−15%
Easy
Black Ruby Barb (Pethia nigrofasciata)
20–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 80L
£2.54£2.99
One unsexed Five-Banded Barb per quantity in the selected approximate size grade. Keep six or more in a mature, planted soft-water aquarium with gentle flow and calm companions.
Desmopuntius pentazona
Five-Banded Barb are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Confirm your email, then we’ll send an availability message for this exact item if it returns within 180 days.
This request is only for this product—no newsletter or other promotions. A mail-provider retry may very rarely duplicate the same availability message. Unconfirmed addresses are removed after 48 hours. See our privacy policy.
One unsexed Five-Banded Barb per quantity in the selected approximate size grade. Keep six or more in a mature, planted soft-water aquarium with gentle flow and calm companions.
20–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 80L
23–27°C · pH 6–8 · 60L
23–27°C · pH 6–8 · 60L
23–27°C · pH 6–8 · 80L
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
The Five-Banded Barb is a small, peaceful shoaling fish sold under the supplier identity Desmopuntius pentazona. Each quantity on this listing buys one unsexed fish in the selected approximate size grade. It is not a fixed pack of ten and it is not a guaranteed male, female or breeding pair. Because this is a social species, plan the aquarium and total quantity around a group of at least six; eight to ten can give a more settled display when the tank has enough swimming length, filtration and cover.
This barb is best suited to a mature, softly lit community aquarium with soft, mildly acidic water, gentle circulation, dense planting or wood cover and an open midwater swimming lane. It is calmer and more reserved than the familiar Tiger Barb, so boisterous companions can leave it hiding or losing food. The selected size is the approximate dispatch grade, not the adult size. Allow for a typical aquarium length of around 5-6 cm and do not design the permanent setup around a juvenile measurement.
| Sale unit | One unsexed fish per quantity selected |
|---|---|
| Listed identity | Five-Banded Barb, Desmopuntius pentazona |
| Supplier legacy name | Barbus/Barbodes pentazona |
| Size choices | Approximate dispatch grades shown in the size selector; availability can vary |
| Social requirement | Keep six or more; consider eight to ten where the aquarium supports them |
| Sex or pair certainty | Not guaranteed |
| Gallery context | representative illustrations, not photographs of the exact fish dispatched |
The quantity controls may offer multi-buy tiers because the species should not be kept alone. Those tiers change how many individual fish are ordered; they do not change the sale unit into a sealed bundle. For example, selecting a quantity of six means six fish in the chosen available size grade. It does not certify a sex ratio or an established shoal. Fish are living animals, so exact length, colour intensity, band contrast and body condition vary naturally within a dispatch grade.
The current accepted name used by FishBase and the modern taxonomic literature is Desmopuntius pentazona. Older supplier and aquarium records may place the same name under Barbus, Barbodes or Puntius. Kottelat established Desmopuntius in 2013, so older labels are useful provenance clues rather than the preferred current genus. This listing keeps the supplier's pentazona identity visible while using the accepted scientific name in the customer-facing title.
There is an important aquarium-trade complication. Fish sold as "Pentazona" or Five-Banded Barbs are frequently confused with the closely related Six-Banded Barb, Desmopuntius hexazona. Counting broad body bars alone is not considered a dependable distinction. Specialist sources describe a dark mark below or near the rear base of the dorsal fin as an important feature associated with true D. pentazona, while D. hexazona lacks that mark. Colour intensity is also unreliable because maturity, stress, lighting and commercial strains can alter appearance.
The supplier record for this stock says Barbus/Barbodes pentazona, so this page follows that identity. The supplier reference photograph is very small, and the customer gallery contains representative illustrations rather than diagnostic specimen photographs. It would therefore be misleading to claim that an illustration proves specimen-level identification. Buyers for whom the distinction between D. pentazona and D. hexazona is essential should treat the supplier identity as the purchasing record and should not use the gallery alone as a taxonomic guarantee. You can also compare our separate Six-Banded Barb listing.
