Isok barb
📖 Overview
Inhabits mainly the mainstream of large rivers , with sand or gravel substrates and abundant mollusks populations . Occurs in deep slow reaches . Feeds on aquatic plants, insects and shelled mollusks. Spawns in winter (late December-early February) in big riverine deltas over sand and gravel substrate with water current of 1.3 m/sec . Undertakes spawning and trophic migrations in the Mekong basin. Trophic migrations occurs throughout its occurrence range which takes place mainly at the onset of the flood season and are mainly undertaken by juveniles and subadults . Upstream spawning migrations take place between October and February from Kompong Cham in Cambodia to Chiang Khong in Thailand. At Chiang Khong , fishermen reported that Probarbus moves up the tributary Nam Ta in Laos to breed in March-April. Three Probarbus species were also reported to migrate together, but spawn separately, in January-February at Sungkom, Nong Khai Province in Thailand . Egg is buoyant, yellow and 2 mm in diameter. Hatching occurs in 32 hrs at 23°C . An excellent foodfish, sometimes consumed raw, but rather scarce so it fetches a high market price . Eggs are especially priced . Used to be cultured commercially in Thailand . May be caught individually or in small numbers of any size incidentally with gillnetting and other fishing activities, at virtually any time or place in the Mekong mainstream , but mostly caught during November-January spawning migration, when it is by far the most important species in fisheries catch . In the Mekong this important fisheries species is under serious long-term decline and this decline evidently is basin wide and the most obvious (but not necessarily only) reason is overfishing with gillnets during the reproductive migrations and spawning periods . Attains 70 kg or more, but mostly marketed size nowadays are 5-20 kg .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal soft rays: 8. Differs from P. labeamajor in having only 5 (instead of 6) stripes between lateral line scale row and dorsal fin base; lips not enlarged, free posterior margin of lower lip interrupted at midline; large adults without mentum; maxillary barbel invariably well developed, length one-third or more of eye diameter. The only species in which body stripes may extend to every scale row, but this only occurs in some larger and more darkly pigmented individuals. P. labeamajor and P. labeaminor have no more than three stripes below lateral line scale row, and the abdomen is uniformly white. Adults and larger juveniles of P. jullieni usually have much more red and sometimes yellow coloration on head, body, and fins than the other two species. Scale rows between lateral line scale row and pelvic fin 4.: elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Isok barb is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous . Tropical; 28°N - 5°N
🌿 Ecology
aquatic plants, insects and shelled mollusks
📐 Morphometrics
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Isok barb is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.5 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 136 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Isok barb has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Ikan temoleh · Isok barb · Jullien's Golden Carp · Seven-striped Barb · ikan temolek |
| 🌍CES | parmička Jullienova |
| 🇫🇷French | Barbeau De Jullien |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ムカシゴイ |
| 🌍KHM | Trey Trawsok · ត្រីត្រសក់ ក្រហម |
| 🌍LAO | Pa eun ta deng |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Carpilla Ikan Temoleh |
| 🌍THA | ปลากระสก · ปลายี่สก · ปลายี่สกทอง · ปลายี่สกไทย · ปลาอีสก · ปลาเสือ · ปลาเอินตาแดง · Pla yee sok tong |
| 🌍VIE | Ca tra soc |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 穗鬚原鯉 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbus pahangensis | Duncker | 1904 | Synonym |
| Cyclocheilichthys jullieni | Sauvage | 1880 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Isok barb.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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