Gold/China barb

Barbodes semifasciolatus, the gold or China barb, is a cyprinid in the family Cyprinidae, native to rivers and streams of southeastern China and Vietnam. The wild form is greenish with faint bars, while the popular aquarium strain is a bright metallic gold-orange, sometimes with scattered dark blotches along the flanks. It is an active, generally peaceful shoaling barb best kept in groups of six or more, which reduces any tendency to nip fins. It is hardy and mixes well with robust community fish of similar size. It does well in a spacious aquarium with open swimming room, some plants, and moderate current, tolerating a wide range of water conditions and cooler temperatures. An omnivore, it eagerly takes flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods, and grazes on algae and vegetable matter. It is an egg-scattering species that spawns readily in groups given the eggs some protection.