Dwarf Golden Barb Pethia gelius Care Guide

The Dwarf Golden Barb Pethia gelius is a small peaceful freshwater fish known for its bright golden coloration and active schooling behavior. It is a great choice for planted aquariums and calm community tanks and is suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists.

Appearance and Size
Dwarf Golden Barbs have a slim elongated body with a soft golden yellow shine that becomes more vibrant under good lighting. Adults usually grow between 1.5 to 2 inches in length. Males are typically slimmer and more colorful while females are slightly rounder especially when carrying eggs.

Natural Habitat and Behavior
This species is native to slow moving streams rivers and floodplains in South Asia. In the wild they are found in areas with soft substrates dense plant growth and calm water flow. They are peaceful schooling fish and should always be kept in groups of at least six or more. When kept in proper numbers they are more confident active and display better color.

Aquarium Requirements
A minimum tank size of 10 gallons is recommended for a small group though larger tanks provide better swimming space and stability. Water temperature should be kept between 65 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal pH range is 6.0 to 7.5 with soft to moderately hard water.

A planted aquarium with open swimming areas works best. Fine gravel or sand substrates along with driftwood and live plants help recreate their natural environment. Gentle filtration and low to moderate water flow are ideal.

Diet and Feeding
Dwarf Golden Barbs are omnivores and accept a wide variety of foods. A high quality micro pellet or flake should be used as a staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp daphnia and bloodworms to improve health and coloration. Occasional vegetable based foods like spirulina flakes are also beneficial. Feed small amounts once or twice daily.

Tank Mates
These fish are very peaceful and do well with other small non aggressive species. Suitable tank mates include small rasboras danios peaceful tetras pygmy corydoras and other calm community fish. Avoid housing them with large aggressive or fin nipping species. They are generally safe with adult shrimp though very small shrimp fry may be eaten.

Breeding
Dwarf Golden Barbs are egg scatterers and can be bred in captivity. A separate breeding tank with soft slightly acidic water and fine leaved plants or spawning mops is recommended. After spawning the adults should be removed as they may eat the eggs. Eggs usually hatch within one to two days and fry should be fed infusoria or very fine fry food until they are large enough for baby brine shrimp.

General Care and Health
This species is hardy when kept in stable water conditions. Regular water changes a varied diet and proper group size help prevent stress and disease. Signs of good health include active swimming strong appetite and bright coloration.

Summary
The Dwarf Golden Barb is a beautiful small and easy to care for fish that brings movement and color to freshwater aquariums. Its peaceful nature compact size and compatibility with planted tanks make it an excellent addition to nano and community setups.