Can chinese algae eaters live with gold barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and gold barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 74–75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

Gold barb64–75°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Watch outThey only share 74–75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

What works

pH 6–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: chinese algae eaters the bottom, gold barbs the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Chinese algae eater	Gold barb
Temperature	74–80 °F	64–75 °F
pH	6–8	6–8
Adult size	10.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Better tank mates for gold barbs

All gold barb tank mates

Questions

Can chinese algae eaters live with gold barbs?

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and gold barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 74–75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

What temperature suits both chinese algae eaters and gold barbs?

74–75 °F. Chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F, gold barbs need 64–75 °F.

What size tank do chinese algae eaters and gold barbs need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the chinese algae eater. Add space for each extra fish.