Home · Cyprinidae · Mountain barb
Mountain barb (Acrossocheilus monticola) — Cyprinidae

Mountain barb

Acrossocheilus monticola
Family: Cyprinidae

The Mountain barb (Acrossocheilus monticola) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China

Want the complete picture on the Mountain barb?

Get the app

Description

The Mountain barb is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of East and Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, silvery body with large scales. As a social schooling fish it swims in rivers, streams and lakes and eats algae, insect larvae, small invertebrates and plant matter. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mountain barb?

The Mountain barb has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Mountain barb live?

The Mountain barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: China

How big does the Mountain barb get?

The Mountain barb grows to a maximum of about 18 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Mountain barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Mountain barb is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Mountain barb (Acrossocheilus monticola) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) fat_man, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mountain barb (Acrossocheilus monticola) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) fat_man, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Mountain barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mountain barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Mountain barb sourced
Scientific name
Acrossocheilus monticola
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Average length (cm)
17.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: China sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acrossocheilus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Mountain barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mountain barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Mountain barb? Get the app