Family: Cyprinidae
Distribution: Puntius ticto, commonly known as Ticto Barb, is an Asian species found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh, among still, shallow, muddy-bottomed rivers.
PH: 6.5 – 7.0
Temperature: 14°C – 22C (57 – 72F)
Hardness: 3 – 10 dH
Description: Puntius ticto can reach a maximum length of around 10 cm. It is a golden-silver colour and has a black spot just above the pectoral fin, with a second spot near the caudal. Males have a brighter colouration and spotted dorsal, pelvic and anal fins; females, in contrast, are fatter and have a drabber colouration.
Diet: This omnivore eats anything you give it in an aquarium environment. A quality dried food product can serve as a base diet, but supplement this with live and frozen foods such as Daphnia and Artemia.
Breeding: Feed Puntius ticto on live foods before attempting to spawn them. This egg-scattering species is easy to breed – best done in pairs – and will spawn in the morning time. Don’t leave the adults alone with the eggs as they will eat them if given the chance. The eggs will hatch in 24 – 30 hours and the fry will be swimming freely in a further 24 hours. You should make small daily water changes – 10 to 20 per cent should be sufficient – until the fry has reached 3 – 4 months of age.
Comments: You should house a small group of Puntius ticto in an 89 litre tank. Provide a heavily-planted tank – twisted roots, smooth rocks and stones – and a dark substrate. It is advised you provide some surface vegetation, along with plenty of open area for swimming.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: Puntius ticto should be kept in groups of at least 8 – 10. It is a friendly species that works very well in a community tank, and can be kept with Danios, Gouramis, Rasboras, Loricariids and Corydoras. Puntius ticto, unlike other Puntius, does not nip at the fins of longer-finned tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-01-24 19:24:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
