Neon highfin barb

Oreichthys sp. drapefin" is a small (~2.5" TL) cyprinid found in Northern India. It is imported for the aquarium trade under the name neon highfin barb or high-fin variable barb. Males have a large, flowing dorsal fin, generally yellowish in color with black markings/edging. Females are lacking this. In the accompanying picture, the blue marking on the caudal peduncle is not evident in ordinary light, and is an artifact of flash photography. It is an atypical Oreichthys in that the face is more rounded than in O. cosuatis and other Oreichthys species.
They are strictly freshwater, and are found in ditches, ponds and streams.
As an aquarium inhabitant, it is peaceful both towards conspecifics and tankmates. Like O. cosuatis, O. sp. "drapefin" prefers cooler water (76 F/25 C at most), although higher temps are tolerated in the short term providing oxygen levels do not drop.
This fish has yet to be scientifically described, although it is sometimes imported under the name Puntius arunavii, which is not a valid name according to FishBase. Also, this fish is not a Punitus, but rather an Oreichthys, based upon DNA analysis.

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