Melon barb

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Melon barb
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Puntius
Species: P. fasciatus
Binomial name
Puntius fasciatus
(Jerdon, 1849)
Synonyms

Cirrhinus fasciatus Jerdon, 1849
Barbus fasciatus Jerdon, 1849

The melon barb (Puntius fasciatus) is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the spotted barb (Puntius) genus of the Cyprininae sub-family of the Cyprinidae family. It originates in inland waters in Asia, and is found in peninsular India.

Contents

[edit] Physical description

The fish will grow in length up to 6 inches (15 centimeters).

[edit] Habitat

It natively inhabits flowing rivers. They live in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 6.5 pH, a water hardness of 5 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79 °F (22 - 26 °C).

[edit] Importance to humans

The melon barb is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade.

[edit] Other notes

The melon barb is an open water, substrate egg-scatterer, and adults do not guard the eggs.

[edit] Name origins

The melon barb was originally described as Cirrhinus fasciatus by Thomas C. Jerdon in 1849, and has also been referred to in scientific literature as Barbus fasciatus.

[edit] See also

[edit] References