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My LFS has acquired some Barbs. They were sold to him as Tail-Spot Barbs, and that is the name he's selling them under. However, their identity is subject to more than a few questions.

The nearest illustration he can find for them is the Long-Finned Barb, Barbus filamentosus, but even that is a little way off. The features that led to this being the choice of tentative identification are: [1] bright red markings in the tail fin; [2] vivid black spot on caudal peduncle, with fainter markings below the dorsal, that could be spots, but could equally be fuzzy bands.

The Braz Walker pocket book in my collection says that juvenile Longfinned Barbs resemble young Clown Barbs (Barbus everetti) at first, but lose the bands as they grow older. The body shape of these Barbs at the LFS is similar to that of filamentosus, and they have both red markings in the tail and bright red dorsal fins, but the body colour differs from the illustration of the adult filamentosus markedly. At the moment, these juveniles are under an inch long, which means that if they are juveniles of Barbus filamentosus, they have a LOT of growing to do, because filamentosus can reach 6 inches.

They are active, though without showing signs of being nippy, and are currently happily residing in a dealer aquarium alongside some very nice Rosy Tetras. Which again adds to the confusion, because the Braz Walker pocket book says that filamentosus can be fin-nippers, and the towering dorsals of the Rosy Tetra males would provide ample temptation to fin-nippers.

So, the question remains. Just what species of Barb are they?

Over to you, fellow fishkeepers!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

The description you are giving, matches what I know from b. filamentosus. I've kept both adult and young long b. filamnetosus and I have to say the are one of my favorits.

B. filamentosus is certainly a busy little fish, but can be described as friendly towards other fish. Mind you, their active behaviour can lead to stress in more moderate fish.

The only thing I know them to nip, are plants. B. filamentosus is definitely a plant eater. Feed them lettuce and peas beside the usual flakes and frozen food and they'll be perfectly happy.

They need a lot of space, so I'd say 80 gal. at least (4 ft. in lenght, preferably 5 ft; app. 10 times the length of an adult fish).

I'd recommend them anytime!

Got a picture of the juveniles Tinfoil? So I can compare with my LFS's little critters?

Oh, I already knew that filamentosus needed space, being 15cm AND an active swimmer, but I wasn't aware that it had a Pacu-like tendency to munch the plants. I suppose they'll leave Java Ferns alone though - I haven't yet encountered a fish that tries snacking on those twice

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

http://aquavisie.retry.org/Database/Vissen/Barbus_filamentosus.html
is where you can find a good pic of a juvenile b. filamentosus.

Practically all large barbs eat plants; even the smaller ones like a little green every now and then, but the usually make do with plant material that drops to the bottom. The larger ones will actually eat plants.
I couldn't tell about the java fern; I only know that my Thailand Tinfoils ate even those!
Your best bet is to keep some boiled lettuce in the tank; that's softer than many plants and they'll prefer that over harder plants.

That's pretty close to the appearance of the barbs at my LFS. Looks like they're filamentosus ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

If the price is reasonable and your tank big enough, I'd sure buy some. They're sure to keep you amused watching your tank. I'd go for 5 or 7.

Good luck!

Sorry, don't have enough room for them ... if I was buying them, I'd want a dozen, so that they were happy, and a dozen of these guys would need a 6ft aquarium in no time

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Mystery solved!

This is what they are!

A variant of the Longfinned Barb, known as Barbus filamentosus mahecola. And for those in the UK who can make it to my home town area fast, my LFS is selling them for a LOT less than £5 each!!!!

Pretty little things as juveniles, but what they're like as adults is anyone's guess. Hopefully similar to the regular B. filamentosus, complete with males bearing long flowing dorsals.

Only thing is, they'll hit 6 inches as adults, so they're definitely inmates for a medium to large Barb community. And, I suspect that like a lot of Barbs, they're not only pigs with fins, i.e., self propelled garbage compactors that will eat anything you throw at them, there's probably a good chance they'll snack on plants.



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Glad you identified your mystery fish, Cali

Slightly off-topic: the only barbs I've ever kept have been rosies and golds. Both of them are definitely plant-munchers! They tear my hygro leaves into little bits, shred cabomba and even nibble the vals. But their favourite activity is when I plant new plants... they tug at the leaves until the plant is uprooted, then proceed to eat the roots! ] Gotta love the little darlings.

b. filamentosus mahechola is a local variety to b. filamentosus. They are hardly distinguishable when adult.
And indeed, the are self propelled garbage cans.
I've kept them for some time a few years ago. They're very active and very nice to look at.

As far as plants go; I just gave up.
I hate plastic plants, so my tank (and fish) will have to do without vegitation. I do give them lettuce every now and then; that's a lot cheaper than most tropical aquarium plants!

Tinfoil, do they even attack Java Ferns? Only my understanding is that even dedicated herbivores among the fish won't try Java Ferns after they've had a taste.

If your Barbs will even attack Java Ferns, then it's database update time for me again ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

They certainly did.
I haven't tried anubias because I think it doesn't belong in a Laos tank, but everything else I put in was gone within two days. Even giant valisneria, which is said to be "herbivore resistant" didn't stand a chance.