Denison barb
Dawkinsia denisonii
The Denison barb shows no sexual dimorphism, i.e. males and females look the same outside the spawning season. However, during the spawning season, from November to January, during the north-east monsoon, the females are fuller. During this time, the fish are highly territorial. Denison barbs do not practice brood care. This strategy allows them to lay more eggs, as no energy has to be expended on guarding them. Their greatest danger is overfishing for aquariums and declining water quality due to pesticides.
| Classification | Carp-like, carp fish (1300 species) | |
| Habitat | Mountain streams in the West Indies | |
| Behaviour | In shoals in rocky shore areas with dense vegetation | |
| Diet | Parts of plants, insect larvae, invertebrates | |
| Body length | Up to 16 cm | |
| Spawn | No brood care, Eggs are scattered on the ground by the female and then fertilized (scattering method) | |
| Duration from egg laying to hatching | 1-2 days | |
| Life expectancy | Unknown | |
| Use | Aquaristics | |
| Current population | |limited distribution area, decreasing | |
| At Zurich Zoo since|2024 |
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