Desmopuntius Johorensis

Datasheet

General Description

Prior to Kottelat's taxonomy revisions, Desmopuntius johorensis, commonly known as the Striped Barb, was referred to as Puntius eugrammus, with juveniles displaying a vertically-barred color pattern that transitions to lateral stripes as they mature. It is a schooling species native to southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and Borneo, typically inhabiting peat swamps and black water streams with minimal dissolved mineral content and acidic pH levels.

Aquarium Setup

The Striped Barb thrives in a heavily planted aquarium mimicking a forest stream environment, featuring soft substrate, dim lighting, and ample roots, branches, and leaf litter for naturalistic cover. Additional aquatic plants like Microsorum, Taxiphyllum, or Cryptocoryne species can be added to enhance the setup. Water parameters should be maintained at a temperature between 20-25°C, pH range of 5.0-7.0, and hardness of 18-179ppm (see table for tank size recommendations).

Behaviour

Desmopuntius johorensis is a schooling fish that should ideally be kept in groups of 8-10 individuals to reduce skittishness and promote natural behaviors. In a community aquarium, it interacts positively with comparably-sized open water cyprinids and small loaches, showcasing its best colors when competing for female attention within the group dynamic.

Feeding and Diet

In the wild, the Striped Barb forages on a variety of food including diatoms, algae, insects, worms, and zooplankton. In captivity, they readily accept small live and frozen foods like bloodworms, Daphnia, and Artemia, supplemented with high-quality dried flakes or granules containing plant or algal components to maintain optimal health and coloration.

Reproduction & Dimorphism

Desmopuntius spp. are egg-scattering free spawners without parental care, spawning consistently when in good condition. Controlled breeding may require a separate breeding tank with dim lighting and a substrate or mesh for egg protection. Adult males exhibit more vibrant colors and are slightly slimmer than females, with spawning resulting in hatchlings within 24-36 hours that require infusoria-grade food initially.

Habitat and Distribution

The Striped Barb is distributed across southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and Borneo, inhabiting peat swamps, black water streams, and still waters with acidic pH and dense vegetation. Its range includes specific locations such as the Muar River in Johore, Malaysia, and various river basins in Indonesia, where it coexists with a diverse array of sympatric fish species.