Cumming's Barb

Pethia cumingii is endemic to streams in the wet zone of southwestern Sri Lanka. Its common name honours the 19th-century plant collector Hugh Cuming. The body is golden-yellow to orange with two distinct dark blotches — one below the dorsal fin and one at the caudal peduncle — and the fins carry varying degrees of red and yellow pigment. It thrives in soft, slightly acidic water in a planted aquarium setting.

Water: 22–26°C, pH 6.0–7.0, soft to moderate (GH 4–12). Tank: 80 L minimum; well-planted with dark substrate; Sri Lankan biotope ideal. Feeding: Omnivore; small flake, micro-pellets, frozen daphnia, and brine shrimp. Behaviour: Peaceful schooler; keep in groups of 6+; males spar gently. Compatibility: Ideal with other peaceful soft-water species; Black Ruby Barbs, small rasboras, and corydoras.