The Asoka Barb is a fresh water species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family.
It is found only in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

. Maximum length of male fish is around 17cm in size and average length is 10cm.

Biology

Found in relatively deep (1-2 m) fast-flowing water, in areas with gravel or sand substrates. Juveniles (1-3cm TL) shoal together in schools of 30-100 individuals in very shallow water (5-25 cm), downstream. Adults occupy deeper water (1-2m), upstream. Usually occupies unshaded areas. Fast swimmers and not easily identified from water surface. This species can be found in freshwater which has 6.5 - 7.5 pH range and 25°C - 30°C temperature.
Distribution of this specie is upper reaches of the Sitawaka River and its tributaries, and Kelani near Kitulgala, Sri Lanka.