Denison Barb (Dawkinsia denisonii)

Denison Barb (Dawkinsia denisonii) is a large, fast-moving shoaling cyprinid from the Western Ghats of southern India. Its silver body carries a dark lateral band, a vivid red line through the head and front half of the body, and black-and-yellow caudal markings. Red-Line Torpedo Barb, Roseline Shark and Miss Kerala Barb are established trade names for the same species.

This listing supplies one unsexed live fish in the selected approximate size. The available Shopify options span approximately 2-3 cm through 9-10 cm; each band has its own stock state. One quantity is not a pair or a ready-made shoal. If you are starting a new group, plan the adult aquarium and the full group cost before ordering the first fish.

Denison Barbs are not small-tank community fish. Plan for about 15 cm total adult length, a group of at least six, a mature aquarium at least 120 cm long and roughly 240 litres or more, strong gas exchange, dependable filtration and open swimming lanes. A longer aquarium is preferable for a larger group or a busy community. The combination of social needs, speed and oxygen demand makes this an intermediate fish despite its generally peaceful temperament.

Denison Barb purchase and care summary

Current accepted name	Dawkinsia denisonii (Day, 1865)
Other names	Red-Line Torpedo Barb, Roseline Shark, Miss Kerala Barb; older scientific combinations include Sahyadria denisonii and Puntius denisonii
What one quantity supplies	One unsexed live fish in the selected approximate size
Selectable size bands	Approximately 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8, 8-9 or 9-10 cm when the relevant option is available
Adult planning size	About 15 cm total length
Social requirement	Keep at least six of the same species; eight or more can be more settled where the aquarium is long and spacious enough
Long-term aquarium	At least 120 cm long and roughly 240 litres or more for a group of six; use a longer, larger system for a bigger group or substantial community
Routine temperature	About 20-25 C, with 20-24 C a useful target in many established aquariums
Practical water range	Around pH 6.8-7.8 and approximately 5-15 dGH, with zero ammonia and nitrite
Diet	Varied complete omnivore diet with a meaningful plant and algae-based component plus measured frozen or live variety
Care level	Intermediate because a proper shoal needs length, current, high oxygen, stable water and considerable adult space
Gallery	Four preserved representative illustrations; they are not WYSIWYG photographs of the exact fish

What exactly will I receive?

One selected quantity means one Denison Barb. Choose the approximate size option shown in the selector and confirm that the selected option is available before checkout. Size bands are trade estimates for living fish rather than laboratory measurements, so an individual may vary slightly within or around the stated band. The selected size is the approximate dispatch size, not the adult maximum.

The fish is supplied unsexed. Juveniles cannot be promised as male or female from casual external inspection, and the listing does not include a breeding pair, sex ratio, locality pair or individually selected specimen. Ordering several units increases the number of fish supplied; it does not guarantee particular sexes or a future breeding group.

There are eight size options on the product: approximately 2-3 cm, 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm, 5-6 cm, 6-7 cm, 7-8 cm, 8-9 cm and 9-10 cm. They do not always share the same availability. A smaller option may be in stock while a larger option is unavailable, or the reverse. Read the selected option rather than assuming the first price or stock message applies to every size.

If you already keep a suitable established shoal, one fish may be bought to increase that group after quarantine and compatibility checks. If you do not already have a group, the welfare plan is for at least six fish together. Use the aquarium volume calculator to check the real filled volume after substrate, decor and an air gap, and make sure the aquarium length and filtration suit the complete adult shoal.

Image disclosure: representative, not WYSIWYG

The four gallery images are representative aquarium illustrations, not photographs of the exact fish that will be selected for dispatch. They can help show the broad torpedo-shaped body, red lateral line and contrasting tail pattern, but they cannot prove the exact markings, colour intensity, body proportions, sex or current size of the supplied fish.

One image may show more than one fish because this is a social species. That scene does not change the sale unit: one product quantity still supplies one fish. It also does not promise a matched pair or a group with the same appearance as the illustration. Actual juveniles can look less intensely coloured than a mature settled adult, and transport stress may temporarily reduce contrast.

Assess a new arrival by respiration, balance, fin position, skin condition and normal shoaling response after settling, not by expecting a frame-for-frame match with a stylised image. Colour varies with age, health, lighting, background, social confidence and camera processing. The black lateral band, red anterior line and caudal pattern remain better identity clues than saturation alone.

