Product Details

Red Line Torpedo Barb – Sahyadria denisonii

The Red Line Torpedo Barb is a fast, elegant and highly recognisable barb with a streamlined silver body, bold black lateral stripe and vivid red line running from the snout through the eye and along the front half of the body. Also sold as the Denison Barb, Roseline Shark, Red Line Barb, Torpedo Barb or Miss Kerala, this active shoaling fish is best suited to large, mature aquariums with excellent water quality, high oxygenation and plenty of swimming space. It is peaceful for its size, but it is not a small tank fish and should be kept in a proper group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Red Line Torpedo Barb
Other Names: Denison Barb, Roseline Shark, Red Line Barb, Red-lined Torpedo Barb, Torpedo Barb, Miss Kerala
Scientific Name: Sahyadria denisonii
Older / Trade Name: Puntius denisonii, Barbus denisonii, Dawkinsia denisonii
Fish Type: Barb / Shoaling Cyprinid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Sahyadria denisonii is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India, especially river systems in Kerala and Karnataka. In the wild, it inhabits clear, fast-flowing hill streams and rocky pools with strong oxygenation, clean water and thick riparian vegetation along the banks.

These habitats often contain stones, boulders, gravel, submerged roots and areas of current. In the aquarium, Red Line Torpedo Barbs need a setup that reflects this active stream lifestyle, with open swimming space, good flow, high oxygen levels and stable water quality.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Red Line Torpedo Barbs have a long, torpedo-shaped silver body built for fast swimming. A bold black stripe runs from the snout through the body towards the tail, with a bright red stripe above it across the front half of the fish. The dorsal fin often shows red colour, while the tail has distinctive black and yellow markings.

Mature fish may develop a subtle greenish or bluish sheen around the head, especially when settled and in good condition. Adults usually reach around 12–15 cm, making them much larger and more active than many common barbs.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to large planted aquariums, river-style community tanks and spacious displays with strong filtration. It needs room to swim in a group and does best in clean, well-oxygenated water with gentle to moderate current.

Red Line Torpedo Barbs are not suitable for small aquariums, cramped community tanks or newly set-up systems. They are active, fast-moving fish that may stress shy or slow tank mates if kept in too small a space.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 250–300 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 120 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are strongly preferred for adult groups and mixed communities.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8 or more preferred where space allows. Keeping too few can make them nervous, reduce natural shoaling behaviour and increase stress.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 20–25°C
pH: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Red Line Torpedo Barbs need clean, stable, well-oxygenated water. Provide good filtration, regular water changes and some water movement. Avoid high temperatures, low oxygen, poor water quality and sudden parameter swings.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Red Line Torpedo Barbs are generally peaceful, active shoaling fish. Suitable tank mates include other medium-sized peaceful barbs, rainbowfish, larger danios, robust rasboras, medium tetras, peaceful loaches, Bristlenose Plecos and suitably sized cory-type catfish in appropriate conditions.

Avoid tiny fish that may be stressed by their speed, slow long-finned fish, very shy species, aggressive cichlids, large predators and fin-nipping tank mates. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as this can make them nervous and unsettled.

Feeding:

Red Line Torpedo Barbs are omnivores with a strong grazing element in the diet. In nature, they feed on plant material, algae, biofilm and small aquatic invertebrates. In the aquarium, offer quality flakes, small pellets, granules and herbivore or spirulina-based foods as the staple diet.

Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and occasional bloodworm. Vegetable-based foods such as spirulina flakes, algae wafers and blanched greens are useful. A varied diet helps maintain colour, body condition and steady growth.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active midwater shoaling fish that spends much of its time swimming in open areas. A settled group will move together across the tank, often using the full length of the aquarium.

They may become nervous if kept in low numbers, in cramped tanks or with aggressive fish. Breeding in home aquariums is uncommon, and much of the commercial supply is now captive-bred through specialist breeding programmes.

Care Notes:

Plan for adult size and activity level. Red Line Torpedo Barbs need a large, mature aquarium, a proper group, clean water and high oxygenation. They are sensitive to poor water quality and should not be added to immature tanks.

Use a secure lid, as active barbs can jump when startled. Choose captive-bred stock wherever possible, as this species is Endangered in the wild and historic overcollection contributed to conservation pressure. Avoid mixing them into small or slow-moving community setups where their speed and size may cause stress.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Captive-bred preferred, with wild-caught fish avoided where possible due to conservation status

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, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.