Five-banded Barb
Desmopuntius hexazona
Five-banded Barb (Desmopuntius hexazona) — Easy care, Peaceful, under Barb & Shark. Minimum tank in the app: 21 US gal min; aim for 72–81°F and pH 6–7.5. Details below match the app.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator’s origin map.
Five-banded Barb Tank Setup
Plan for at least 21 US gal min of water—that is the minimum in our database for a workable setup, not a challenge to crowd fish. Aim to hold 72–81°F and pH 6–7.5 without daily drama. These fish use the Mid zone most, so put wood, plants, or open water there accordingly.
What Do Five-banded Barbs Eat?
We record diet as Omnivore. Offer a few food types that match—dry, frozen, or gel—and swap now and then. One flake every day for a year is how dull color and gut trouble creep in.
Five-banded Barb Tank Mates
Temperament in the data: Peaceful. Six-banded barb; peaceful for a barb. Keep in groups of 6+. Similar to Pentazona barb. Plug your full stock list into the stocking calculator—single-species compatibility scores are hints, not a whole-tank verdict.
Are Five-banded Barbs Good for Beginners?
Often a sensible first fish once the tank is cycled and you are willing to test water sometimes. Skip the impulse buy on the same day you set up the tank.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Similar fish to consider
Log tests and reminders in App-aquatic—free, same data you see here.