A mountain-dweller just like their namesake, H. fasciata or “Melon Barbs” are found in streams, rivers, irrigation channels, ponds, ditches, and just about any freshwater formation in the Western Ghats mountains of southern India. Incredibly hardy and boisterous, Panda Barbs reach 2.75 inches in length and exhibit pink bodies with black markings. Undemanding with regards to tank setup, they seem to do and look best with dark substrate, lots of plants, floating plants, wood, and scattered, variable-sized, water-worn rocks. Ideal for community tanks, they can be kept alongside any peaceful species that isn’t outcompeted or spooked by their boisterous temperament. These fish are ideally kept in conspecific groups of 8 or more alongside rasboras, loaches, rainbowfish, and anabantoids. Omnivorous foragers, they consume diatoms, algae, and small invertebrates, and should be fed varied diets with live and frozen components. Tanks should be maintained with temperatures around 71 to 78°F, pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and hardness of 36 to 179 ppm.