🐟 Five-Banded Barb Desmopuntius pentazona

The Five-Banded Barb (Desmopuntius pentazona) is a moderate-care, semi-aggressive species from Southeast Asia. Adults reach roughly 2", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 5.5–7. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 6 so it feels secure and colors up. It tends to nip fins, so avoid slow, long-finned tankmates. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Five-Banded Barb

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraEndler's LivebearerPlatyGerman Blue RamBolivian RamKribensisZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusKuhli LoachAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiKeyhole CichlidRainbow CichlidPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishZebra LoachHillstream LoachClown PlecoLeast KillifishGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraYellow Dwarf CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Bumblebee ShrimpClown KillifishAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

AngelfishConvict CichlidOscarWhite Cloud MinnowPictus CatfishJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidAuratus CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterRed Tail SharkBlack Ghost KnifefishAfrican Butterfly FishRopefishSenegal BichirGolden Wonder KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBucktooth TetraBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornRed Zebra CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidCalvus CichlidTropheus Duboisi

See the full tankmate guide for Five-Banded Barb →