The two fish have similar broad aquarium needs, but clear naming still matters for scientific accuracy, conservation context and honest search results. True D. pentazona has a more restricted documented range than many older hobby summaries suggest. Broad statements that every Five-Banded Barb comes from Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo can accidentally merge the ranges of several related forms. For this sold stock, the supplier identity is known; the exact captive-breeding facility or collection locality is not. This page therefore does not claim wild-caught origin or a precise river system.
| Care point | Practical planning guidance | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Adult planning size | About 5-6 cm is typical in aquarium and supplier guidance; FishBase records a larger 8.8 cm total-length maximum | Plan for adult swimming space, not only the dispatch grade |
| Group | Six minimum; eight to ten preferred where space allows | A proper shoal supports confidence and distributes social pressure |
| Aquarium | At least an 80 cm swimming length and around 80 litres for the minimum group; increase space for a larger community | Footprint, cover and usable swimming length matter as much as nominal volume |
| Temperature | Plan around 24-26 C for this listing | This sits within the overlapping supplier and specialist tropical ranges |
| pH | About 5.5-6.8 | The fish is associated with soft, acidic habitats and should not be forced into unsuitable alkaline water |
| General hardness | Soft water, approximately 2-10 dGH as a practical target | Measure the source and aquarium water rather than assuming wood or leaves make hard water soft |
| Flow | Gentle to moderate, with good oxygenation | Strong turbulent flow can keep this relatively reserved species under cover |
| Diet | Omnivorous: quality small granules or flake plus varied small frozen or live foods | Small, observed portions support condition without polluting soft water |
| Temperament | Peaceful, social and sometimes timid | Choose similarly calm companions that do not monopolise food |
Published sources do not all use identical numbers. The supplier record gives 24-27 C, pH 5.5-6.8 and 0-15 dGH. Specialist aquarium references commonly emphasise soft water below neutral pH and report temperature bands spanning approximately 22-28 C. The guidance above uses a conservative everyday range rather than presenting every reported endpoint as an ideal target. Stability within a suitable range is more valuable than repeatedly adjusting the aquarium to chase a single number.
The size selector lists several approximate grades, from small juveniles to fish above 3.8 cm. A comma in a supplier size, such as 2,5-3 cm, means 2.5-3 cm. These are handling and dispatch bands, not exact measurements of every fish. A fish near a boundary may be slightly above or below the written figure, and fins are not always included consistently in trade measurements.
Supplier material describes this species as growing to around 6 cm, while specialist aquarium guidance often gives approximately 5 cm. FishBase records 8.8 cm total length as a maximum. These figures are not necessarily contradictory: a typical aquarium size, a supplier planning figure and the largest scientific record answer different questions. For purchasing and community planning, expect a small adult barb around 5-6 cm but provide enough room that an unusually large individual is not cramped.
Smaller grades need the same adult plan as larger grades. They may need finer food, calmer feeding competition and closer attention during acclimation, but they are not a permanent nano-fish solution. A very small juvenile can also look paler and less strongly barred than a settled adult. Colour changes after arrival do not by themselves prove a different species, sex or health problem; assess breathing, swimming, feeding and the whole group together.
A practical starting point is an aquarium at least 80 cm long and around 80 litres for a minimum group of six. Practical Fishkeeping gives an 80 x 30 x 30 cm minimum footprint for pentazona or hexazona barbs. A larger group, additional midwater species or a busy community needs more volume and, especially, more uninterrupted swimming length. A tall but short aquarium may contain the same litres while offering less useful horizontal space.
Create open water across the front or centre, then use plants, wood and shaded retreats around the sides and back. This arrangement lets the shoal move together without forcing nervous fish into exposed water. Floating plants can soften intense lighting. Rooted plants, epiphytes on wood and fine-leaved cover all work, provided the fish still have a clear swimming route and the layout can be maintained without trapping waste.
A dark substrate or darker background can make the fish feel more secure and can improve the visible contrast between the bronze-orange body and dark bars. It does not change the fish genetically, and it should not replace good water or an adequate group. Leaf litter and botanicals may add tannins and visual cover, but they do not reliably turn hard tap water into soft water. Test general hardness and carbonate hardness before trying to alter pH. In poorly buffered water, rapid acidification can cause a dangerous pH swing.
Use mature biological filtration sized for the whole stocking plan. Position the return so there is surface movement and oxygen exchange without blasting the entire midwater lane. A spray bar, baffled return or adjustable internal filter can help. Leave at least one quieter area behind planting or wood where newly arrived or subordinate fish can settle. Check that intake slots are safe for the smallest selected grade.
Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero. Nitrate should be controlled through stocking, feeding, plant growth and regular water changes rather than treated as the only measure of aquarium health. A stable temperature, dependable dechlorination and consistent maintenance routine are especially important in soft water because low buffering can make chemistry less forgiving.
Five-Banded Barbs are not a good reason to make abrupt chemical changes. First compare the water in the established aquarium with the target range and with the source water used for future changes. If the tap water is naturally hard and alkaline, mixing prepared reverse-osmosis water with remineralised or measured tap water may be more predictable than adding acids. Any change should be planned, measured and repeatable. Do not use an untested amount of pH-lowering product immediately before fish arrive.
