Fish Name: Barbel

Latin Name: Barbus Barbus

Maximum Size: 70cm

Preferred Water Conditions: Will acclimatize to a wide range of conditions. pH: 6.5-8.0

Temperature: Cold water-temperate between 2-20 deg C (34-72 deg F)

Care: Barbel are mainly bottom dwelling fish and are active mostly at night when they will emerge from cover. At small sizes they are suitable for aquariums and because naturally are very slow growing fish will be at home there for some time.

As they grow they should be moved into a larger environment ideally a pond. As in the wild Barbel are a river fish they require high oxygen levels and have a low tolerance to poor water quality.

Barbel will take sinking pond pellets, worms and ham. It is possible to encourage Barbel to feed from the surface, but this can take time.