Silver barb

Barbonymus gonionotus

Also known as: Java barb, Tawes, Pla tapian khao (Thai)

Plan a system with Silver barb

Quick facts

Adult size: 35 cm, 1500 g typical harvest weight
Days to harvest: 180 to 365 days from fingerling
Lifespan (max): up to 10 years
Diet: herbivore
Temperature class: warm-water
Difficulty: beginner

Water parameters

Temperature range: 18–32°C (optimum 28°C)
pH: 6 to 8
Hardness: 3 to 15 dGH
Minimum tank: 800 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein: 25% target
Daily feed (warm water): 3.00% of body weight per day
Daily feed (cool water): 1.00% of body weight per day
Max stocking density: 40 g per litre of system water

A 1500g adult eats about 45.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 450 g of feed daily.

Habitat and origin

Native to freshwater rivers, floodplains, and lakes across mainland Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and the Malay Peninsula. The species (Barbonymus gonionotus, formerly Puntius gonionotus) is a medium-sized cyprinid reaching 30–40 cm and 0.5–2 kg. Silver barb is one of the most important aquaculture species in Southeast Asia, with regional production exceeding 100,000 tonnes annually. The species was among the first freshwater fish domesticated for aquaculture in the region, with a culture history stretching back centuries in Thai and Cambodian traditional farming. Hardy, fast-growing, omnivorous, and tolerant of diverse culture conditions, it's a staple of tropical freshwater fish farming. The flesh is white, moderately bony (typical of cyprinids), and widely consumed across Southeast Asia prepared steamed, fried, grilled, or in soups. Silver barb have been introduced to aquaculture operations in tropical Africa, South Asia, and Central America.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification: tropical (needs warm water year-round)
Outdoor pond zones (USDA): 10 to 13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)
Heating in a temperate climate: Required for year-round operation
Cooling in a temperate climate: Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A warm-water food fish for tropical aquaponics, widely used in Southeast Asian integrated farming systems. Temperature range: 20–32°C, optimal at 26–30°C. Growth is fast under tropical conditions: 300–600 g in 6-10 months on commercial carp or barb pellet (25-32% protein). FCR is 1.5-2.0, efficient for a cyprinid. Silver barb are omnivorous and eagerly eat supplemental plant material (duckweed, vegetable waste, rice bran, kitchen scraps) alongside pellet feed, substantially reducing feed costs in integrated systems. Stocking density: 15-30 g/L. Water quality tolerance is forgiving: DO above 3 mg/L, pH 6.0-8.5, moderate ammonia tolerance. The species is resilient to the parameter fluctuations common in tropical outdoor aquaponics. Breeds readily in captivity using hormone-induced spawning, and fingerlings are available year-round from hatcheries across Southeast Asia at very low cost (often under $0.05/fingerling). Legal throughout Southeast Asia and most tropical regions. The main limitation outside the tropics is market recognition: silver barb is unknown in Western retail markets. For operators serving Asian diaspora communities or working in Southeast Asia, silver barb is a top-tier aquaponics species.