Edit Leptobarbus hoevenii

You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.

Name

Scientific name

Leptobarbus hoevenii

Described by

Authority Bleeker, Year 1851, Bracketed

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Mad Barb

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

The mad barb, Leptobarbus hoevenii, is a large pelagic cyprinid apparently native to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and Java. A popul…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

1000mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–26°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Batang Hari, Danau Sentarum, Indragiri, Kapuas, Musi, Piyam, Tasik Bera

Writing

Etymology

Leptobarbus: from the Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós), meaning 'thin/slender', and the generic name Barbus, within which the type species, L. hoevenii, was origi…

Distribution

Apparently native to Peninsular Malaysia plus the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Reports of this species from the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and…

Habitat

A pelagic species primarily inhabiting rivers and larger streams. During the rainy season it is known to migrate into temporarily-inundated floodplains and for…

Aquarium size

Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.

Maintenance

Choice of décor is not as critical as water quality and the amount of open swimming-space provided. However should you possess the means to both provide and de…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to feed on plant matter, zooplankton and larger invertebrates both aquatic and terrestrial. In the aquarium it…

Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to feed on plant matter, zooplankton and larger invertebrates both aquatic and terrestrial.

In the aquarium it is easily-fed and will accept just about anything offered. For it to develop its best colours and condition offer regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Daphnia and Artemia along with good quality dried foods and plenty of vegetable matter. Shelled peas, blanched courgette, spinach and chopped fruit all make good additions to the menu, while larger specimens will also take chopped earthworm, prawn, mussel, etc.

Editing needs JavaScript. This is the text as it was last saved.

Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

Paste the address of the page that says this. What counts as a source

DOI

Paste a DOI and we will look up the rest of the reference. A DOI looks like 10.11646/zootaxa.4694.4.1, and most papers print it on the first page.

Title

Enter the title of the paper, book or page. If you leave it empty, we will use the website's address.

Authors

Separate authors with semicolons, e.g. Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L.

Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

Enter the page that says this, e.g. 218 or 218–221.

Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Behaviour and compatibility

Peaceful although very small fishes are likely to be eaten.

Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature females are deeper-bodied than males.

Reproduction

Has not been bred in aquaria to date but is cultivated in large numbers in Sumatra via the use of hormones.

Notes

This species' congener Leptobarbus rubripinna was referred to as L. hoevenii for a number of decades and continues to be misidentified as such in the aquarium …

References

4 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References