Fiveband Barb

Identification:

How to count them? The *Puntigrus tetrazona* (Tiger Barb) has 4 stripes: one on the eye, one before the dorsal, one behind the dorsal and one at the base of the tail. The *D. pentazona* has these same 4 stripes, BUT adds a thin fifth black stripe positioned just behind the head and gills, in addition to often having a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin.

The Good Twin:

This is the perfect Barb species to pair with Betta Splendens, Discus or Angelfish. While a Tiger Barb (4 bands) would pitilessly attack the veil fins, the Pentazona (5 bands) will completely ignore them, spending its time peacefully exploring the bottom of the aquarium.

The Blackwater Challenge:

The 'Intermediate' classification is not given by aggressiveness, but by water. If you place them in hard tap water (pH 7.5 and high GH) with bright lights, the fish will lose their red color, become apathetic and be subject to bacterial infections. They thrive exclusively in tanks saturated with tannins (dark tea-colored water), with Indian almond leaves decomposing on the bottom and acidic pH (5.5 - 6.5).

Confident School:

Precisely because they are very fearful and live in the shade of flooded Malaysian forests, they need to feel in the majority. A school of 10-15 specimens will work wonders for their self-esteem, encouraging them to swim a little higher and chase each other affectionately. If you buy only two or three, they will stay holed up behind the filter for life.