Breeding Pentazona Barb (Puntius Pentazona) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater fish lives in peat swamp and floodplains with dark water in Malaysia and Borneo.

Body description

Colour of the body is orange-red. There is 5 transverse, black stripes on the sides of the body. The first stripe intersecting the eye, the middle stripe intersecting the base of the dorsal fin, and the last stripe intersecting the base of the caudal fin. Males are thinner and more colourful than females.

Temperament and behaviour

This is an active, friendly, and shoal fish. Fish prefers to live in a group of 5-10 minimum to be less shy, have brighter colors, and any aggressive behaviours stays within the group. This species doesn’t nibble fins of other fish. It may be kept with a peaceful and quite species.

Aquarium decoration

This barb prefers to live in a spacious tank – the bigger the aquarium is the braver and more relaxed the fish is. The tank should have places to hide among roots, rocks, and plants, space to swim, floating plants. A dark substrate and dimmed light cause the colour of the fish to be brighter. This species is sensitive to water conditions. You need an effective filtration system and a regular partial water changes.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. Breeding should be done in a separate tank. Aquarium should include a dimmed light, fine-leaved plants, soft water, neutral pH, increased temperature. You may use fish hatchery, too. Several weeks before spawning you should separate males from females and feed them with plenty of food. The thickest female and most colourful male you then transfer to the breeding tank in the evening. They should spawn next day in the morning after courtships. Female spreads up to 200 eggs among the plants and male immediately fertilizes them. You have to remove the parents after laying roe because they may eat eggs. The eggs hatch after 1-2 days. The fry becomes to swimming and feed one day later. The roe and fry are sensitive to light.