Can pea puffers live with cherry barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and cherry barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though cherry barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.

Pea puffer74–82°F · pH 7–8

Cherry barb73–81°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPea puffers are aggressive, though cherry barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What works

Both are fine at 74–81°F.
pH 7–7.5 suits both.

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

	Pea puffer	Cherry barb
Temperature	74–82 °F	73–81 °F
pH	7–8	6–7.5
Adult size	1.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	5 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for pea puffers

CrayfishYes

All pea puffer tank mates

Better tank mates for cherry barbs

All cherry barb tank mates

Questions

Can pea puffers live with cherry barbs?

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and cherry barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though cherry barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What temperature suits both pea puffers and cherry barbs?

74–81 °F. Pea puffers need 74–82 °F, cherry barbs need 73–81 °F.

What size tank do pea puffers and cherry barbs need together?

At least 20 gal, set by the cherry barb. Add space for each extra fish.