Melon barb (Haludaria fasciata) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Ember barb, Banded barb, Black-spot barb, Nilgiri melon barb, Puntius fasciatus, Barbus fasciatus, Dravidia fasciata
Family
Cyprinidae (carps and minnows; subfamily Smiliogastrinae)
Origin
Endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India (Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu); quiet, vegetated or leaf-littered stretches of hill streams, rivers, canals and ponds.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
7 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Soft to moderately hard, 2–10 dGH
Minimum tank
81 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful

Care

The melon barb is a peaceful but lively schooling fish; keep a group of at least eight to ten. A tank with a base of at least 90 × 30 cm (around 81 litres) is a sensible minimum. In the wild it lives in shallow, quiet parts of hill streams and rivers, and in canals, ponds and lakes, among plants or leaf litter, often in large mixed schools with other small cyprinids. Give it a planted tank with a sand or fine gravel substrate, driftwood, some leaf litter and open swimming space, with gentle to moderate flow. About 22–26 °C, pH 6–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water (2–10 dGH) suit it. It is an orange-red to coppery fish with dark bars or blotches whose pattern varies between populations. Females are larger and fuller-bodied. Males are more colourful, with red and black markings in the dorsal fin, and in breeding condition flush deep red and develop tiny tubercles on the snout. There are several geographical colour forms, and it is not settled whether they are variants or separate species; some populations have been named as Haludaria pradhani and H. kannikkatiensis. It has been moved through Barbus, Puntius and Dravidia, so is often still sold as Puntius fasciatus. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/haludaria-fasciata/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Haludaria-fasciata.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haludariafasciata). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivorous forager that eats diatoms, algae, detritus, small insects, worms and crustaceans in the wild. Feed good-quality flakes and granules with regular small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia.

Breeding

An egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care, and the adults will eat the eggs. Males in breeding condition turn deep red and use the small tubercles on their snouts to nudge the females into releasing eggs. Use a separate tank with fine-leaved plants, spawning mops or a mesh base, add a conditioned pair or small group, and remove the adults after spawning. Eggs hatch in 24–48 hours; once the fry are free-swimming, feed infusoria-sized foods, then microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Compatibility and tank mates

A good community fish with other peaceful species of similar size, such as tetras, livebearers, rainbowfish, peaceful catfish and loaches. It feeds vigorously, so make sure slower or shy tankmates get enough food. Avoid large predators and very small, delicate fish.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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