Filament barb
Dawkinsia filamentosa
Adult needs, habitat, social behaviour and care sources for this fish.
At a glance
Welfare notes
- This is a social species. Keep in groups of at least 8; smaller groups cause chronic stress.
- Has long, delicate fins. Vulnerable to fin-nippers and strong currents.
- Native habitat: flowing_stream.
- Listed on the DAFF permitted freshwater ornamental fish list as Dawkinsia filamentosa.
Where this care information comes from
Confidence: medium · reviewed 9/20/2026
Seriously Fish husbandry; FishBase size and rangeSame-species strategy: shoal
Males grow long dorsal filaments with age.
Australia reference notes
Import rules and the rules for keeping a fish are not always the same.
- Federal import
- Import status not yet verified
- Keeping this species
- Check state or territory rules
- Evidence confidence
- Incomplete. Check the current rules before relying on this.
- Last reviewed
- Not recorded
We still need to add a source for this jurisdiction.
These notes only cover Australia and may not apply where you live. Rules can also change, so check with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before buying, moving or collecting fish.
How FishTankr checks this fish
This fish affects tank mates, swimming room and water. The cycle can limit the score. Waste load and biotope match stay separate.
Species compatibility
When FishTankr checks this fish against its tank mates, it considers that known fin-nippers may damage its long fins.
Waste load (beta)
Each Filament barb adds about 2.2 to our early-stage waste estimate. We only use this to show a broad beta band. It does not set a safe fish limit, and a faster pump cannot improve it.
Space to swim
This fish needs at least 243 L for adult swimming and territory. It is an active swimmer, so tank length matters as much as volume.
Biotope match
This fish comes from South Asian river (flowing_stream), where the pH is typically 6–7 and the temperature 20–25 °C. The optional biotope match looks for fish, water and décor from the same region.
Regional reference
Australian federal records list this fish as permitted for import with conditions. State or territory rules may still apply, so check the source before buying.
Where to buy
We do not track shop stock. Pick your location and we will run a live search for Filament barb on each independent shop's own website.
Search links go straight to each shop's own site, so you always see their current stock, not our copy of it. Delivery details show the date we last checked them on the shop's site.
Related species
These fish have promising swim-zone, temperament and water matches. Add the full group to your tank plan before deciding whether they can live together.
Individual fish vary. Check each species’ needs and local regulations before you buy.