Clipper barb

The clipper barb (Enteromius callipterus) or Congo barb is a freshwater and brackish tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Its native habitat is from Côte d'Ivoire through the Chad Basin to Nigeria and Cameroon. It was originally described as Barbus callipterus by Boulenger in 1907.

Clipper barb
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Smiliogastrinae
Genus:	Enteromius
Species:	E. callipterus
Binomial name
Enteromius callipterus Boulenger, 1907
Synonyms
Barbus callipterus Boulenger, 1907 Barbodes callipterus (Boulenger, 1907) Puntius callipterus (Boulenger, 1907)

The clipper barb grows to a maximum length of 3 in (7.6 cm) and a maximum weight of 0.18 oz (5.0 g). It has a slightly convex dorsal profile and short anterior barbels that do not extend beyond the eye. It has a light silverish-golden body, darker on the back. The dorsal and caudal fins have a red-orange base, all other fins are colorless. It has a black spot on the first few rays of the dorsal fin, the tip of those rays are colorless.

Clipper barbs natively live in a tropical environment and prefer freshwater an ideal temperature range of 66–77 °F (19–25 °C).

The clipper barb is of commercial interest in the aquarium industry.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species