Current identity: Dawkinsia denisonii

The current accepted name used by the California Academy of Sciences Catalog of Fishes is Dawkinsia denisonii (Day, 1865). The same species has moved through several genera as cyprinid classification has changed. Puntius denisonii is the familiar older aquarium name, while Sahyadria denisonii was widely adopted after a 2013 revision.

Recent molecular work and the current Catalog place the two former Sahyadria species within Dawkinsia. A 2026 comparative mitogenomics study provides additional genome-scale support for that placement. Older names remain useful when reading established care literature or searching historic records, but they should not displace the current identity in the product title.

The original species was described by Francis Day in 1865. The parentheses around Day's name in Dawkinsia denisonii indicate that the species is no longer in its original genus. Taxonomic history is not a colour grade, supplier line or separate livestock option: all of the scientific combinations on this page refer to the same Denison Barb.

The related Dawkinsia chalakkudiensis is a different species. It can be confused with the Denison Barb in photographs and older trade material, but this listing is supplied under the identity D. denisonii. The representative gallery alone should never be used to make a locality or voucher-level identification.

Appearance and normal variation

A settled adult has a streamlined silver body suited to sustained swimming. A black horizontal band runs along the side, with a scarlet line beginning at the snout and passing through the eye over the front portion of the dark band. The forked tail normally carries strong black and yellow markings. These features produce the fast, high-contrast effect behind the names Red-Line Torpedo Barb and Roseline Shark.

Juveniles do not always display the full adult intensity. The red may be shorter or paler, the body can look slimmer and the tail pattern may become clearer with growth. Fish recently moved between systems may darken or fade temporarily. Stable water, an appropriate group, shaded margins and a complete diet normally reveal more meaningful colour than colour-enhancing lighting alone.

A gold form exists in the aquarium trade, but this product is not sold as a gold Denison Barb. Do not interpret a warm image cast or unusually pale individual as a guaranteed named morph. This listing makes no promise of a rare strain, line-bred colour form, collection locality or breeder.

Sex is difficult to judge, especially in the sale sizes. Mature females may become fuller through the abdomen, while mature males can appear slimmer, but body condition and feeding can create similar differences. No external feature on a juvenile allows a reliable retail sex guarantee.

Natural range, habitat and conservation

The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India, with records centred on Kerala and southern Karnataka. It is associated with fast-flowing hill streams and river habitats, including rocky pools with riparian vegetation. The FishBase species summary records it as gregarious, reports a maximum of 15 cm total length and links its form and behaviour to flowing freshwater habitat.

Current and moving water do not mean the aquarium should be a featureless high-speed channel. Wild river systems contain fast runs, quieter margins, boulders, pools, shade and feeding surfaces. Recreate that choice by combining an open swimming lane with calmer refuge zones, planted or shaded edges and secure decor. The fish should be able to move into flow without being forced to fight one narrow jet continuously.

FishBase displays the species as Endangered based on an IUCN assessment dated 6 July 2010. Habitat change and historical collection pressure are part of its conservation story. That status deserves accurate sourcing language, but it does not prove how this particular retail batch was produced.

The current supplier record does not document a breeder, generation, collection locality, captive-bred status or wild-caught status. This listing therefore claims none of those details. Captive breeding is scientifically documented for the species, but the existence of a breeding method is not evidence about a specific shipment.

Never release this fish, aquarium water, plants or animals into a pond, stream or drainage system. A recent Australian government environmental risk analysis records the taxonomic history and an introduction outside the native range. If a fish can no longer be kept, arrange a responsible rehome through an experienced aquarist, retailer or aquatic organisation.

Adult size and long-term commitment

Plan for approximately 15 cm total length, measured to the end of the tail. The 2-10 cm options on this page are juvenile or subadult sale sizes, not separate small-growing forms. A fish purchased at 2-3 cm still requires the same adult social group, swimming length and filtration plan as one purchased at 9-10 cm.

Growth rate cannot be promised. Genetics, starting condition, temperature, diet, stocking, water quality and stress all affect development. Fast growth is not automatically healthy growth, and deliberately overheating or overfeeding juveniles to reach adult size quickly can reduce oxygen margin and degrade water quality.

Published aquarium lifespan figures vary, and no individual lifespan is guaranteed. Treat the purchase as a multi-year commitment. Long-term welfare depends more on stable water, group security, a suitable footprint and correct feeding than on attaching one exact year count to every fish.

Measure the adult plan before buying. A nominal volume can hide a short footprint, and a tall aquarium can contain many litres without providing enough horizontal swimming distance. The tank must also accommodate the adult mass and waste of at least six fish rather than one juvenile viewed in isolation.

