: 7 - 17°N (125 - 303.57ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature range: 24 - 28 °C (75.2 - 82.4°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Southeast Asia

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive to smaller

Usual place in the tank: Middle levels

Short description

Important ID note: In the aquarium trade the name “Clown barb” is often used for Barbodes dunckeri, while the species here is Puntius/Barbodes everetti, commonly called Everett’s (Spotted) barb. The two are related but distinct. This profile describes everetti.

Barbodes (Puntius) everetti is a robust, active barb from Borneo that forms loose shoals and shows bold flank markings that intensify with mood and dominance. It reaches ~14–15 cm (5.5–6 in), so it’s larger than most community barbs; provide space, current, and a group of 6–8 to diffuse nipping. Best results come in a dim, well-structured tank with dark substrate, driftwood, and hardy plants, plus long, open lanes for swimming.

Origin

Native to Borneo (Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak) in Southeast Asia. Inhabits forest streams and middle courses with soft to moderate hardness, leaf litter, and moderate flow.

Food and feeding

An omnivorous micro-predator: takes quality flakes/pellets for barbs, plus frozen/live foods (daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp) and some plant matter (blanched spinach, zucchini). Offer varied, smaller meals to keep condition high and color strong. Avoid housing with hyper-fast feeders that will outcompete them.

Sexing

Males are slimmer and often show stronger coloration; ripe females are noticeably deeper-bodied.

Breeding

Typical egg-scattering barb. Use a separate dimly lit tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops and a mesh/grid to protect eggs. Condition a group on live/frozen foods; spawning usually occurs at daybreak. Remove adults post-spawn. Eggs hatch in ~24–36 h; fry are free-swimming after 3–5 days and start on infusoria/rotifers, then newly hatched brine shrimp and fine powders.

Lifespan

With good care expect 6–8 years.

Behavior & compatibility

A fast, social shoaler; keep in numbers to prevent fin-nipping. Suitable tank mates are similarly sized, robust, fast-moving fishes: larger rasboras, peaceful barbs of similar size, rainbowfish, and riverine loaches. Avoid slow, long-finned species (angelfish, gouramis with veils) and very small fish that may be harassed. Provide current and high oxygen.

Tank requirements

Tank size: 200–250 L minimum for a group; longer footprint > height.
Aquascape: dark sand/gravel, driftwood, hardy plants (e.g., Cryptocoryne, Microsorum), leaf litter; open swimming lanes.
Maintenance: clean, stable water; weekly 30–40% changes; moderate flow/filtration.

Notes on identification

Do not confuse Barbodes everetti (Everett’s/Spotted barb) with the true Clown barb Barbodes dunckeri (smaller, different blotch pattern, Peninsular Malaysia origin) or with Barbodes lateristriga (T-barb). Using the correct name helps avoid mismatched care and tank size expectations.