Is this a Tiger Barb?

[kevhufc]

HI all,
This might sound like a daft question but is this fish a tiger barb?
I bought it from my LFS along with other Tiger Barbs from the Tiger Barb tank but comparing it to the other TBs in my aquarium he seems different. He's a lot redder and slimmer and seems to stay away from the school most of the time however he does occasionally join in with the others.

Cheers,
Kev.

I've just noticed I may have posted this question in the wrong section... if I have and an Admin please move it and I'll promise to pay more attention in future!

 

[Demeter]

I would say that is not a tiger barb. Tigers have 4 stripes from head to tail, that one looks to have 5. I found something that has a very fitting name, the 5 banded barb.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I would say that is not a tiger barb. Tigers have 4 stripes from head to tail, that one looks to have 5. I found something that has a very fitting name, the 5 banded barb.

Darker dorsal fin too, which is supported by Demeter 's link

 

[DoubleDutch]

Desmopuntius pentazona ?

 

[kevhufc]

Thank you all very much, its bugged me for a few weeks to be honest but I've enjoyed watching him 'trying' to fit in!

 

[DoubleDutch]

Thank you all very much, its bugged me for a few weeks to be honest but I've enjoyed watching him 'trying' to fit in!

Hahaha I feel a bit stupid. Didn't see the earlier ID-posts.

 

[angelcraze]

The 5 band barb looks similar to the tiger barb, but they are not as nippy. I hope he thinks he is a tiger barb and doesn't feel out of place lol!

 

[DoubleDutch]

The 5 band barb looks similar to the tiger barb, but they are not as nippy. I hope he thinks he is a tiger barb and doesn't feel out of place lol!

Or the tigers think they are pentzona

 

[kevhufc]

He tries to be a tiger barb at times but seems to just look at me, shrug his shoulders and swims off to do his own thing! He keeps well out of the way when the fighting starts though!

 

[Redshark1]

Five-banded Barb seems to be an accepted common name.

kevhufc Yours is the nicest one I've ever seen. I expect it is a male judging from the build and red fins.

I have 16 very young ones just showing some gender differences and they shoal as though they were an Amoeba.

Some brave ones move ahead of the group and the main group either follows (especially if the brave ones found food) or the brave ones lose confidence and come back to the main group.

They are nervous and soon retreat to cover if there is movement in the room. I have ample cover so they can all totally disappear from sight in a flash.

However, on the plus side mine like to come out to the front of the tank to swim when I sit still.

They don't tend to swim at the back out of sight. Some people have had a disappointment in this regard so I am grateful and hope this does not change.

Mine are lively and ravenous for any food offered. They have eaten standard flakes, vegetable flakes, live daphnia and bloodworm so far.

They tend to swim close to the sand substrate but will venture up if they see a food item.

So far they do not seem particularly frightened of other fish nor do they interact.

No nipping so far, they just nip around!

To my eyes they are an exceptionally good looking fish and very interesting to watch.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Five-banded Barb seems to be an accepted common name.

I have 16 very young ones just showing some gender differences and they shoal as though they were an Amoeba.

Some brave ones move ahead of the group and the main group either follows or the brave ones lose confidence and come back to the main group.

They are nervous and soon retreat to cover if there is movement in the room.

However, on the plus side mine like to come out to the front of the tank and don't tend to swim at the back. They are lively and ravenous for any food offered.

They tend to swim close to the sand substrate but will venture up if they see a food item.

So far they do not seem frightened of other fish nor do they interact. No nipping so far.

To my eyes they are very good looking fish and interesting to watch.

I think they are even more beautiful than Tiger barbs.

 

[Redshark1]

Desmopuntius pentazona ?

HI Aad I think Seriously Fish thinks these are Desmopuntius hexazona.

Desmopuntius pentazona is supposed to have a spot behind and below the dorsal fin.

That's what they think but how could I know?

I think these fish vary so much over their distribution that you could divide them up into several different species or include them all into one species depending on whether you are a splitter or a lumper.

Scientists tend to be splitters as if it is accepted by their peers they can then name the fish after themselves and achieve immortality haha!

 

[DoubleDutch]

HI Aad I think Seriously Fish thinks these are Desmopuntius hexazona.

Desmopuntius pentazona is supposed to have a spot behind and below the dorsal fin.

That's what they think but how could I know?

I think these fish vary so much over their distribution that you could divide them up into several different species or include them all into one species depending on whether you are a splitter or a lumper.

Scientists tend to be splitters as if it is accepted by their peers they can then name the fish after themselves and achieve immortality haha!

Hahahaha so funny Steve.
I had a discussion with my LFS owner about this. He stated that most sold pentazonas appeared to be hexazonas.

In my opinion penta-zona means five bands (4 stripes) and hexa-zona means six bands (5 stripes). This one seems to have 4 stipes (quatro fasciata), so to me it has 5 bands (zones) hahahahha.

But I noticed the spot you're talking about in the shown pictures on internet.
So you could definitely be right.