Food-grade fish · warm-water · herbivore

Silver barb

Barbonymus gonionotus

Also known asTawes

beginner warm-water 38% dress-out

Plan a system with Silver barb

Harvest weight

1500 g

35 cm long

Days to harvest

180–365

from fingerling

Feed protein

25%

Optimum temp

28°C

Water parameters

Temperature

0°C10°C20°C30°C

18–32°C

45.578.5

6–8

Hardness

0102030

3–15 dGH

Minimum tank: 800 L per individual at harvest size.

Feed and growth

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

A 1500 g adult eats about 45.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~450 g daily.

Origin and habitat

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

warm-water species

Heating required in temperate

Cooling required in temperate

Climate: tropical (needs warm water year-round)
USDA zones: 10–13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)
Heating needed: yes
Cooling needed: no

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.