What a BEAUTY! droooooll.......

I believe they are so pricey is that they are (I'm pretty certain) on the endangered species list. But I'm not completely positive. I wanted some myself....but I don't want an endangered species. As pretty as they are I do not want to contribute to there extinction. If they come off the list, they are a very beatiful fish. From what I read of them they live in fast flowing rivers, and have not (yet) been succesfully bred in captivity. I think the name is wrong [desonii Barbus----i spelled it wrong] or maybe im thinking of a fish that is simmiler in appearance

If i were to get them it would be good to try and get them to breed. I would think recreating there suroundings and a large current might work. But I'm no expert, nor do I have the money :(
 
part of the high price is that they are relatively new to the hobby and are rare, but I'm seeing more and more of them and the price will drop over time. I already have one LFS that sells them for under $25 and I think they'll keep dropping. I was very tempted to purchase some but need to know more about them, considering my largest tank is only a 50g long.
 
I see them on aquabid everyonce and awhile. Look for lotsoffish, he may have some for sale even if they are not up for auction. I have his email address if anyone wants it. PM me.
 
They are about $23 for an adult and $12 - $15 for a half size one. I have three all by themselves and I am trying to breed them. So far all they have done is swim around and eat my frozen foods! They are near to impossible to sex, at least from everything I have read and talked to my lfs about. He said wait till they pair up... hmmm..... :huh:
 
I have one... when I come back from vacation I'll buy more. I keep them with Rainbows, clown loaches and eartheaters in a 60g.
Mine didn't eat for the the first 5 or 6 days... the rainbows kind of pushed him around.... now he eats.... and pushes the rainbows around. He likes to grab a pellet or flake and spit out and then eat the smaller pieces.
I have been advised to keep them singly or in groups. Don't know the accuracy of that statement though. Others here have said otherwise.
My pH is 7.7 and medium hardness. I keep the tank at 76 degrees and let the warm weather take it wherever it wants. It rarely goes over 84. Some shops keep them under acidic and soft conditions. Check with the store before you buy. (as you do with every purchase, right?)

I love them! Given that you'll have the fish for years and years (like most fish, right?) 30 - 40 dollars is not that much. And they are certainly more entertaining than discus. I particularly like the green sheen on the top portion of their body offset by fabulous markings on their scissorlike tail. The classic red and black racing stripes off a 60s era Ferrari doesn't hurt either.
 
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