Easy

Checker Barb

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Puntius oligolepis

Complete Checker Barb care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 15 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Checker Barb

Quick Answer

Checker Barb (Puntius oligolepis) has a subtle beauty: a silver body with dark scale edges forming a checkerboard pattern. It requires a minimum 15 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.0 - 7.0 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Checker Barb (Puntius oligolepis) has a subtle beauty: a silver body with dark scale edges forming a checkerboard pattern. Males develop red-orange fins.

Setup

A 15-gallon or larger tank with plants and open swimming areas. Soft, slightly acidic water is preferred.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts flakes, micro pellets, frozen foods, and live foods.

Compatibility

Peaceful. Keep in schools of 8+. Ideal for community tanks with tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, and dwarf cichlids.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.0 - 7.0

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Checker Barbs should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 8 to 10 individuals in a tank of at least 20 gallons (75 liters) with a footprint of 30x12 inches (75x30 cm). Checker barbs (Oliotius oligolepis) are peaceful, bottom-to-mid-dwelling fish that exhibit interesting social hierarchies only in groups over 8. Groups under 6 cause males to harass females to exhaustion. Provide a balanced ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females. Tank length should exceed 30 inches (75 cm) to accommodate their active swimming. Dense planting (Cryptocoryne, Java fern) provides security.
What are the exact water parameters for Checker Barbs?
Target pH 6.0 - 7.0, General Hardness 4 - 10 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 3 - 6 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 80 - 200 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 160 - 400 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 79°F (22°C - 26°C). They prefer soft, slightly acidic water; hard water (dGH >12) reduces coloration and breeding. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use driftwood and Indian almond leaves to maintain pH. Add floating plants to diffuse light. Avoid sudden pH shifts >0.2 per day.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Checker Barbs?
They are omnivores requiring 35% protein, 10% fat, 55% plant matter. Feed small tropical pellets, flakes, frozen daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp twice daily. Offer spirulina flakes and blanched spinach weekly. They accept live blackworms eagerly. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) but sensitive to formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for fungal infections. Avoid nitrofurazone.
How to breed Checker Barbs in captivity?
Select 10 mature fish (1 male:2 female) and condition with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 2 weeks. Set up a 10-gallon (38 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of water (pH 6.5, dGH 4, 78°F/25.5°C), a spawning mop, and dim light. Simulate dawn with gradual light increase. Spawning occurs in the morning; female lays 100-200 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours at 75°F (24°C). Fry are 0.08 inches (2 mm); feed infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7.

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