• Scientific name: Barbus gelius
• Synonyms: Cyprinus gelius, Systomus gelius
• Common name: Golden dwarf barb, Golden barb, Canine barb
• Group: Cyprinds
• Habitat: Asia; Central India, Bengal, Assam
• Size: 4 cm
• Biotope: In both gently-flowing and standing waters
• Social behavior: A peaceful, sociable fish which can be combined with other barbs. Sometimes it eats tender plant shoots.
  
• Diet: Omnivorous; All live foods; dried and soft algae. All food should be small, since the fishes have a small mouth.
  
• Breeding: Easy
• Tank: Minimum 30 litres
• Population: 10-12 fishes for 50 litres
• Decoration: A dark gravel bottom in an estabilished tank with some mulm. The aquarium should be planted with Cryptocorynes or similar species of plants with plenty of swimming space. Use roots for decoration.
• Temperature: 18-22 °C
• pH: 6-7
• Hardness: 5-8NK°

Description: The fish should be kept at lower temperatures, or else they will not live very long. The backs of both sexes of the Golden Dwarf Barbs are olive-green to brownish, and the underparts are white with a silvery sheen.  The flanks of the Golden Barb are iridescent gold with irregular dark blotches.  In addition they also have a reddish gold longitudinal stripe that extends back to the caudal peduncle, where it widens into a shiny coppery marking.  The Golden Dwarf Barb's eyes are pale green.

Male slenderer and smaller with a more pronounced coppercolored lateral stripe. Water temperature should be 72-73 °F (22-23 °C) in the breeding tank. Use about 6 inches of water at 5° dGH and pH 6-6,5. Select only the finest specimens for breeding. Plant the tank with Ludwigia, coupling is preceeded by a vigorous courtship. The fish will spawn on the underside of leaves leaving 70 to 100 eggs. The parents will eat their fry so they must be removed. The fry hatch in 24 hours and should be fed fine foods. Water temperature should not exceed 73 °F (23 °C) during breeding since the eggs may be rendered infertile or the fry may not reach adult size. Degeneration may continue until the fish cannot reproduce. This can be countered by (1) using only adult fish for breeding and (2) replacing breeding pairs.