Pentazona Barb
Desmopuntius pentazona
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 21–26 °C
Species profile
Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Common names: Odessa Barb, Scarlet Barb, Ticto Barb
Recognized speciesBarbs
Adult size
Up to 4.6 cm
Typical adult length 4–4.6 cm.
Up to 4.6 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A cool-water community with active fish
- A keeper who wants strong colour without a heater
- A group of 8 to 10 in a medium aquarium
Think carefully if
- You keep warm-water tropical fish above 25 °C
- You keep long-finned or very shy fish
- You can keep only a few fish
A striking barb from central Myanmar whose males carry a thick red-orange band along the flank. It suits cooler community tanks and is at its best in a group.
Appearance and Identification
Silver to bronze scales with a dark edge, and a thick red-orange band along the flank of males. The fins have sharp dark markings. Females are thicker-bodied and plainer.
A red-orange flank band on a male, plus a dark shoulder mark and dark fin spots, are the most useful features to check.
Males have a thick red-orange flank band and sharper fin markings. Females are thicker-bodied and plainer.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 280–350 litres an hour
- Minimum tank volume
- 70 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 80 cm
- Minimum group size
- 8
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide open swimming space with planted edges and dark substrate. A heater is often unnecessary in a room that stays within its range.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active fish that spends much of its time displaying and chasing within the group.
Keep a mixed-sex group of at least 8 to 10, with other schooling fish for added security.
Not territorial, although males display to each other.
Good with other cool-tolerant, active fish such as danios, gold barbs, and rosy barbs. Larger groups reduce nipping. Avoid long-finned fish and shrimp.
Water Parameters
Neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard water suits this fish. Keep it cool rather than warm.
Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly. Colour is best in cooler, clean water.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality flake or small granulesUse as the daily staple and scatter it so every fish in the group can reach food.
- Frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimpOffer a few times a week to improve condition and colour.
- Spirulina flake or blanched vegetablesBarbs graze as well as hunt, so include some plant matter each week.
An omnivore that takes prepared foods, small invertebrates, and plant matter.
Regular frozen or live foods help males develop their best colour.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Brood or egg count
- Typically dozens to a few hundred eggs
- Incubation
- 2 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumNeeded for the first days after fry become free-swimming, because the fry are very small.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement, and siphon out anything left uneaten.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry are large enough to swallow it, usually after several days.
- MicrowormsA useful next step for fry that are still too small for brine shrimp.
An egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care. Spawn in a dimly lit tank with a mesh or marble base, and remove adults after eggs appear. Expect hatching in 24 to 48 hours.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Asia, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater River, Pond, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Temperate Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Pethia
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Species group
- Barbs, Fish
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Rohani Barb
Dawkinsia rohani
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 9.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 19–25 °C
Rosy Barb
Pethia conchonius
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8–10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 90 litres
- Temperature
- 16–24 °C
Short Body Green Tiger Barb
Puntius tetrazona var. "Green Short Body"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 72 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C