How many Denison Barbs should be kept together?

Keep at least six of the same species. These are gregarious shoaling fish, not solitary display specimens. A group gives each fish social reference points and spreads chasing or feeding competition. In pairs or trios they can become skittish, hide, dash into glass or focus tension on one weaker individual.

Eight to ten can produce more natural group movement where the aquarium is long and large enough. More fish are not automatically better if the footprint, filtration or oxygen supply cannot support them. Choose the group size and aquarium together rather than adding fish until the tank looks full.

A mixed collection of different barbs does not replace a same-species group. A Rosy Barb, Cherry Barb and Denison Barb may all be cyprinids, but each reads the behaviour of its own species most effectively. Browse the barbs category and schooling fish hub to compare adult size, temperature and group commitments before combining species.

When adding to an established group, avoid a dramatic size mismatch. Very small newcomers can be outcompeted by large settled fish even when there is no predation. Use separated feeding points, observe whether every fish eats, and be ready to move an individual if persistent chasing, isolation or weight loss appears.

Tank size: length matters as much as litres

For a group of six, use an aquarium at least 120 cm long and roughly 240 litres or more. A common 120 x 45 x 45 cm aquarium is about 243 litres before displacement and is a useful starting footprint. A 150 cm aquarium or larger provides a better margin for eight to ten adults, substantial decor or additional active community fish.

This is a conservative husbandry recommendation based on 15 cm adult length, same-species group needs, speed, turning room and oxygen demand. It is not presented as a universal legal minimum. Aquarium shape, actual filled volume, filter capacity, other livestock and the keeper's maintenance routine all affect the responsible stocking limit.

A 200-litre aquarium can appear in older care profiles, but its dimensions matter. A short, tall 200-litre tank is a poor long-term fit for a fast shoal. Do not reduce the group to make a short aquarium appear acceptable; choose a longer aquarium or a genuinely smaller schooling species instead.

Leave broad uninterrupted swimming space across the front and centre. Place wood, smooth stone and plants toward the back or ends so they create cover without forming a slalom course. Secure every heavy item, leave a clear route for siphoning and protect filter intakes from the smallest selected size.

Water temperature, pH and hardness

A practical routine temperature is around 20-25 C, with 20-24 C giving useful oxygen margin in many home aquariums. FishBase records a broader 15-25 C environmental range, but that source range should not be used as permission for abrupt changes or a cold uncycled tank. Stable conditions and high dissolved oxygen matter more than chasing the edge of any published interval.

Maintain roughly pH 6.8-7.8 and about 5-15 dGH for routine aquarium care. The species can adapt across a reasonable range when changes are gradual, but it should not be moved suddenly between very different water. Check the supplier or dispatch water when possible and use the water chemistry guide to understand pH, hardness and nitrogen-cycle results together.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Nitrate should be kept controlled by sensible feeding, plant uptake where applicable and regular partial water changes. There is no one correct water-change percentage for every aquarium: test the water and adjust frequency to stocking, food input, plant load and filter maturity.

Warmer water holds less oxygen. During hot weather, increase surface movement, check that filters remain clear, reduce unnecessary heat input and watch the whole group for rapid breathing or unusual surface use. Never respond to one symptom by adding medication before checking oxygen, temperature, ammonia, nitrite and recent maintenance.

Routine water targets and immediate checks

Factor	Routine plan	What to check if fish look stressed
Temperature	About 20-25 C; often 20-24 C	Heater accuracy, heatwave conditions and sudden change
pH	Approximately 6.8-7.8	Trend over time, source water and buffering rather than one isolated reading
Hardness	Approximately 5-15 dGH	Mismatch between source and aquarium water
Ammonia	0	Filter maturity, dead livestock, overfeeding and recent cleaning
Nitrite	0	Biological filtration and recent stock increase
Oxygen	Strong gas exchange throughout the day and night	Surface movement, temperature, filter flow and plant respiration after lights out

Filtration, oxygen and current

Use mature biological filtration with enough mechanical capacity for a group of active 15 cm fish and their food load. A large external filter, correctly sized internal system or sump can work when it provides reliable turnover, maintainable media and strong gas exchange. The label flow rate is not the same as real flow after media, head height and maintenance.

Arrange the outlet to disturb the surface and carry oxygenated water across the aquarium. A spray bar, broad return or carefully positioned circulation pump can create visible movement without pinning fish against one wall. Check for stagnant pockets behind wood and rock, but retain calmer zones where fish can rest.

