At a glance the quick version
Seriously Fish gives 5.5 cm maximum standard length; FishBase and Wikipedia give 8.8 cm maximum total length
Looks how to spot one
Small scaled cyprinid (barb)
A small barb whose sides are patterned with diamond-shaped, ring-like markings that resemble snake scales, which gives it its name. It also has dark bars, including one through the eye and one at the base of the tail. Males are slimmer and more richly coloured.31
Personality what they are like
Peaceful and a little shy, it settles best in a calm community of similar-sized Southeast Asian fish and colours up once it feels secure in a group.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active schooling fish that appreciates a planted tank with sheltered spots and open swimming space.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Seriously Fish suggests a tank base of at least 80 x 30 cm (about 72 litres). Soft water is preferred: Seriously Fish gives 20 to 28 C, pH 4.0 to 7.0 and 1 to 5 dGH; FishBase gives 23 to 28 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5.12
Home where they are happiest
Wild fish come from peat swamps and forest blackwater streams stained brown by tannins, with submerged plants and dense bankside growth. Dim light, wood, leaf litter and plants make a good aquarium match.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A micropredator that eats small insects, worms and crustaceans in the wild. In the aquarium it takes dried foods but does best with regular small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia and brine shrimp.1
Company who they like around
Keep in a group of at least eight to ten to help it feel settled.1
The story where it all began
Koumans described the snakeskin barb in 1940 from Borneo. Long listed as Puntius rhomboocellatus, it was moved to the genus Desmopuntius by Kottelat in 2013.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its scientific name refers to the rhomb-shaped eye-spot markings along its flanks, the same feature behind its snakeskin nickname.3
- 2
Its genus name comes from a Greek word for prisoner, a reference to the barred pattern.2
- 3
In the wild it lives in tea-coloured blackwater stained by humic acids from peat swamps.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Assessed as Least Concern (LC), March 20202
- Scientific description
- Described by Koumans in 19402
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Snakeskin Barb. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus seriouslyfish.comused for distribution, size, care parameters, diet, behaviour, habitat, history
- FishBase: Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus summary fishbase.seused for IUCN status, describer, max length, water parameters, etymology
- Wikipedia: Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus en.wikipedia.orgused for names, size, flank markings
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.