The Snakeskin Barb (Puntius tetrazona var. ‘Snakeskin’) is an active and colorful freshwater fish featuring a distinctive snakeskin-like pattern on its body. It is a lively schooling species suitable for community tanks, adding both movement and visual interest.
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The Snakeskin Barb (Puntius tetrazona var. ‘Snakeskin’) is an active and colorful freshwater fish featuring a distinctive snakeskin-like pattern on its body. It is a lively schooling species suitable for community tanks, adding both movement and visual interest.
Medium-sized, elongated body with silver base coloration and a black snakeskin-like pattern across the body. Fins may show red and black accents in males. Adults reach up to 2–2.5 inches (5–6 cm).
4–6 years with proper care
Omnivorous — feeds on high-quality flakes, pellets, and occasional live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.
Snakeskin Barbs are lively, visually striking, and active schooling fish. Ensuring proper group sizes, water conditions, and diet allows them to thrive and display full coloration.
Moderate — hardy but requires proper schooling and tank setup.
20 gallons (for a school of 6+)
6.0 to 7.0
5–12 dGH
74–78°F (23–26°C)
2–2.5 inches (5–6 cm)
Compatible with other peaceful to semi-aggressive, similarly sized fish such as danios, small barbs, and tetras.
Avoid very small, delicate, or slow-moving fish that could be stressed or nipped.
Puntius tetrazona (Snakeskin variant)
Cyprinidae
Southeast Asia – Thailand, Malaysia
Schooling fish. Best kept in groups of 6 or more to reduce stress and encourage natural behavior.
Feed 2–3 times daily in small portions. Offer a varied diet including flakes, pellets, and occasional live/frozen foods to maintain health and coloration.
Egg scatterer. Spawns over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Adults should be removed after spawning to prevent predation of eggs.
Use a separate breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic to neutral water (pH 6.0–7.0, temperature 74–78°F / 23–26°C). Scatter eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Eggs hatch in 24–36 hours; fry become free-swimming in 3–4 days. Feed fry infusoria initially, then gradually transition to baby brine shrimp or finely crushed flakes.
pH: 6.0–7.0, Temperature: 74–78°F (23–26°C), Hardness: 5–12 dGH, Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm, Nitrate: <20 ppm.
Prone to ich, fin rot, and stress if water quality is poor or kept in insufficient numbers.
Semi-aggressive but social; best kept in schools of 6 or more to minimize aggression and display natural schooling behavior.
Active, schooling, and semi-aggressive. Prefers mid to upper swimming zones and benefits from proper group sizes.
Native to Southeast Asia, Snakeskin Barbs are admired for their unique body pattern and active schooling behavior. Males exhibit brighter colors and patterns compared to females, especially during breeding periods. This species thrives in well-planted aquariums with open swimming areas and moderate water flow. Suitable for intermediate aquarists due to activity level and semi-aggressive tendencies.