The six-banded distichodus is a freshwater fish that is native to Africa. It is a member of the cichlid family and is closely related to the well-known jewel cichlid.
The six-banded distichodus is a relatively peaceful fish, although it can be aggressive towards other fish of the same species. It is a good community fish and can be kept with other peaceful cichlids and non-cichlids.
This fish is easy to care for and is a good choice for beginner aquarists. It is a hardy fish that is tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.
The six-banded distichodus is a omnivore and will eat a variety of foods, including pellets, flakes, live, and frozen foods.
Table of contents
Species overview
The six-banded distichodus (Distichodus sexfasciatus) is a fish that is native to Central Africa. It is found in countries such as Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon.
This fish prefers to live in slow-moving rivers and streams with a lot of vegetation. They are also commonly found in swampy areas.
The six-banded distichodus is a peaceful fish that is compatible with a wide variety of tank mates. They are not known to be aggressive toward other fish.
This fish is a popular choice for aquariums because of its striking coloration. The body is silver with six black vertical stripes.
Appearance
The six-banded distichodus is a freshwater fish that is native to Africa. It is a brightly colored fish that is mostly silver in color. There are six dark vertical bands that run the length of its body.
The fins on this fish are all transparent except for the anal fin, which is orange. The caudal fin is forked and the dorsal fin is slightly longer than the anal fin.
This fish has a long and thin body with a large head. The eyes are large and protrude from the head. The mouth is located at the bottom of the head.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of six-banded distichodus is around 5 years. However, there have been reports of these fish living up to 10 years in captivity.
As with any fish, the lifespan of six-banded distichodus can be impacted by a number of factors. Poor water quality, stress, and a suboptimal diet can all shorten their lifespan.
Size
These fish can grow to be about 6 inches in length.
Tank
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for six-banded distichodus is 75 gallons. This fish can grow to be over a foot long, so it needs plenty of space to swim.
If you want to keep more than one six-banded distichodus in the same tank, you’ll need at least 75 gallons for each fish. These fish are also known to be aggressive, so it’s best to give them plenty of space to avoid any territorial disputes.
Water Parameters
The six-banded distichodus is a tropical fish that does best in warm water with plenty of dissolved oxygen. They come from Africa, specifically the Congo Basin.
The ideal water parameters for six-banded distichodus are:
- Water Temperature: 72°F to 82°F
- pH Levels: 6.5 to 7.5
- Water Hardness: 4 to 12 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 2 to 12 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
Six-banded Distichodus are a peaceful fish that make a great addition to any community tank. They are a little on the shy side, so it’s important to provide them with plenty of hiding places.
We recommend using a mixture of rocks, driftwood, and plants to create a natural looking environment for them. Six-banded Distichodus are not picky eaters, so almost any type of plant will do.
As for the substrate, these fish are not fussy. They will do fine in either sand or gravel.
Common Diseases
Six-banded distichodus are a hardy and disease-resistant fish, however there are a few things that you should look out for.
The most common disease that these fish experience is ich. This is a parasite that will attach itself to your fish and cause white spots to form on their body.
If left untreated, ich can be fatal. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to treat and most fish will make a full recovery if caught early enough.
Other potential diseases include bacterial infections, fungal infections, and parasites. These are all fairly common in freshwater fish and can be treated in a similar manner to ich.
As always, the best way to prevent these diseases is to maintain clean and stable water conditions in your tank. A healthy environment will lead to healthier fish who are more resistant to disease.
Behavior & Temperament
The six-banded distichodus is a peaceful, schooling fish that does well in a community tank. It is a shy fish, so it will do best in a tank with plenty of hiding places.
This fish is a bottom-dweller, but it will also swim in the middle and upper levels of the tank. It is an active fish, but it is not overly active.
The six-banded distichodus is not an aggressive fish, but it can be territorial. It is best to keep this fish with other fish that are of a similar size.
Tank Mates
Six-banded distichodus are peaceful community fish that do well in groups. Because of this, they make great tank mates for a variety of other species.
They’re not picky when it comes to water conditions either. As long as the water is clean and the temperature is within their range, they’ll be happy.
Here are some good tank mates for six-banded distichodus:
- Congo Tetra
- Firemouth Cichlid
- Synodontis Catfish
- Clown Loach
- Weather Loach
- Glass Catfish
- Rope Fish
Breeding
The Six-banded distichodus is a mouthbrooding cichlid, which means that the female will carry the eggs and fry in her mouth until they are ready to be released.
To trigger spawning, you will need to mimic the rainy season in their natural habitat. This means doing a large water change (about 50 percent) and adding some peat to the water.
The female will lay her eggs in a cave or crevice. Once she has done that, the male will fertilize them. After that, the female will pick them up in her mouth and hold them there until they hatch.
This process takes about two weeks. Once the fry are released, they will be free-swimming and ready to feed on their own. You can give them live foods or finely-ground flake food.
Conclusion
The Six-banded Distichodus is a beautiful, unique fish that is perfect for the intermediate to advanced aquarium keeper.
They are not the easiest fish to care for, but they are definitely worth the effort.
These fish are peaceful and get along well with other community fish, but they can be nippy so be sure to keep an eye on them.
Overall, we think the Six-banded Distichodus is a great fish for anyone who is looking for something a little different in their aquarium.