Clean mechanical media before it becomes a flow restriction, while preserving biological media from chlorine and destructive over-cleaning. Never replace all mature media at once. After maintenance, confirm that the filter restarts, the return is moving water and no intake has been blocked by a plant leaf or displaced decor.

A tight-fitting lid is essential. Fast startled fish can jump through surprisingly small gaps, particularly during netting, lights-on transitions or group chasing. Cover cable and pipe openings without sealing away necessary ventilation.

Substrate, plants and layout

Use sand or smooth gravel with rounded stone and aquarium-safe wood. The fish is not a dedicated bottom dweller, so the substrate matters less than swimming room and clean flow, but sharp unstable decor can injure a fast fish. Build rockwork on the aquarium base rather than on loose substrate and test every structure before livestock is added.

Planting works best around the sides and rear. Robust attached plants and rooted species that tolerate current can provide shade and visual security while leaving the centre open. Fine or soft leaves may be sampled, especially if the diet lacks plant material, so plant choice and feeding should be planned together.

Use a dark background or shaded margin rather than an exposed tank on every side. Visual refuge reduces startle distance and often gives the group more confidence in the open. Avoid flashing decorative lighting and sudden room-light changes.

Keep a clear maintenance route. High current can push waste behind hardscape, where it decomposes unseen. During water changes, inspect low-flow corners, siphon trapped food and check that the group still has a wide turning lane at adult size.

Diet and feeding

In nature the species is recorded grazing and feeding among river substrates, with published sources describing a strong plant or herbivorous component. In aquariums it accepts a broader mixed diet. Use a quality complete flake or small sinking/slow-sinking pellet as the nutritional base, then add algae- or spirulina-based food and measured frozen or live variety.

Suitable rotation foods can include quality green flake, small granules, algae wafers broken for the group, daphnia, brine shrimp, Mysis and mosquito larvae from safe aquarium sources. Vegetable content should be deliberate rather than an occasional afterthought. Bloodworm can be used as variety, not as the only frozen food or a daily complete ration.

Feed small portions that the group can take without a cloud of food reaching the substrate. Fast fish can look hungry moments after eating, so appetite alone is not a portion guide. Watch body condition from above and the side, remove leftovers and adjust to temperature, group size and growth stage.

Use two or more feeding points in a long aquarium. This helps smaller or newly introduced fish eat without crossing the most dominant part of the shoal. Check each individual rather than assuming a busy surface means everyone received food.

Example feeding rotation for an established group

Food role	Examples	Use
Complete staple	Quality flake, small granule or slow-sinking complete pellet	Most routine meals in measured portions
Plant-rich variety	Spirulina or green flake, broken algae wafer, suitable blanched vegetable	Regular rotation, with leftovers removed
Animal-food variety	Daphnia, brine shrimp, Mysis or mosquito larvae	Measured additions rather than the entire diet
Observation	Body condition, feeding access and waste	Adjust portions to the whole group, not the fastest fish

Temperament and compatible tank mates

Denison Barbs are generally peaceful toward suitably robust community fish, but they are fast and competitive. Their activity can intimidate tiny, timid or slow-feeding species even without biting. Compatibility depends on adult space, temperature, oxygen, current, food access and the size of every species involved.

Good candidates are medium-sized peaceful fish that tolerate the same cooler tropical range and open-water movement. Many rainbowfish, larger danios, peaceful barbs, some loaches and suitable Corydoras can be considered in a sufficiently large aquarium. Each candidate still needs its own group and footprint assessed; a list of names is not a stocking guarantee.

For comparison, review the care pages for Rosy Barb, Cherry Barb, Long Fin Rosy Barb and Black Ruby Barb. These links are planning references, not a promise that every combination fits the same aquarium.

Among active midwater candidates, the Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish, Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish, New Guinea Red Rainbowfish and Bleher's Rainbowfish illustrate why adult size and temperature must be checked species by species. Do not mix several large shoals unless the aquarium has the length, filtration and oxygen margin for all of them.

A Pearl Danio or Rosy Danio may share an active-water style, while bottom fish such as the Horseman Cory or Long Fin Bronze Cory require a separate substrate, feeding and temperature check. Bottom occupancy does not make a fish automatically compatible.

Avoid or treat as high risk

Avoid tiny nano fish and small shrimp that may be outcompeted or eaten opportunistically. Avoid slow long-finned fish that dislike current, and do not combine the shoal with aggressive cichlids that can attack or monopolise space. Fancy goldfish are not suitable companions because body form, feeding, temperature and flow expectations differ.

