Product Details

Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb - Dawkinsia denisonii

Overview:

The Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb is a premium colour form of the much-loved Denison Barb, offering the same sleek torpedo-shaped body and vivid red lateral stripe with a warmer golden body tone. Also known as the Gold Red Line Torpedo Barb, Gold Denison Barb or Golden Roseline Shark, this active shoaling fish is best suited to larger aquariums with excellent filtration, high oxygen levels and plenty of swimming space. It is peaceful with suitable tank mates, but its size, speed and group requirements mean it should be planned as a feature shoal for a spacious tropical or cooler tropical community.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb 
Other Names: Gold Denison Barb, Gold Red Line Torpedo Barb, Golden Roseline Shark, Denison Barb, Red Line Torpedo Barb, Miss Kerala
Scientific Name: Dawkinsia denisonii
Fish Type: Barb / Cyprinid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The golden form is a captive-bred ornamental strain, but the wild species is endemic to southern India, particularly fast-flowing rivers and hill streams of the Western Ghats. Wild Denison Barbs are associated with clean, well-oxygenated water, rocky areas, pools, flowing channels and vegetated margins. Because wild populations have faced pressure from collection and habitat change, captive-bred stock is strongly preferred where available.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Golden Red Line Denison Barbs have a streamlined, torpedo-like body built for active swimming. The golden strain usually shows a pale gold to yellow-gold body, a strong red stripe running from the snout through the eye and along the front half of the body, and contrasting markings in the fins and tail. Adults can reach around 12–15 cm, with females often becoming deeper-bodied when mature. Their best colour is usually seen in settled fish kept in groups with clean, well-oxygenated water.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a superb choice for a large, active community aquarium, especially a river-style or high-flow planted setup. Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb need open swimming room, a long tank, strong filtration and good oxygenation. They are not suitable for small aquariums, quiet nano communities or tanks with slow, delicate long-finned fish. Hardy plants such as Anubias, Java Fern and larger Cryptocoryne can work well, especially when combined with smooth stones, wood and open swimming lanes.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 300 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 120 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are strongly preferred, as this is a fast, shoaling species that becomes more confident and better behaved when kept in a proper group.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 18–25°C
pH: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: Soft to hard; adaptable, but avoid unstable conditions
Additional Notes: High oxygen levels and strong filtration are important. Provide moderate to strong water movement, regular water changes and low waste levels. Avoid consistently high tropical temperatures, as this species naturally favours cooler, oxygen-rich conditions.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb are generally peaceful, but they are fast, energetic feeders and can intimidate slow or timid fish. Suitable tank mates include larger tetras, rainbowfish, peaceful barbs, danios, robust rasboras, loaches, Corydoras, bristlenose plecs and other medium-sized community fish that enjoy similar water conditions.

Avoid very small fish, slow long-finned species such as fancy guppies, delicate bettas, very shy fish and aggressive cichlids. They should be kept in a group of at least 6, with 8 or more preferred where space allows. Small groups can become nervous or overly competitive.

Feeding:

Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barb are omnivores and should be offered a varied diet. Use quality flakes, granules and small pellets as the staple, supported with frozen or live foods such as brineshrimp, bloodworm, daphnia and cyclops. Include vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes, algae-based foods and occasional blanched greens. A mixed diet helps maintain colour, condition and steady growth.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active midwater shoaling fish that spends much of its time cruising in open water. A group will often move together, especially in a long aquarium with good flow. Golden Red Striped Torpedo Barbs may become excitable at feeding time, so feed in a way that gives quieter tank mates a fair chance. They are not usually fin-nippers, but their speed and size make them unsuitable for very calm communities.

Care Notes:

Keep in a mature aquarium with strong filtration and excellent oxygenation. Do not keep singly or in very small groups. Provide a long tank with open swimming space rather than a heavily cluttered layout. Avoid warm, low-oxygen aquariums and poor water quality. Captive-bred golden forms may be more available than wild-type imports, but they still need the same spacious, clean and well-maintained conditions as standard Denison Barbs.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Captive-bred colour strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.