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Six-Bar Distichodus

Distichodus sexfasciatus

Freshwater West and central Africa

A striking characiform adorned with bold black vertical bands and bright red fins when young. While attractive as a juvenile, it grows rapidly into a massive, heavy-bodied giant that will devour live plants overnight and requires enormous swimming volume.

Also called: Sixbar distichodus, Banded distichodus, Six-banded distichodus.

50 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 50 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 900 L, at least 200 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 200 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 5 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 22 to 26 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6 to 7.5 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 5 to 15, KH 3 to 10 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in All levels Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 15 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Some experience helps A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Six-Bar Distichodus is an herbivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. Give it some cover. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.