Five-belt barb - Desmopuntius (Puntius) pentazona

Originating from Asia , the pretty five-belt barbs, Puntius pentazona, are already known in aquaristics since 1911. In its habitats, which are located from Southeast Asia to Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and beyond, it inhabits, among other things, shore areas with dense vegetation, as well as quiet river sections and also black waters.

Somewhat better known is its relative, the Sumatran barb. Five-banded barb has a somewhat high-backed body with a light ground color, on which there are five vertical bands, the first of which extends somewhat obliquely over the eye, the second is between it and the dorsal fin set far back, on which the third extends to above the first fin ray, the fourth is just behind it, and the fifth is just before the caudal peduncle. Their fins are yellowish-transparent, and in males the ventral fins may be more intensely colored red. They grow up to 5 cm in size.

Due to their origin in tropical areas, the Five-belted Barb prefers an aquarium with acidic and soft water, ideally a so-called blackwater aquarium. Its new home should be at least 150 liters, where it is preferably kept in a group. Provided that its requirements are taken into account, it can be optimally socialized with other fish and is only noticed from time to time by its tendency to burrow. For advanced keepers it is an ideal and interesting fish, which now and then prefers the attention  of its keeper.

Five-belt barbs differ purely externally on the one hand by the more intensive red coloring of the ventral fin with the males. These also become more colorful than the females, but physically lag behind them somewhat and also remain slimmer.

Breeding five-belt barbs is not quite as easy as with other fish. The group must be well observed to catch out a harmonizing pair. The spawning tank and rearing aquarium needs acidic, preferably peat-filtered water and a fairly high temperature of 28° C, as well as fine plants, ideally Java moss. To stimulate the females, they should be well fed with enchytraea. The five-belt barbs are free spawners, however, they also tend to spawn predators, so they should be moved again immediately after spawning. After about 48 hours, the first larvae will have developed from the eggs and will continue to feed on their yolk sac for about a week, after which they can be fed very fine live food . The fry aquarium must be kept scrupulously clean and well filtered.

Five-belted barbs require an aquarium of at least 150 liters, which should be very well structured with roots and stones to offer the animals sufficient retreats and hiding places. They prefer to live in a group with at least  10 animals. If their group is too small in their opinion or if the barb is even kept alone, it can express its displeasure and becomes a troublemaker in the community aquarium.

Since the animals tend to dig, it is advisable to distribute the planting to the background and the edge area of the tank. The substrate should consist of fine sand or very small and rounded grains, since the fish like to stay in rather shady areas, it may have darker colors, so that the fish can be seen more often. Five-belted barbs mainly stay in the middle to lower water zone and also look for their food there, which is why the aquarium should be sufficiently dimensioned filtered. According to their habitat, the aquarium may be rather less brightly lit and have partially dark corners, as well as rather acidic water. Their water parameters are ideally at a total hardness between 5-12° dGH, a carbonate hardness of 0-4 °dKH, a pH of 5.5-6.8 and a temperature between 24-27°C.

Five-belted barbs can also behave similarly to their relatives, the Sumatran barbs, especially if their requirements are not met and they then go after the long fins of their fellow fish. Although there are reports that the animals could be socialized with long-finned fish such as angelfish, veiltails and others without any problems, this is probably rather the exception. Since they mainly live in the lower part of the tank, socialization with crayfish of any kind and also other invertebrates would be rather inadvisable. The Five-belted Barb can be socialized with other barbs and tetras, as well as conditionally with catfishes.

As an omnivore, the Five-belted Barbel prefers to search for food in the substrate. It can therefore be fed with live food and frozen food, but also with bottom tablets, which have an increased animal protein content, as well as with sinking granules.

Our feed recommendation: The NatureHolic Main Feed is a professional staple feed for all aquarium fish. Main feed we supply in the form of soft granules, which thanks to its grain size of half a millimeter can be easily absorbed by small to medium sized fish. The soft consistency resembles the texture of insect larvae in nature and protects the fish mouth from micro-injuries.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free from algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.