Six-banded Barb Breeding Guide

Breeding Desmopuntius hexazona, a soft-water egg-scattering barb spawned in dim, acidic conditions with no parental care.

Overview

Desmopuntius hexazona is a six-banded relative of the tiger barbs from blackwater habitats. According to Seriously Fish it is an egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care, and its soft, acidic water origins should be reflected in the breeding setup.

Sexing

Males are slightly smaller, noticeably slimmer and more intensely coloured than females. Females are fuller-bodied, particularly when carrying eggs.

Conditioning

Condition the adults together on small live, frozen and dried foods until the females fill with eggs. Good conditioning and appropriate soft water are important triggers for this species.

Breeding Setup

Use a separate, very dimly lit tank with mature water. Fit a mesh base so eggs fall through out of reach, or use fine-leaved plants such as Taxiphyllum species or spawning mops. Add an air-powered sponge filter or air stone. Reflecting its blackwater origin, the species is kept in soft, acidic water within roughly 20 to 26 °C, pH 4.0 to 7.0 and hardness around 18 to 90 ppm.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Introduce one or two pairs when the females appear gravid; spawning should take place the following morning. A group of about six of each sex can also be spawned in a larger tank. The adults will consume eggs if given the chance and should be removed promptly.

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs hatch in about 24 to 36 hours, with fry free-swimming after roughly 3 to 4 days. Feed an infusoria-grade food for the first few days, then microworm, Artemia nauplii and similar foods as the fry grow.

Common Challenges

This species is somewhat delicate and benefits from soft, acidic, stable water; getting the water chemistry right is often the key to successful spawning. As with all barbs, the parents readily eat their eggs, so remove them quickly.