Barilius Canarensis

[TropicalJuwel]

Evening everyone,

I was in my lfs this afternoon and see these fish and they just stood out, I really like the look of them but wanted to find out some info on them first. So does anyone have these fish or know a bit about them and there requirements. I was told there from india and there hard to get hold of. I have tried to find out some info online but cant really find much on them except there classed as being endangered which I am guessing for the price tag of them.

Any info would be great.

 

[fishprotector]

http/www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=jerdonsbaril

Seems to be a bit on there to get your teeth into...

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I passed my four specimens on to MartinS in the last couple of weeks with my other Barilius (now all classed Opsarius apparently, others were cf. dogarsinghi and cf. "hukaungensis"), after keeping them for ~20 months. They are very active, using the whole of my 5x2x2 tank, that had ~3500lph of water rippling from filters (FX5 and APS2000EF) and 5000lph from a midwater powerhead. Not to be trusted with small streamlined fish smaller than 6cm, they are opportunistic piscivores and even with fish they cannot swallow they can be aggressive bullies. Treat them like boisterous barbs, in terms of finding compatable fish. Lovely fish for a sub-tropical riverine setup.

You might like to know that Pier Aquatics in Wigan has a tank of them in stock and this store now offers a courier delivery option.

Links to some old and newer footage...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/338570-nellys-old-5x2x2/page__p__2812892__hl__barilius__fromsearch__1#entry2812892

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/381960-my-nellys-old-5x2x2/

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Thank you fishprotector, I did find that page earlier but for some reason couldn't open it through google, managed to open it through your link. It was help full in finding out some more info on them? Have you kept this fish personally?

NOTG what sort of price are they in the shop in wigan, the ones in my lfs are about 7-10 cms in lenth roughly and are £15 each think he said a discount if I bought 4 but cant remember that, wanted a comparison on price. Its first time I have ever seen them, lfs said he's been trying to get them for over a year but couldn't, really got me interested today. Are they any good with live plants or certain plants that they like to moal that your aware of? I am concerned with the cherry barbs I have with what you said about having small fish, they are fully grown now so 5-6 cm. I also have some C.trilineatus which may be a size issue, what do you think? Thanks also for the help, that was an interesting link with the camera you set up.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

They are listed at £11.50 each...

http/www.pieraquatics.com/ and click the stocklist for a pdf file


There are some other similar fish in that stocklist, B. backeri; Opsarius pulchellus ( very affordable as a group for <£6 each, lovely fish, I bought the last two in a LFS back in 2010) and Zacco platypus.

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Thank you for the info NOTG, b. bakeri was also what my lfs said he had been trying to get but this came up first so got b. canerensis instead.

Even though they are cheaper in pier aquatics because of the delivery they work out more expensive unless I buy 10 or more. Do you think b. canerensis should be in six or more or would 4 be enough and do they prefer 1 male to 3 females or are males o.k together?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

When I got mine, I had no choice as far as numbers and male/female ratios, because when I returned to the store after initially seeing them and doing a bit of research somebody had purchased a mixed species group. This left 7 in the tank, 4 canarensis (2m2f) and 3 dogarsinghi (2m1f?). The hukangensis joined them in the 5x2x2 some months later, but sadly only two made it to adulthood (they were extremely violent with each other).

If I had the opportunity such as that offered by the large quantities available at Pier right now, I would definitely get a 12+ group per species, more females than the aggressive males (2:1 or 3:1 ratio). The males display to each other and sometimes this results in squabbles for 30 minutes, while the females are model community citizens with tankmates not small enough to be considered "live lunch."

Since rehoming my group, MartinS has seen breeding behaviour, another good reason to get a good sized group... Genetic diversity and a sense of ease in the group to spawn.

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Thank you for all the help NOTG. Still deciding what to do, hope there not all sold by the time i decide.