Native to fast-flowing streams and rivers in the Western Ghats of India, the Roseline Shark (Sahyadria denisonii)—also known as the Denison Barb, Red-line Torpedo Barb, or Miss Kerala—is a highly popular freshwater cyprinid. Today, nearly all specimens available in the hobby are responsibly captive-bred.

Appearance & Size

The Roseline Shark features a sleek, silver torpedo-shaped body. It is instantly recognizable by a bold black horizontal stripe and a fiery red-to-orange stripe running from its snout, through the eye, and over the front half of its body. A red-edged dorsal fin and vivid yellow-and-black markings on its forked tail complete the look.

As adults, they grow to a respectable 4.5 to 6 inches (11–15 cm). With proper care, they are hardy fish that boast a lifespan of 5 to 8 years, occasionally reaching up to 10 years.

Aquarium Setup & Water Conditions

Because they are incredibly active schooling fish, a small group requires a minimum tank size of 40 to 55 gallons. When choosing a tank, length matters much more than height to provide them with the horizontal swimming space they need.

Originating from rushing hill streams, they thrive in highly oxygenated, fast-moving water. Ensure you have strong filtration and water movement in the tank. Maintain water temperatures between 72°F and 78°F and a pH of 7.0 to 8.5. Additionally, because they are prone to jumping when startled, a tight-fitting lid is essential.

Diet

Roseline Sharks are omnivorous and very easy to feed. In the wild, they eat insects, worms, and plant matter. In the aquarium, they will readily accept a staple diet of high-quality flakes and small pellets. To keep their colors bright and their health optimal, supplement their diet with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia.

Social Behavior & Tank Mates

Unlike some of their more aggressive barb cousins, Roseline Sharks are very peaceful community fish. They must be kept in schools to feel secure and display their best natural schooling behavior.

They get along excellently with other active fish such as rainbowfish, loaches, other peaceful barbs, and larger tetras. However, due to their darting speed and high activity levels, you should avoid slow-moving or long-finned fish (like fancy angelfish or bettas), as the barbs may accidentally stress them out or nip at their fins. You should also avoid keeping them with very warm-water species like Discus, and be aware that they may hunt very small dwarf shrimp.