The Checkerboard Barb (Puntius oligolepis) is one of the smallest of the barb species. This attractive little fish has a basic gold background for females and red for males. The individual scales have black borders which give the fish a checkerboard appearance. They are peaceful community fish and do great with other small tetras, barbs, livebearers, and danios.
Barbs are popular aquarium fish from the Cyprinidae family, one of the largest in freshwater that also includes other popular fish like Danios and Tetras. Most of the barbs available to aquarists are from the genus Puntius although several others are also found, including Barbus, Garra, Barbonymus, Barilius and others.