Striped barb
Desmopuntius johorensis
Also known as Johore barb, Zebra barb, Puntius johorensis, Systomus johorensis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–79°F
- 23–26°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Native to blackwater streams and peat swamps of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Overview
The striped barb is an active, peaceful shoaling barb for the middle water of a roomy soft-water tank. It asks a little more of its keeper than the easiest barbs.
Did you know
Young striped barbs sold small in shops give little hint of their adult size. They need far more room than the tiny juveniles suggest.
Caring for the striped barb
Keep striped barbs in a group of at least six in a tank of 40 gal (150 L) or more. They are large, fast swimmers that need space. They are too active, and eventually too large, for a small nano community.
Give them soft, acidic blackwater at 73 to 79°F (23 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Leaf litter and gentle filtration help. Feed flakes, pellets, vegetables and frozen foods.
Striped barbs are peaceful in a good group and safe with community fish. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
The striped barb was formerly Puntius johorensis or Systomus johorensis. It now sits in the genus Desmopuntius, among the striped Southeast Asian barbs. Adults carry several clean, dark horizontal stripes along a pale gold body, which set it apart from the barred and spotted barbs.
In the wild
The striped barb lives in soft, acidic blackwater streams and peat swamps across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. These are shaded, tea-colored waters stained by fallen leaves.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The striped barb is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Blue acara
Andinoacara pulcher
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Marbled leiocassis
Leiocassis poeciloptera
Freshwater6.7 in (17 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Orinoco spotted raphael
Agamyxis albomaculatus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a striped barb need?
A striped barb needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a striped barb need?
A striped barb is comfortable at 73–79°F (23–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a striped barb eat?
A striped barb eats flakes, pellets, vegetables and frozen foods.
How big does a striped barb get?
An adult striped barb reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Does a striped barb need a group?
Yes. A striped barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Twin-striped barb
Desmopuntius gemellus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Foersch's barb
Desmopuntius foerschi
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Six-banded barb
Desmopuntius hexazona
2.4 in (6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Snakeskin barb
Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Five-banded barb
Desmopuntius pentazona
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)37 gal (140 L)66–77°F (19–25°C)Arulius barb
Dawkinsia arulius
4.7 in (12 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)