The Checker Barb – New fish in the fish room

New fish in the fish room this week. And it is an oldie but goodie. The checker barb (Oliotius oligolepis) is a charming small barb endemic to creeks, rivers, and lakes in Sumatra, Indonesia. With a length of up to 5 centimeters (2.0 in) it is a great choice for densely planted smaller to medium sized tanks. The females are silvery shiny with yellow fins, while the males can turn very dark, not least during spawning. The fins on the males can turn orange to reddish, sporting a black edge. Both sexes have the chekerboard pattern, that has given this species the popular name. Easy to keep, easy to breed and just a wonderful fish, that has been in the aquarium hobby for more than a hundred years.