All fish / Cyprinidae

Eight-banded Barb

Eirmotus octozona

Also known as eight banded false barb, false barb, octozona barb, eirmotus, 8 banded barb, banded barb, エイルモトゥス・オクトゾナ, 八间鲃

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

This small, slim barb has a translucent golden to silvery body crossed by about eight thin dark vertical bars. It is kept for its delicate, understated look and calm shoaling behaviour in soft, tea-stained, planted tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus fine flake and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Borneo, Sumatra, Malay Peninsula and Thailand (peat swamp and blackwater habitats)

Breeding

An egg-scattering species that gives no parental care, but it is rarely bred in home aquariums. Success is most likely in very soft, acidic water with fine-leaved plants or a mesh to protect the eggs from the adults.

Good to know

It does best in soft, acidic blackwater and can be shy, so avoid boisterous tankmates. Wild-caught fish may struggle at first and need careful settling in.