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Genus

Barilius

Species
8
Photographed
8 of 8
Difficulty rated
8 of 8
Adult male individual.

Barilius ardens

Knight, Rai, d'Souza & Vijaykrishnan, 2015

Max length
105mm SL4in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Prior to its description this species was typically identified as the congener B. canarensis in the ornamental trade. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: uni...

Moderate
Sexually-mature adult male individual.

Barilius bakeri

Day, 1865

Max length
130mm SL5in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

This species is traded under several names including 'royal danio', 'blue-spotted hill trout', and 'blue-dotted mirror fish'. It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing a single row of bluish-green spots along the length of the body, white margins on the dorsal and anal fins, 37-38+1 lateral line scales, and fleshy rudi...

Moderate
Adult individual from the Bhadra River, Karnataka state, southern India.

Barilius bendelisis

Hamilton, 1807

Max length
200mm SL8in SL
Tank
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–8.0

Type locality is given as 'Cedawáti [Vedawati] stream, headwaters of Krishna River near Heriuru, Mysore, India', with the species currently considered to occur throughout India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and probably Bhutan. It's also been recorded in Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka although some or all of these reports may refer to other species.

Moderate
Specimen collected from the Tunga River.

Barilius canarensis

Jerdon, 1849

Max length
130mm SL5in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Type locality is 'Canara, southern India', which corresponds to a coastal region of approximately 300 km in length covering several districts of Karnataka and Kerala states, southwestern India. Rivers in this area drain the Western Gha...

Moderate
Adult male specimen in the aquarium.

Barilius gatensisMalabar Baril

Valenciennes, 1844

Max length
130mm SL5in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

This species is traded very occasionally, sometimes under the alternative vernacular names of 'river baril, 'river carp-baril', or 'striated hill trout'. It can be told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: 1 pair of minute rostra...

Moderate
Subadult individual.

Barilius malabaricus

Jerdon, 1849

Max length
105mm SL4in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Probably restricted to southern parts of Karnataka state and northern Kerala state in southwestern India. Following its revalidation in 2015 (see 'Notes') it is known with certainty only from the Payaswini and Vallapattanam river systems in Kerala although it is thought to occur elsewhere.

Moderate
This species is rarely-maintained in aquaria.

Barilius shacra

Hamilton, 1822

Max length
130mm SL5in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Like many fishes that naturally inhabit running waters it's intolerant to the accumulation of organic wastes and requires spotless water at all times in order to thrive. It also does best if there is a high proportion of dissolved oxygen and moderate degree of water movement so external filters, powerheads, airstones, etc., should be employed as necessary.

Moderate
Specimen collected from the Sankosh river at Ghorani, West Bengal state, northeastern India.

Barilius vagra

Hamilton, 1822

Max length
125mm SL5in SL
Tank
150 × 60cm60 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Barilius spp. are near-exclusive surface-feeders preying mostly on flying insects in nature with some small fishes and benthic invertebrates probably taken as well but in the aquarium they're largely unfussy and will accept most foods.

Moderate