Angelfish are not a default recommendation. A large calm aquarium can sometimes support both, but fast feeding and continuous movement may stress shy angels, while trailing fins can attract investigation. Bettas are a poor fit because the flow and activity needed by the barbs conflict with the stiller, slower environment most bettas prefer.

Compatibility decision guide

Candidate	Starting view	Main checks
Same species	Essential group of at least six	Adult length, food access and size matching
Medium active rainbowfish or danios	Often possible in a large system	Temperature overlap, total shoal biomass and swimming length
Peaceful barbs	Possible with care	Each species needs its own group; watch nipping and crowding
Suitable Corydoras or loaches	Possible with care	Substrate, temperature, current refuge and sinking-food access
Tiny fish, shrimplets or fry	High risk	Predation, feeding competition and stress
Slow long-finned fish	Usually avoid	Current mismatch, stress and fin attention
Aggressive cichlids	Avoid	Attack risk, territory and incompatible social behaviour

Sexing and breeding

Juveniles in the listed sizes cannot be sexed reliably for this sale. Mature females may become fuller-bodied, especially when carrying eggs, and males may remain slimmer, but overlap is considerable. Body shape alone is not enough to promise a sex, and several unsexed fish do not guarantee a pair.

Home breeding is difficult and should not be described as a simple seasonal water-change project. A peer-reviewed Indian Journal of Fisheries study documented controlled induced breeding, adhesive demersal eggs and early development. Those research conditions are not a casual recipe for a community aquarium.

Commercial production has made the species more available, but this page does not claim the breeding method or origin of the current batch. A keeper attempting breeding needs a mature correctly identified group, dedicated space, excellent water, a plan for eggs and fry, and realistic expectations about specialist intervention.

Do not buy a small group solely to discover whether a male and female appear. The first responsibility is a stable social shoal in an adult-sized aquarium. Breeding remains optional and no spawning, fertility, hatch or sex outcome is guaranteed.

Health, quarantine and warning signs

A healthy settled fish should balance normally, hold its fins open, feed with the group and maintain a clean body surface. Temporary colour loss after transport can be normal, but persistent isolation, clamped fins, rapid breathing, flashing, white spots, sores, swelling or weight loss require investigation.

Start with facts: test temperature, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH; confirm surface movement and filter flow; review recent additions, maintenance and feeding. Similar symptoms can have different causes, and blind medication can delay the right response. Seek an aquatic veterinary professional or experienced diagnostic service when signs are severe, persistent or spreading.

Use a separate mature quarantine aquarium when practical, especially before adding fish to a valuable established shoal. Quarantine equipment must be cycled, heated or cooled to the correct range, covered and oxygenated; an uncycled container is not safer than the display. Do not share wet nets, siphons or media between systems without a hygiene plan.

At arrival, keep the room calm and follow the current livestock instructions. The acclimation timer can help organise the process, but the dispatch instructions and actual temperature difference take priority over one fixed duration. Photograph and report any arrival concern within the published guarantee process before discarding packaging or moving the fish between multiple systems.

Planning a group from the available sizes

Choose fish of broadly similar size where possible. A group built from 2-3 cm juveniles has a different immediate feeding and intake-safety requirement from a group of 8-10 cm fish, but both grow toward the same adult plan. Do not use the small current size to justify a permanent small aquarium.

Larger fish cost more because they have already occupied supplier space, food and care for longer, but price does not change the species' social requirement. The selected size should suit the established group and aquarium, not simply the lowest or highest visible price.

Check that every member can eat. Small fish may need finer particles distributed across the flow, while larger fish can take more substantial granules. Avoid mixing such different sizes that one portion is unsafe for the smallest fish or the largest fish intercepts every meal.

If the desired group cannot be obtained at once, plan how interim fish will avoid isolation. It may be better to wait for enough suitable fish than to keep one or two for an indefinite period. Stock availability changes, so use the live option selector rather than text copied from an earlier date.

Frequently asked questions

How big do Denison Barbs get?

Plan for about 15 cm total length. The selectable 2-10 cm bands are approximate dispatch sizes, not separate dwarf forms. Adult body length, group size and speed are why a long aquarium is essential.

What tank size does a group need?

Use at least a 120 cm long aquarium of roughly 240 litres or more for six, and provide more length and volume for eight to ten or for additional large active fish. Actual dimensions and filtration matter as much as the nominal litre figure.

How many should be kept together?

Keep at least six of the same species. Eight or more can give more settled shoaling behaviour when the adult aquarium is large enough. One product quantity supplies one fish, so order and stock planning must account for the full group.

