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Pretty barb (Opsarius pulchellus) — Cyprinidae

Pretty barb

Opsarius pulchellus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Pretty barb (Opsarius pulchellus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Pretty barb is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from clear streams and rivers of the mountain streams of Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, silvery body, in spawning males often with blue or red tints. As a social fish it swims in groups in the water column and snaps at insects, small crustaceans and plant matter. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pretty barb?

The Pretty barb has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Pretty barb live?

The Pretty barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Pretty barb get?

The Pretty barb grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Pretty barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Pretty barb is harmless to humans.

Is the Pretty barb edible?

The Pretty barb is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sierlijke danio sourced
English name
Pretty barb sourced
Scientific name
Opsarius pulchellus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Opsarius

More from the family Cyprinidae

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