Leptobarbus Hoevenii? "Mad Barb"

[attackfish21]

Hello, I just picked up a 125 that came with some of the biggest Bala sharks, and albino tinfoils I have ever seen. The biggest tinfoil was almost a foot in length, and 6-7" tall, and the biggest bala was equal in size.

There was also a fish that I had never seen. Well large anyhow. I have tried and tried to get a pic of this guy, but he is too fast and skiddish. I called the lady and she said when they got him 8 years ago, she thought the store called him a "Mad Barb". So, I looked it up and sure enough, that is the fish I have. BUT, there isn't a lot of info on him, and I don't know a lot about barbs. The name is "Leptobarbus Hoevenii" I re-homed all of the balas and tinfoils to a friend, but I want to keep this guy. Does anyone know much about them?

The pic is just a stock photo, but it is exactly like my guy. What family of fish to barbs belong to? Meaning, is there a specific forum on MFK that I can check out?

 

[Red_Belly_Pacu]

Those are Mad Barbs. Sometimes their common name is Golden Shark. I have about 14 of them. They are very hardy and long lived fish. They are peaceful and dont bother other fishes.

 

[CTU2fan]

Red-finned cigar shark is another common name they go by, and also apparently sultan fish/sultan barb in Asian fish markets. They can get over 3' in the wild but 20" or so seems to be the common aquarium max. Mine is maybe 13" or so...he's not skittish really, just fast and big so when he moves around he really gets the water moving. Very greedy eaters, not picky at all, mine is peaceful for the most part but he likes to nudge the other fish around sometimes.

Could be yours is a bit skittish because his old school-mates are gone. At 8 years old I imagine he's done growing. There are a few threads on them in the "Other Monster Fish" forum.

 

[arapaimag]

Do you still have the barb? If so how big is it now.

I also have a Leptobarbus rubripinna (formerly hoeveni). I had several all obtained in the 1990's. They are a long lived fish and quite smart. I only have one left, it was 14" long when I got it from another hobbyist in 1997. I raised it in the 15k and friends caught it 2009 when it was measured at 23" and a bit. It was moved to the 52k after a summer in outside ponds that year. It has continued to grow in the bigger tank and now appears to be about 26". I don't know how long the other hobbyist had it but i've owned it for the past 15 years.

All in all a great fish.

 

[Allan01230]

I had a few of them over the years always kept them with tinfoiol barbs. Never bothered any other fish. They will grow to about 20 inches in captivity. They are real jumpers. Pretty cool fish!