Furry Diary

Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Clown Barb

Barbodes everetti

Also called Everett's barb, Puntius everetti, Barbus everetti, Systomus everetti

SpeciesShort profile

From Asia: Borneo (Sarawak and West Kalimantan), with records from Sumatra and the Natuna islands123

A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.

At a glance the quick version

Length10 to 15 cm123
Sizemedium

Seriously Fish gives 10 to 12 cm standard length; FishBase and Wikipedia give 15 cm maximum total length

Bold spotted pattern
Peaceful community barb
Adaptable omnivore that is easy to feed
12

Looks how to spot one

Scaled cyprinid (barb)

A robust, medium-sized barb marked with a pattern of fairly small dark spots and blotches along the body, including a clear dark blotch where the back of the dorsal fin meets the body. Males take on stronger colour when spawning, while females grow larger and heavier.1

Coloursdark body blotchesdark blotch at rear base of dorsal finmales colour up more strongly when breeding1

Personality what they are like

A calm, peaceful barb that mixes well with other peaceful cyprinids and fish of a similar size.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active, foraging schooling fish that needs a roomy tank with open swimming space.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Seriously Fish suggests a tank base of at least 120 x 45 cm. Water: Seriously Fish gives 18 to 28 C and pH 6.0 to 7.0; FishBase gives 24 to 30 C and pH 6.0 to 6.5. Regular partial water changes keep it in good condition.12

Home where they are happiest

In nature it lives in clear, slow to fast-flowing forest streams in the foothills, and sometimes in shallow puddles on the forest floor. A tank with gentle current, a sandy or gravel bottom and some plants and wood recreates this well.23

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivorous. In the wild it eats worms, insects, small crustaceans and plant material. In the aquarium give a good flake or granule plus small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp.12

Company who they like around

A schooling species; keep at least six together.1

The story where it all began

George Albert Boulenger described the clown barb in 1894, naming it after the British collector Alfred Hart Everett, who gathered the type specimens in Borneo. It was long known as Puntius everetti before being moved to Barbodes in 2013.21

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    Its slime coat contains natural antimicrobial peptides that have been studied by scientists.3

  2. 2

    It is named after Alfred Hart Everett (1848 to 1898), a British naturalist who collected the first specimens.1

  3. 3

    It is often mixed up with Barbodes dunckeri in the trade; the clown barb has smaller dark markings and a dark spot at the rear base of the dorsal fin.1

  4. 4

    In the wild it is sometimes found in shallow puddles on the forest floor.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List
Assessed as Least Concern (LC), March 20202
Scientific description
Described by Boulenger in 18942

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Clown Barb. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Tell me when it launches

Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Clown Barb?

Feed small amounts once or twice a day, as Furry Diary's starting plan suggests. This matches their omnivorous wild diet of worms, insects, and plant matter.12 Furry Diary plan

What does a Clown Barb eat, and what should it never eat?

They eat good flake or granule plus small live or frozen foods like bloodworm, Daphnia, and brine shrimp. Never feed anything not meant for fish; avoid overfeeding.12

How much space does a Clown Barb need?

They need a roomy tank with open swimming space, and Seriously Fish recommends a base of at least 120 x 45 cm. This active schooling fish requires plenty of room.1

What temperature, light or water does a Clown Barb need?

Water temperature can range from 18 to 30 C depending on the source, with pH 6.0 to 7.0. Provide gentle current, a sandy or gravel bottom, and some plants and wood.123

How often should I clean a Clown Barb's home?

Furry Diary's plan suggests weekly partial water changes of about 25%, along with weekly glass cleaning and filter rinsing in old tank water. Regular cleaning keeps them healthy. Furry Diary plan

Can a Clown Barb live with others?

Yes, they are calm and peaceful, mixing well with other peaceful cyprinids and similar-sized fish. Keep at least six together as a schooling species.1

How long does a Clown Barb live?

Lifespan varies; ask a good breeder or exotic-pet vet for specific estimates. With proper care, they can live several years.

Can I handle a Clown Barb?

Handling is not recommended as it stresses the fish and can damage their scales. Observe them in the tank instead.

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

  1. Seriously Fish: Barbodes everetti seriouslyfish.comused for distribution, size, care parameters, diet, behaviour, markings, etymology
  2. FishBase: Barbodes everetti summary fishbase.seused for IUCN status, describer, max length, water parameters, habitat, diet
  3. Wikipedia: Clown barb en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, size, habitat, slime-coat fact
  4. VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
  5. ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
  6. ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
  7. ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
  8. RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.