For this listing, 24-26 C, pH 5.5-6.8 and roughly 2-10 dGH provide a practical soft-water target. A reading near a boundary is not automatically an emergency. Look for stability, appropriate hardness, zero ammonia and nitrite, controlled nitrate and normal fish behaviour. Temperature should be measured with a dependable thermometer away from the heater. General hardness and carbonate hardness should be considered separately because they describe different parts of the water chemistry.
Use regular partial water changes matched reasonably closely for temperature and chemistry. The correct frequency depends on aquarium volume, stocking, feeding and plant growth, so a fixed percentage cannot replace testing. Siphon accessible detritus without stripping the aquarium completely. Rinse biological filter media in removed aquarium water when flow falls; do not replace all established media at once. Record test results if the source water varies seasonally.
This is a social barb, not a fish to keep as a decorative singleton. Six is the minimum group recommended by specialist husbandry sources. Eight to ten can produce a more confident, coherent shoal, but only when the aquarium has enough footprint and biological capacity. Buying more fish does not compensate for an undersized tank. Likewise, a large aquarium does not make one isolated fish socially complete.
Within a group, expect loose shoaling, short chases and display movements. The fish may spread out when relaxed and regroup after a disturbance. That is normal. Persistent exclusion is different: one fish hiding continuously, being pinned behind equipment, missing every feed or breathing rapidly needs investigation. Check group size, water, lighting, flow, feeding access and the behaviour of every companion before assuming disease.
The Five-Banded Barb is often described as gentler than a Tiger Barb. That comparison is useful for temperament, but the two are not interchangeable keywords or care profiles. Five-Banded Barbs tend to be more reserved and need softer, more acidic conditions. A proper shoal can reduce nervousness, but it does not make them suitable with large, predatory or highly boisterous fish.
Choose companions by adult size, water chemistry, temperament, feeding speed and use of space. Good candidates are peaceful rasboras, suitable small tetras, calm gouramis, Corydoras that accept the same water, kuhli loaches and other gentle community fish. Compatibility is never guaranteed by a name alone. A species that is normally peaceful can still be unsuitable if it requires hard alkaline water, much stronger current or a very different temperature.
Small Trigonostigma, Rasbora and similar calm shoaling fish can make attractive companions in a sufficiently large planted aquarium, but avoid crowding several full shoals into the minimum tank. Suitable Corydoras or kuhli loaches use lower areas, while the barbs spend more time in the middle. Even then, floor area, feeding access and oxygen demand must be planned for the whole community.
Avoid large predatory fish, aggressive cichlids, persistent fin nippers and very fast feeders that leave the barbs hiding. Long-finned fish are not automatically safe simply because Five-Banded Barbs are usually peaceful; cramped conditions can change behaviour. Ornamental shrimp adults may coexist in some planted systems, but shrimplets and other tiny invertebrates can be eaten. Do not buy these barbs as a guaranteed shrimp-safe species.
For another soft-water Desmopuntius option, compare the Rhombo Barb. The Checkered Barb and Cherry Barb are useful comparisons when planning a calm barb community, but each has its own group, space and water requirements. Browse the wider freshwater fish collection only after setting the water and adult stocking limits for the aquarium.
Five-Banded Barbs are omnivorous small-particle feeders. Use a quality fine granule, micropellet or appropriately sized flake as a dependable staple, then rotate small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp or suitably sized mosquito larvae. A varied diet is more useful than relying on one colour-enhancing product. Food should fit the mouths of the smallest fish in the group.
Feed small observed portions. The right amount is the amount the group can consume without food collecting under wood, in plants or behind the filter. One or two small feeds may suit an established adult group; very small juveniles can benefit from smaller, more frequent portions when water quality and supervision permit. The aquarium's stocking and filtration determine what it can safely process, so a fixed timetable is not permission to overfeed.
Watch every fish, not only the quickest individuals. A shy barb may remain behind the shoal while faster tank mates take the surface food. Spread a small ration across the swimming lane or use a gently sinking food so more fish can feed. A persistently hollow fish, declining appetite or inability to compete is a reason to investigate promptly.
| Food role | Examples | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Staple | Fine complete granule, micropellet or quality flake | Reliable nutritional base in a size the whole shoal can eat |
| Variety | Daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and suitable small frozen foods | Rotate in measured portions to support natural foraging and condition |
| Very small grades | Crushed fine food and appropriately sized live or frozen items | Confirm particles are small enough and watch water quality closely |
| Avoid as a routine | Large pieces, excessive rich food and unobserved heavy feeding | These increase waste and can prevent smaller fish receiving a balanced ration |
Complete the aquarium before dispatch. The heater, filter and lid should already be running, and ammonia and nitrite should test at zero. Confirm that the selected grade cannot enter filter slots or be swallowed by an existing tank mate. Do not purchase the fish to start a new biological cycle.
