sixbar distichodus

The body height is 2.3 to 2.5 times in standard length. The head length is 3.3 to 4.4 times in standard length.

The dorsal fin, inserted slightly in front of the pelvic fins, is composed of 2 simple rays followed by 22-23 branched rays. The anal fin has 3 simple rays and 11-12 branched rays. The branchiostegals on the lower part of the first gill arch range from 12 to 13. The base of the dorsal fin is 2.6 times as long as its distance to the adipose fin.

The caudal peduncle is 1.4 times higher than long. The interorbital distance is 2.7 times in head length and 1.2 times in snout length, which is high, compressed, and much higher than long.

There are two series of bicuspid teeth on each jaw, the outer ones vary from 16 to 18 on each side

There are 60 to 66 scales along the body, 15 above the lateral line and 15 below. There are 23 scales around the caudal peduncle. When alive, the species is silvery, pink to reddish-brown on the body, whitish below. There are 6 black transverse bands on the flanks, the first on the nape and the last on the caudal peduncle. All fins are reddish.

The D. sexfasciatus is primarily herbivorous but also feeds on worms and other invertebrates living at the bottom. It can be considered an omnivore with a herbivorous dominance.

It swims in schools in the lower water layers of rivers and coastal areas of the lake.

The D. sexfasciatus is an oviparous fish that seems to reproduce in flooded plains.