Anyone know about snakeskin barbs, Puntius rhombocellatus, or where I can get them?

I've seen some of my LFS's recently offering clown barbs, which I think are dull looking, but they've also got some other type mixed in, sent from their suppliers, that are obviously not clown barbs.

After researching, turns out they are snakeskin barbs.

I really like them! They look much better than they do in the pic in this link below:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+880+2692&pcatid=2692


Here's a link with great info as well as a great pic, but you have to be a member to view it, so i'm posting the pic in this thread:
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/barbs/67492-species-profile-snakeskin-barb.html


Rather than having the dull black marks, the have those only outlined, and they have hints of green and other shiny colors.

They are smaller, not aggressive, not nippers, and make great community fish.


Anyway, so first I talked to all the LFS managers and explained how they are not clown barbs and if they give them to me for a reduced price, I will take them all. Has worked before, but not this time. They say that because they came in as clown barbs for $5.99ea, they can only sell them as such. I thought that was expensive.

Now after looking for others for sale, I only see them offered online for $7.99, plus shipping, so maybe I should just go back and get them all at $5.99 and quarentine before putting them with my other community fish.

Maybe i'll set them up in a species only tank and try breeding... sounds like a fun project.


Anyway, what do you all think?

Thats is a beautiful fish and with the lower aggressiveness would probably make a nice addition to a community tank.. NICE find

Thanks! If you're interested, all the Petsmarts around me are getting them in mixed with their Clown Barb shipments.. lol

hmmmm might have room in my rainbow tank

Well I managed to get me some... bought 6 today... Went to two different Petsmarts and found 3 at each. They were left behind because they were being advertised as clown barbs and were obviously not clown barbs, so I guess people thought they were something else undesirable.

Not for me, saved some money on fish and shipping!

They look much better than the pics do!

They are in a temp tank now until I have the show tank finished and ready for them.

Also in the tank will go 6 espei rasboras, which are smaller and much more brightly colored than standard harlequin rasboras.

Got a powder blue gouramie for up top (tall 25g) and some angelicus botias for bottom.

The angelicus were originally priced at $21.99 and I got them for $5.49ea !

Also finally gave in and got some Endler's since they were only $1.49


Fun day...


Can't wait to setup the show tank and post pics!

No luck at the petsmarts by me ..

Did they even have clown barbs? they come in as clown barbs...

If they don't have clown barbs they won't have them. Noone has yet known about 'snakeskin barbs' that I have spoken to.

If they do have clowns and no snakesnkins, maybe the mgrs were smart and sent them back... lol

The mgmnt here doesn't care if they sell something that is not what it is... they just say, whatever corporate sends us and says to do, we do.. lol