Edit Dawkinsia assimilis
You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.
Name
Scientific name
Dawkinsia assimilis
Described by
Authority Jerdon, Year 1849, Bracketed
Family
Cyprinidae
Common names
Mascara Barb
Photograph credits
All 22 credited
Summary
The mascara barb, Dawkinsia assimilis, is a cyprinid from the Netravati, Chalakudy and Kallada basins of Karnataka and Kerala, India. The c…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
120mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 19–25°C, pH 6–7
Hardness
2–10dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
India, Chalakudy, Kallada, Netravati
Writing
Etymology
Dawkinsia: named for Richard Dawkins, for 'his contribution to the public understanding of science and, in particular, of evolutionary science'. assimilis: fro…
Distribution
Endemic to the Southwest Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala where it's been collected from the Netravati, Chalakudy and Kallada river basins in recent years…
Habitat
Occurs in various habitat-types depending on locality and probably time of year. In the Netravati it was recorded in marginal zones with sluggish flow and mudd…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base measurements of at least 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered for long-term care.
Maintenance
Not difficult to keep in a well-maintained set-up, though we recommend aquascaping the tank to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
A foraging omnivore in nature feeding on a variety of worms, insects, crustaceans, plant material, and other organic debris. In the aquarium it's easily-fed bu…
Behaviour and compatibility
An ideal addition to a peaceful community of riverine species alongside other schooling or shoaling cyprinids plus botiid, cobitid, nemacheilid, and balitorid …
Sexual dimorphism
Adult males develop a more intense colour pattern than females and exhibit noticeable tubercules on the head when in spawning condition. Adult females tend to …
Reproduction
Like most small cyprinids this is an egg-scattering free spawner exhibiting no parental care. When in good condition it will spawn often and in a mature aquari…
Notes
D. assimilis was formerly included in the genus Puntius and Puntius filamentosus 'group' of related species which also contained P. arulius, P. assimilis, P. e…
References
References
10 on this profile