Barbel species?

[cyprinid]

Just curious if anyone is keeping any of the number of barbel species
native to Europe,North Africa or the Mid East?...There's an assortment
of species that I think are very interesting and would rival their more
tropical cousins that a lot of us on here appreciate!To me these species
are every bit as cool as the various types of mahseer that have enjoyed
a steady increase of popularity in recent years.I don't know if there is
anything prohibiting the import of them or they're just not on the radar
of a lot people,to the point where it would be worth bringing them in?
Surely they can't be anymore difficult to obtain than a lot of the
larger,rarer Asian cyprinid species that have been made available in
recent years?

 

[Cichlas]

I keep barbel (barbus barbus) in my pond in the uk, along with a few other native european fish and koi.

You can see one of them in this pic near the left hand side

 

[cyprinid]

Nice looking barbel you have there!...I wish we had them over here.All my
English angling pals rate them as the hardest fighting fish,pound for pound.
I really thought more people here would have an interest in these fish....

 

[fwprawn]

Cichla - Holy cow!!! What is that golden beauty on the right ????

 

[cyprinid]

Orfe

 

[fwprawn]

Are you kidding me ? I have two young Orfe (3 inches) and do not have any orange. When does the orange come in? How old is that one?

 

[cyprinid]

It's actually the 'golden' variety.....Golden Orfe..

 

[Good_Times]

Well their not in your'e range discription but we have Largemouth Yellowfish (Labeobarbus kimberleyensis) over here that is the largest indigenous freshwater scaled fish in South Africa.
They give a proper fight, especially when hooked near rapids. The current record is 22.2 kilos, and to me one of the most beautifull fish.

http://www.flycastaway.com/experience/what-we-fish/freshwater-species/largemouth-yellowfish/
http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/warm_freshwater/labeobarbus_kimberleyensis.htm

 

[Cichlas]

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, it the golden variety of orfe. Standard ones are a bluey grey colour.

 

[Umbra]

I used to keep tench until they were banned here