On arrival, inspect the unopened bag promptly and follow the current Tropical Fish Co live-arrival and acclimation instructions supplied with the order. Keep the room calm and aquarium lighting low. Avoid leaving a sealed transport bag floating for an extended period without following the supplied procedure, because water chemistry changes once the bag is opened. Do not pour transport water into the display aquarium.
A quarantine aquarium is strongly preferable when facilities and experience allow. It should be fully cycled, heated, covered and matched to the species' water needs; an uncycled bare container is not protective. Separate observation helps protect the established community and makes it easier to confirm feeding, waste, breathing and body condition. Use dedicated nets and siphons where possible.
During the first days, subdued lighting, plant cover and gentle feeding can help the group settle. Some temporary pallor or tight shoaling after transport can occur. Rapid breathing, loss of balance, persistent surface distress, obvious injury or a fish that cannot join the group deserves immediate attention. Test water first and use current professional aquatic-veterinary or experienced specialist guidance rather than dosing several medications by guesswork.
A settled Five-Banded Barb should swim steadily, respond to food, hold its fins normally and move with or near the group. Healthy appearance varies with age, stress, lighting and individual colour. The dark bars may be less obvious immediately after transport. Judge trends in behaviour and body condition as well as colour.
The most reliable preventive work is ordinary husbandry: stable suitable water, zero ammonia and nitrite, sensible stocking, regular maintenance, a varied diet and a real shoal. Sudden temperature or pH changes, chronic crowding and aggressive tank mates can all suppress feeding and make disease more likely. New livestock, plants, water and shared equipment can introduce pathogens, so maintain clean handling routines.
White spots, flashing, clamped fins, frayed tissue, ulcers, abnormal swelling, rapid breathing, isolation or progressive weight loss are signs that require investigation, not diagnoses by themselves. Different problems can look similar. Test the aquarium, record recent additions and changes, isolate when appropriate and seek diagnosis before treatment. Medication choice depends on the actual problem and on every animal in the aquarium; broad instructions such as "always use copper" or "always raise the temperature" are unsafe.
Check the shoal at every feed. Counting fish, watching both sides of each body and noticing who does not eat often reveals a problem earlier than a monthly close inspection. Keep a simple maintenance and test record if the aquarium is new, the source water changes seasonally or pH is being managed in soft water.
The familiar Five-Banded Barb form has a laterally compressed golden to orange-bronze body crossed by dark vertical markings, with reddish or orange tones possible in the fins and head. Pattern contrast depends on the individual, maturity, stress and environment. The fish should not be selected on the promise that every juvenile will match the most colourful representative image.
Specialist sources describe males as generally more strongly coloured and females as fuller-bodied, especially when mature and carrying eggs. These are tendencies, not a reliable promise for small trade grades. This listing sells unsexed fish. Ordering two does not guarantee one male and one female, and ordering several does not guarantee a compatible breeding group.
Females are egg layers and do not become "pregnant" in the livebearer sense. A fuller abdomen can have several causes, including normal body shape, food, eggs or illness. Avoid diagnosing sex or breeding condition from one photograph. The trade confusion between D. pentazona and D. hexazona also means pattern should be interpreted cautiously.
Five-Banded Barbs are egg-scattering cyprinids. Specialist accounts describe breeding in a separate, very soft and acidic aquarium with fine plants, spawning media or a protective base that keeps some eggs away from adults. The adults may eat eggs, so a normal community aquarium rarely produces many surviving young.
Breeding water is more specialised than the everyday range on this page. Fishkeeper describes a dedicated setup below pH 6, under 8 dH and warmer than ordinary maintenance, with carefully matched water for changes. Those values are breeding guidance from one specialist source, not a reason to make an abrupt change in the display tank. Attempt breeding only when you can prepare and monitor stable soft water, separate adults at the correct time and feed very small fry without degrading water quality.
