The Five-banded Barb is native to peat swamps and murky water of northwest Borneo. It grows to 6-8cm long. It has six black bands on its orange-pink body if the band through the eye and the (sometimes faint) tail band are counted. It is similar to the related and more common Six-banded Barb, D. hexazona, of similar habitats in peninsula Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. The Six-banded doesn't have the additional black spot at the rear of the dorsal fin that is present on the Five-banded.

The Five-banded Barb is native to peat swamps and murky water of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. It grows to 5-6cm long. It has six black bands on its orange-pink body if the band through the eye and the not always visible tail band are counted. It is similar to the related but rare Five-banded Barb, D. pentazona, of similar habitats in NW Borneo. The Six-banded doesn't have the additional black spot at the rear of the dorsal fin that is present on the Five-banded.