Product Details

Rhombo Barb – Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus

The Rhombo Barb is a peaceful and attractive Bornean barb with warm body colour, dark rhomboid flank markings and lively shoaling behaviour. Correctly listed as Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus, this species is also widely known as the Snakeskin Barb because of the patterned markings across its sides. It is best kept in a mature planted aquarium with soft to moderately soft water, shaded areas and a proper group of its own kind.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Rhombo Barb
Other Names: Snakeskin Barb, Rhomb Barb, Rhomboid Barb, Red Ocellated Barb, Orange Buffalo Barb
Scientific Name: Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus
Older / Trade Names: Puntius rhomboocellatus, Barbus rhomboocellatus
Fish Type: Barb / Cyprinid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Desmopuntius rhomboocellatus is native to Borneo, particularly West and Central Kalimantan in Indonesia. It is associated with soft, acidic forest waters, including peat swamp and blackwater-style habitats where leaf litter, submerged roots, shaded margins and aquatic vegetation provide cover.

In the aquarium, Rhombo Barbs should be kept in a mature setup with plants, wood, floating cover and open swimming space. A darker substrate, subdued lighting and botanicals can help bring out their colour and make the group feel secure.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Rhombo Barbs have a compact, laterally compressed barb shape with a warm orange, amber, gold or copper body tone. The flanks show distinctive dark rhomboid or snakeskin-like markings, which give the fish its recognisable patterned appearance. Colour and contrast improve when the fish are settled, well fed and kept in a good-sized group.

Adults usually reach around 5–6 cm in aquariums, although larger maximum sizes are recorded for the species. Females are often fuller-bodied, while males may show slightly stronger colour and slimmer body shape.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is well suited to peaceful planted community aquariums, soft-water Asian displays and specialist blackwater-style setups. It is a good alternative to more common barbs for customers wanting a calmer, more unusual shoaling fish.

Rhombo Barbs are not suitable for aggressive cichlid tanks, predator aquariums, tiny nano tanks, very hard alkaline-only setups or cramped aquariums with little swimming room. They should not be kept singly or in pairs.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 75–90 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 80 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 100 litres or more are preferred for bigger shoals and mixed communities.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8–10 or more preferred. A proper group improves confidence, reduces stress and encourages natural swimming behaviour.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Rhombo Barbs show best in clean, stable, mature water. Softer, slightly acidic conditions are ideal, especially for blackwater-style displays. Avoid sudden changes in pH, hardness or temperature, and maintain regular partial water changes.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Rhombo Barbs are peaceful community fish when kept in a suitable group. Suitable tank mates include peaceful rasboras, small to medium tetras, pencilfish, small gouramis, loaches, peaceful Cory-type catfish, Otocinclus, small plecs and other calm community fish that enjoy similar water conditions.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, severe fin-nippers, very boisterous barbs and slow delicate fish that may be stressed by active shoaling movement. Although much calmer than Tiger Barbs, they should still be kept with similarly peaceful, confident species.

Feeding:

Rhombo Barbs are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small granules and micro pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and small bloodworm.

A varied diet helps support colour, body condition and natural activity. Include occasional vegetable or algae-based foods for balance, especially in community aquariums.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species usually swims through the middle levels of the aquarium, moving in a loose group through plants and open areas. In a settled shoal, Rhombo Barbs are active without being overly aggressive, making them a good choice for peaceful planted displays.

Like other small barbs, they are egg scatterers and do not provide parental care. If spawning occurs in a community aquarium, eggs and fry are usually eaten unless a separate breeding setup is used.

Care Notes:

Add Rhombo Barbs only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Provide plant cover, shaded areas, open swimming space and a proper group. Avoid bright bare tanks, unstable water quality and rough tank mates.

This species may look pale after transport or in exposed shop tanks, but settled fish usually develop stronger amber-orange tones and clearer rhomboid markings once kept in a calm planted aquarium.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Specialist import or captive-bred batches when available

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, orange colour, body tone, rhomboid markings, fin colour, sex and age can occur between individual fish.