Mascara Barb?

[FishFinatic]

Just left my LFS and they have these fish called Mascara Barbs. They are really cool looking and want to find out more about them. First, do you know the actual name for them? Also, he wants $34.99 a piece, which seems really steep to me. Are they worth this price?

Here are a few pictures

[MLBfan]

Puntius filamentosus is the scientific name.

here's some info: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-filamentosus/

[FishFinatic]

Those look very simular, but not sure its correct. They are missing the dot over the eye, and the colors seem much more drab then what they are at the LFS.

The Puntius assimilis looks simular too, but the colors over the eye are wrong. Im trying to figure out if the fish he has is really that rare to cost $$35 per fish.

[Brhino]

Puntius assimilis maybe? In some photos they look exactly like yours, in others, not so much. EDIT: I see you just found those yourself.

They could be hybrids, a lot of these similar barb species can interbreed.

[FishFinatic]

Know anything about the price? Just wanting to find out how far off he is. Maybe they do go for that, I dont know.

[Brhino]

they must be fairly rare, I didn't see anyone selling them in my quick internet search. So... a fish is worth what people are willing to pay for it, I guess. Given that barbs are schooling fish, you're looking at couple hundred dollars minimum to do right by them. More than I would spend, but to each his own.

[MLBfan]

IMO, for 35 dollars a fish, you could just start a discus tank for that much. I don't think a schooling fish is worth that. If you like them and are willing to pay about $300+ (Depending on school size, also you may get a discount for buying that many), then I say get them. You might also be able to breed and sell them too.

[PhillipOrigami]

Reminds me of L046 Plecos.
The only reason people usually buy them is to breed them and try to make profit.
If you can't find them anywhere else, and are on a lofty budget, I say make a good new tank just for them... who knows when they might pop up again?

[Fishisompin]

Just because they are rare, doesn't mean they are worth the price. What values do we place on our fish? Beauty? Behavior? Breeding? Rarity? Keeping? Its worth thinking about...