The branched rays on its anal fin number 10 to 12. 31 or 32 vertebrae are present. It has five horizontal stripes that are evenly colored and run along the sides of its body. These stripes extend all the way to the tips of the rays on its tail fin. The anal fin also has a unique pattern of stripes. This fish lacks a lateral line. It has barbels on its snout that reach the front edge of its eye socket, and barbels on its upper jaw that extend to about the middle of its gill cover.