Can cherry barbs live with flowerhorns?
Verdict
No
No. Cherry barbs and flowerhorns should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barbs.
- Watch outThey only share 80–81°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
What works
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Cherry barb | Flowerhorn | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–81 °F | 80–89 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 7–8 |
| Adult size | 2.0 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Middle |
| Group | Groups of 6+ | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for cherry barbs
Questions
Can cherry barbs live with flowerhorns?
No. Cherry barbs and flowerhorns should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
What temperature suits both cherry barbs and flowerhorns?
80–81 °F. Cherry barbs need 73–81 °F, flowerhorns need 80–89 °F.
What size tank do cherry barbs and flowerhorns need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.