Denison’s Barb

These fish are disappearing in the wild but can be found all over the world as pets. This Barb is an example of what can happen to a species that is wild caught and suddenly becomes in high demand. After being named as one of the top new fish species this fish quickly become quite popular. Unfortunately, the result was a significant drop in wild populations due largely to over fishing. Loss of natural habitat as the result of pollution and deforestation has also contributed to the reduction of this species in the wild. Efforts have been made to counter this by instituting periods when collection is not allowed, as well as commercial breeding programs in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. However, this fish still remains endangered, and is on the IUCN red list.