Eggs may hatch in roughly 24-36 hours under the cited breeding conditions, with fry becoming free swimming several days later. First foods must be small enough for the fry, followed by newly hatched brine shrimp as growth allows. This is useful species information, but it does not make the fish on this listing a sexed pair or guarantee spawning.
| Fish | Broad character | Planning distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Five-Banded Barb | Small, peaceful, shoaling and relatively reserved | Soft, acidic water; planted cover; six or more; identity can be confused in trade |
| Six-Banded Barb | Very similar small soft-water barb | Do not distinguish by the product name or band count alone |
| Rhombo Barb | Distinctive patterned Desmopuntius species | Compare adult size, current availability and its own care page before mixing |
| Cherry Barb | Peaceful planted-community barb with different colour and social presentation | Choose for its own care requirements, not as a keyword substitute |
| Tiger Barb | More robust, active and potentially nippy | Needs a different temperament plan and should not be treated as the same entity |
The best choice is the fish whose adult group, water and behaviour fit the aquarium already planned. The Five-Banded Barb is attractive when a keeper wants a softly lit, planted display and is prepared to maintain a genuine shoal in soft water. It is a poor choice when the tank is hard and alkaline, the community is boisterous, only one fish can be accommodated or the aquarium is shorter than the recommended swimming footprint.
All four current gallery images are representative illustrations based on the product identity and supplier reference material. They are retained because they provide clear customer-facing views, but they are not photographs of the exact fish that will be selected for an order. They cannot prove sex, size grade, specimen-level taxonomy or exact colour. Natural fish may differ in shade, pattern intensity, fin colour and body proportions.
The original supplier photograph is a small identity reference and is not being used as the storefront hero.
This listing is a good match when the aquarium is mature, at least 80 cm long, maintained in soft mildly acidic water and able to house six or more fish. It also suits keepers who enjoy a planted Southeast Asian-style community and are comfortable observing a quieter species at feeding time.
Choose a different fish or redesign the plan if the aquarium is hard and alkaline, shorter than the minimum footprint, already heavily stocked, dominated by aggressive or frantic feeders, or only has space for one barb. Do not rely on a future upgrade unless the adult aquarium is already available. Check the selected size against every existing fish's mouth size and the filter intake before ordering.
The care guidance on this page is reconciled from the live supplier record and independent references rather than copied from another retailer. FishBase's Desmopuntius pentazona summary supports the accepted name, freshwater ecology and recorded maximum total length. Kottelat's 2013 catalogue of Southeast Asian inland fishes supports the genus placement and historical synonym bridge.
Fishkeeper's Five Banded Barb profile supports the peaceful shoaling behaviour, group of six or more, soft-water care, adult aquarium size, diet, sex tendencies and breeding outline. Practical Fishkeeping's pentazona and hexazona guide supports the 80 x 30 x 30 cm footprint, 22-26 C specialist range, soft acidic water, planted low-flow habitat and the important trade-identification warning. Where these sources differ, this page states the uncertainty instead of combining every value into a false precision.
One quantity buys one unsexed Five-Banded Barb in the selected approximate size grade. The quantity selector can be used to build the required group, but no quantity guarantees a male/female ratio or established pair.
Keep at least six. Eight to ten can give a more confident display when the aquarium is long and spacious enough, but a larger shoal must not be crowded into the minimum tank.
Use at least an 80 cm swimming length and roughly 80 litres for the minimum group. Increase both usable space and filtration capacity for a larger shoal or additional community fish. Footprint matters more than relying on litres alone.
For this listing, plan around 24-26 C, pH 5.5-6.8 and soft water of approximately 2-10 dGH. Stable chemistry, zero ammonia and nitrite and controlled waste are more important than repeatedly adjusting the water to one exact number.
They can suit a careful keeper who already understands cycling, water testing, soft-water stability and social stocking. They should not be described as effortless: the group requirement, reserved feeding behaviour and preference for soft acidic water make preparation important.
They are generally peaceful and much less boisterous than Tiger Barbs. A proper shoal and adequate space reduce stress, but no fish is behaviour-free. Avoid cramped conditions and choose calm companions that share the same water.
Do not treat them as guaranteed shrimp-safe. Adult shrimp may coexist in some planted aquariums, but shrimplets and other tiny invertebrates can be eaten.
No. The four gallery images are representative illustrations. They do not show the exact dispatched specimen and cannot guarantee colour, sex, size or specimen-level identification.
The supplier lists this stock under the pentazona identity, and this page preserves that provenance. The two species are commonly confused in the aquarium trade, while the current images are representative rather than diagnostic specimen photographs. The gallery alone should not be treated as a taxonomic guarantee.
Typical aquarium and supplier guidance is around 5-6 cm, while FishBase records a maximum of 8.8 cm total length. Plan the permanent aquarium for an adult fish, not the selected juvenile dispatch grade.
Use a quality fine granule, micropellet or flake as a staple, with measured variety from small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops or brine shrimp. Watch that every fish feeds and remove accessible leftovers.
They benefit from vegetation or equivalent wood cover and shaded areas, but also need open midwater swimming space. Plants do not replace the correct group, footprint, filtration or water chemistry.
