how big are rosy barbs at full size? only answer if you have had a rosy barb for 2 years or more...?

Question

I read it gets to be like 5-6" but the guy at the pet store says he has one and it's only 3 inches... thanx

Answer 1

The 5-6" measurements include the tail and some rosey barbs are long finned. The largest I've ever seen was just under 4" Standard Length which made it just under 5" including it's tail & it was ten years old & in a 6' tank ( I bred it!)
( Same with the 10" length sometimes quoted for angels which is really 5"+ tail )
Three inches is a more reasonable expectation but they are quite bulky so allow for this in stocking calculations.

Answer 2

Overview:

One of the first widely bred aquarium fish, The Rosy Barb is a peaceful and widely adaptable fish for the home aquarium.
Quick stats:


Listed tank sizes are the minimum
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Tank: 30 inches
Strata: bottom, middle
PH: 6.5 to 7.5
Hardness: soft to hard, dH range 2-10
Temperature: 64° to 79°F (18-26°C)

Classification:

Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: Cyprinoidei
Family: Cyprinidae
Genera: Puntius



Common name:

Rosy Barb, Red Barb





Distribution :

Northern India


General Body Form:
A fairly tall much compressed fish that seem to get taller as it ages. Females are larger and more robust.


Coloration:
The general color of the sides have a Yellow tinge in the female and Red hint in the Male. At breeding time the male becomes the most vivid Red. Both sexes have a Black dot edged in Gold near the beginning of the tail fin. The males Dorsal fin is edged in Black with the female only having a trace at the rear of the fin. Both sexes have shiny scales with an Olive Green color and pale centers.


Maintenance:
An easy to care for fish the Rosy barb has a lot going for it. Feeding is never a problem as it will eat all flake frozen as well as live food. The tank should be fairly large as this like most barbs is an active swimmer and needs plenty of open spaces. Plant toward the rear and include some floating material if you desire. The Rosy will dig and forage in the gravel, so it should be fairly fine and rounded. A darker color will bring out the Rosy's coloration. Water conditions are not to critical as they will adapt to almost all variations, but they will benefit from aged water and of course the partial water changes we all make (or should be). Temperature is also not a problem as you see from the quick stats the range is large with somewhere in the middle being ideal. They spend most of their time on or near the bottom so make sure its tankmates swim near the middle or top of the aquarium to give the tank a balanced look.


Biotope:
Asian Blackwaters


Breeding:
Breeding the Rosy bard is fairly easy. The tank should be large and have a thin layer of gravel. Provide fine leafed plants for the eggs to scatter into. The water should be well aged and have a neutral pH. Place one male and two females in the tank. Spawning usually will take place in the morning and the females are the more active partners. They will chase each other around and the spawning will take place in one of the plants. The pair will wrap themselves around each other and shake until the eggs are laid. This will happen several times and the number of eggs laid can be very large. The parents are egg eaters and will eat the spawn if given the chance. Remove the trio immediately as they will start eating the eggs even during the spawning. The eggs hatch in about a day and the fry must be fed fine flake food or baby brine. Growth is rapid and the young are easy to care for. Keep up the water changes as the fry require better water than the adults.

Answer 3

I had a long-fin rosy barb for about 6 years in a 55 gallon tank that was well stocked. He grew to be at least 4 inches not including tail ( I can never figure out if you measure to the tail fork or to the very tip of the fin). Anyway, I did feed a variety of foods. I have found that you can not get fish to reach their maximum size if you only feed flake food. They also will not grow properly if the tank is overstocked. I feed frozen and live brine shrimp, frozen blood-worms, plankton and my barbs love the variety frozen food emerald entree by San Francisco bay brand Sally's. Best wishes!

Answer 4

Every reference book says 15 cm,that's 5.9" ,maybe the guy a the pet store has mistreated his fish so that it is stunted. You know, getting hired into a pet store doesn't qualify anyone as a fish keeper. Also some sales people in pet stores will tell you anything to sell a fish, and sometimes they just don't know,but feel that they have to answer your question some way,even if it's wrong. For good information look for a local aquarium club,or someone who isn't trying to sell something.----Good luck.-----PeeTee

Answer 5

2"

Answer 6

About 5 - 5 1/2 inches would be right. Maybe his hasn't finished growing.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4714&CFID=7934111&CFTOKEN=832616