Intermediate carePeacefulSchool of 6+Asia

Denison Barb

Sahyadria denisonii

The Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii) is a peaceful fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 200 litres (53 US gallons), water held at 59-77°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.8. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.

Care levelIntermediate

TemperamentPeaceful

Min tank size53 US gal

pH range6.5-7.8

Temperature59-77°F

Max size5.9 in (15.0 cm)

Captive lifespan5-8 years

SchoolingYes · 6+ recommended

Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.

Natural distribution

Asia

East & Southeast Asia

Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.

Denison Barb Tank Setup

Give them a tank of at least 200 litres (53 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 59-77°F with a pH around 6.5-7.8, and avoid sudden swings. Always keep a group of at least 6 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour. They reach about 15 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.

What Do Denison Barbs Eat?

They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.

Denison Barb Tank Mates

Roseline Shark; active schooling barb. Keep in groups of 6+. Prefers cooler water. IUCN Endangered; buy captive-bred. The Denison Barb is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 6 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.

Are Denison Barbs Good for Beginners?

Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.

Denison Barb - frequently asked questions

What size tank do Denison Barbs need?

Denison Barbs need a tank of at least 200 litres (53 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.

How many Denison Barbs should I keep together?

Keep a group of at least 6. Denison Barbs are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.

What water parameters do Denison Barbs need?

Keep them at 59-77°F with a pH of 6.5-7.8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.

What do Denison Barbs eat?

Denison Barbs are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.

Are Denison Barbs good for beginners?

Denison Barbs are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.

Common mistakes with Denison Barbs

Buying fewer than 6 - Denison Barbs need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 200 litres (53 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.

Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.