Are they aggressive?

They are generally peaceful but very active and competitive at food. Too few fish, limited space or a large size mismatch can produce chasing and stress. Slow, timid or long-finned companions are usually poor choices even without outright aggression.

Do they need high flow?

They benefit from visible current, strong surface movement and high dissolved oxygen. Provide a broad moving-water zone plus calmer refuge areas rather than forcing every fish to swim in one powerful jet.

What temperature should I use?

About 20-25 C is a practical routine range, with 20-24 C useful in many established aquariums. Keep the temperature stable and remember that warmer water carries less oxygen.

Can they live in a planted aquarium?

Yes. Plant the sides and rear with robust species while preserving a long open lane. Soft growth may be sampled, so include regular plant-rich food and protect delicate plants from the strongest current.

What do they eat?

Use a quality complete flake or small pellet, regular spirulina or algae-based variety and measured frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp or Mysis. Feed small portions at more than one point and confirm every fish eats.

Will they eat shrimp?

Small shrimp and shrimplets are at risk, while fast feeding can also prevent invertebrates from receiving food. Do not choose this fish for a shrimp-breeding aquarium. Large adult shrimp still cannot be guaranteed safe.

Can they live with angelfish?

It is not a default pairing. In a very large calm aquarium it may work, but the barb's speed, current and feeding style can stress shy angels. A slower or crowded setup increases the mismatch.

Are they true sharks?

No. Roseline Shark is a trade name based on the streamlined body. The fish is a cyprinid barb and has none of the marine biology implied by the word shark.

Is Puntius denisonii a different fish?

No. It is a widely used older scientific combination for the same species. Sahyadria denisonii is another previous combination. The current accepted name used here is Dawkinsia denisonii.

Is this stock captive-bred?

The current supplier record does not document captive-bred or wild-caught status, breeder, generation or collection locality. Captive breeding exists for the species, but this listing does not apply that claim to an undocumented batch.

How can I sex them?

Juveniles cannot be promised by sex. Mature females may become fuller through the abdomen and males may look slimmer, but there is overlap. No sex or pair is guaranteed by this product.

Are they easy to breed?

No. Controlled captive breeding has been documented, but reliable home spawning remains specialist and the research included induced breeding. A community aquarium should be planned for welfare rather than an expected breeding return.

How fast do they grow?

There is no guaranteed timetable. Starting size, genetics, temperature, food, water quality, group competition and stress all matter. Do not overheat or overfeed fish to force growth.

Why did the scientific name change?

Cyprinid relationships have been revised as morphology and molecular data improved. The species has been placed in Puntius, Sahyadria and now Dawkinsia; historic names remain searchable references to the same fish.

Can I keep one on its own?

No long-term solitary setup is recommended. One unit can be appropriate when adding to a suitable existing group, but a new aquarium should be planned around at least six of the same species.

Do they jump?

They can jump when startled or during fast group movement. Use a tight lid and cover openings around pipes and cables while maintaining ventilation.

What does the Live Arrival Guarantee cover?

The current published terms and reporting process apply to eligible livestock deliveries. Coverage depends on following those terms, including evidence and timing requirements; it is not a promise about lifetime health or future compatibility.

Can I use WELCOME10?

WELCOME10 gives 10% off a first qualifying order while the current promotion and its terms remain active. Enter the code at checkout and confirm the discount before payment.

Ordering and delivery

Before ordering, confirm that a mature covered aquarium is running at the required temperature with zero ammonia and nitrite, strong gas exchange and enough same-species companions. Do not schedule delivery before the adult plan exists. A temporary juvenile tank is acceptable only when it is mature, suitably sized for the immediate group and backed by a dated move to the adult aquarium.

UK livestock availability depends on the selected size option, postcode, weather, dispatch schedule and checkout. Review the current livestock delivery information before payment. The published Live Arrival Guarantee reporting process applies to eligible orders, and WELCOME10 provides 10% off a first qualifying order while its terms remain active.

Browse the wider tropical fish range only after matching adult size, group needs, temperature, current, oxygen and feeding access. A visually attractive combination is not automatically a responsible one. Plan the whole aquarium on paper before adding several shoals.

For a practical UK comparison, the Fishkeeper Red-Line Torpedo Barb profile also emphasises groups of six or more, a four-foot-or-longer aquarium, high oxygen and visible current. Use external care sources to cross-check general biology, while relying on this listing and the live Shopify selector for the exact sale unit, size options and availability.