Fiveband Barb
Desmopuntius pentazona
The Fiveband Barb (Desmopuntius pentazona) is the good and peaceful alter-ego of the notorious Tiger Barb. At first glance it is very similar to its Sumatran cousin (gold/copper body with vertical stripes), but possesses 5 black bands instead of 4, a significantly more elongated and slender body, and a warmer rust-red coloring. The monumental difference between the two fish is character: the Pentazona is extremely quiet, shy and will never nip the fins of any fish, making it the perfect option for those who love the look of the Tiger Barb but own a quiet South American or Asian community aquarium.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
4.5 - 6.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
5 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 8
GH
1 - 8 dGH
KH
1 - 4 dKH
TDS
25 - 160 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 250 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore). Lives in highly specific habitats: peat swamps and flooded rainforests in the "blackwater" style. The waters are calm, amber or dark brown, steeped in humic acids derived from a thick layer of dead leaves, decaying branches, and decomposing roots.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Cyprinid of modest size (maximum 5 cm / 2 inches). Often confused in person with the Tiger Barb, but presents a significantly more streamlined, hydrodynamic, and less stocky body. Boasts five (sometimes six) well-defined vertical black bars over a body with warm copper or bright brick-red hues. The fifth distinctive band is just behind the eye/gill.
Social Behavior: Unlike the quarrelsome and lively Tiger Barb, the Pentazona is the embodiment of tranquility and shyness. It swims placidly in the lower and middle zones of the tank, seeking the shelter of vegetation. Strictly schooling species: keeping fewer than 8-10 individuals will lead them to live perpetually hidden and faded from terror.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Base livery ranges from golden copper to deep brick red (based on water acidity). Sexual dimorphism is marked in healthy specimens: males are smaller, thinner, more slender, and display a bright coral/rust red all over their body and fins. Females are stockier, round-bellied, and have duller brown colors.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Tank starting from 80 cm (30 inches) in length. Essential to create an intricate layout: bogwood roots, very fine dark sand substrate, and obligatorily a carpet of dried Catappa leaves (offering shelter and releasing tannins). Light must be very dim or totally shielded by dense floating plants (Salvinia, Limnobium). Water must lack strong currents.
Diet and Feeding: Micro-predator and omnivore. In the wild, it constantly digs into the substrate looking for small crustaceans, larvae, and zooplankton hidden in the mud. In the aquarium, it accepts flakes and soft micro-pellets sinking mid-water, but to make the males' wonderful red pigmentation explode, live or frozen Bloodworms and Daphnia are essential.
Water Quality: Extremely demanding and intolerant. Inhabits hyper-acidic (pH 4.5 - 6.5) and very soft "black" waters (GH 1.0 - 8.0), almost devoid of carbonate hardness, at a temperature of 22.0 - 26.0 °C. Placement in an aquarium with normal hard and alkaline tap water will cause their colors to fade and premature cellular aging.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Given its extreme shyness and the tiny size of its mouth, it NEVER nips other fish's fins (unlike the Tiger Barb). Excellent coexistence with Betta splendens (if tolerant), small Rasboras (Boraras, Trigonostigma), small peaceful bottom Loaches like Pangio, and dwarf Gouramis. Do not mix with large or hyperactive species.
Aquarium Breeding: Free-spawner on foliage, difficult for the average aquarist to achieve. Requires a separate breeding tank with pH plummeted to 5.0, active peat, Java moss, and grates on the bottom to prevent parents from instantly devouring their own tiny eggs laid at dawn. The minuscule fry need infusoria.
Risks and Diseases: Vulnerable to stress induced by environmental factors: bright lights, water devoid of tannins, or boisterous company will depress it, stopping it from feeding. If nitrate levels are not immaculate in such soft water, it risks bacterial ulcerations. No fish should ever spook it abruptly.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Endemic to Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore). Lives in highly specific habitats: peat swamps and flooded rainforests in the "blackwater" style. The waters are calm, amber or dark brown, steeped in humic acids derived from a thick layer of dead leaves, decaying branches, and decomposing roots.
Origine
Amérique du Sud hors AmazonieAsie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- The Fiveband barb is a somewhat shy, peaceful schooling fish that absolutely must be kept in groups of at least six, preferably more. When kept in insufficient numbers, they can become very withdrawn, skittish, and may lose their vivid coloration due to stress. In a suitably large school within a well-planted tank, they are active, confident, and provide a beautiful, peaceful display.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are unfussy omnivores that will readily accept a wide variety of prepared, live, and frozen foods in the aquarium. A high-quality micro-pellet or flake food should form the staple of their diet, supplemented regularly to ensure vibrant coloration. Offering live or frozen bloodworms, Daphnia, and Artemia will encourage optimal health and can help bring them into breeding condition.
- Espérance de vie
- 4-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 5 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- Keeping a mixed-sex group is perfectly fine, and having both males and females will encourage the males to display their most vibrant, fiery red coloration as they compete for attention. Males are generally slimmer and more intensely colored than the rounder, slightly duller females. Maintaining them in a large group of 8 to 10 or more individuals allows for natural schooling behavior and disperses any mild chasing among males.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Feeding them two to three small meals a day is ideal to match their active metabolism and natural foraging behaviors. Only offer an amount of food that the school can completely consume within two to three minutes to prevent overfeeding. This frequent, modest feeding schedule helps reduce aggression during feeding times and maintains optimal water quality.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- The Fiveband barb produces a moderate bioload that is easily managed in a well-maintained, mature aquarium. Due to their schooling nature, keeping them in appropriate numbers will increase the overall waste production, necessitating a robust biological filter. Weekly water changes of around 20-30% are highly recommended to maintain the pristine water conditions they need to show their best colors.
- Courant
- Strong
- They naturally inhabit slow-moving streams, peat swamps, and calm forest pools, so they prefer gentle to moderate water flow. While they enjoy exploring the tank, excessively strong currents from powerful powerheads can stress them and force them to hide. A moderate output from a standard canister or hang-on-back filter is usually sufficient to keep the water oxygenated without overwhelming them.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Egg scatterer
- They are egg-scattering spawners that offer no parental care, and adults will readily eat their own eggs if given the chance. To successfully breed them, a separate dimly lit spawning tank with a mesh bottom or dense clumps of fine-leaved plants like Java moss should be set up. Once spawning has occurred, the adults must be promptly removed, and the fry fed infusoria once they are free-swimming.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- These barbs are excellent community fish and are significantly more peaceful than their similarly patterned cousin, the Tiger Barb. They rarely engage in fin-nipping and can be safely housed with slow-moving or long-finned species like gouramis or angelfish. Ideal tankmates include other peaceful Southeast Asian species such as rasboras, small loaches, and peaceful bottom-dwellers like Corydoras catfish.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- They are active mid-to-bottom dwellers, spending most of their time exploring the lower regions of the aquarium among plants and driftwood. They appreciate a tank with plenty of cover, such as dense aquatic vegetation and botanical litter, which mimics their natural environment. While they will come up for food, they generally stay in the lower half of the water column where they feel most secure.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,9 ± 0,3 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5039
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01072, b = 3.02
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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