{"product_id":"checkered-barb-oliotius-oligolepis","title":"Checkered Barb | Oliotius oligolepis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Checkered Barb wears a tidy chequerboard of dark-edged scales over a warm, coppery body, and mature males flush deeper red along the flanks. Reaching only about 5 cm, it is a small, genuinely peaceful and rather underrated shoaler — a lovely alternative to nippier barbs for the planted community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to forest streams and slow, shaded waterways of Sumatra in Indonesia. These are soft, slightly acidic, tannin-tinted waters with plenty of submerged wood, leaf litter and marginal vegetation. Dappled light and gentle flow suit them best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA compact, laterally flattened barb with a net-like pattern of dark scale edges. Males are warmer and redder with black-fringed dorsal and anal fins; females are fuller-bodied and a little paler. Good colour develops in a settled group over a dark substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnusually mild-mannered for a barb — peaceful and non-nippy when kept in a proper school of six or more. Small numbers can turn timid. An excellent community fish alongside other calm species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy omnivore. Feed a staple of quality flake or micro pellets and rotate in live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus the odd vegetable-based food for balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and forgiving once established. A planted tank with open swimming lanes, some floating cover to soften the light and gentle filtration suits them well. Keep water clean and stable with routine water changes; they colour up best in soft, slightly acidic conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that spawns readily among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in soft, slightly acidic water. Parents eat the eggs, so remove the adults or the eggs after spawning. Fry are small and take infusoria and microfoods at first.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOliotius oligolepis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCheckered Barb (Checkerboard Barb)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSumatra, Indonesia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–12 dGH (soft to medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther peaceful barbs, rasboras, tetras, corydoras, small loaches, dwarf gouramis and peaceful bottom dwellers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge or aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, and slow long-finned fish that may be out-paced at feeding time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232845218083,"sku":"AA1419","price":6.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/checkered-barb-oliotius-olig-43091543654691-lv.webp?v=1790307187","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/checkered-barb-oliotius-oligolepis","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}