Cherry barb tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for cherry barbs are bettas, guppies and honey gouramis. Each match shares cherry barbs' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

The barb that does not nip. A good betta mate in a planted tank.

Temperature: 73–81°F
pH: 6–7.5
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 20 gal
With care: 18
Avoid: 14

How each group of fish does with cherry barbs. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though cherry barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Cherry shrimp Cherry barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give cherry shrimp somewhere to hide.
Amano shrimp Cherry barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give amano shrimp somewhere to hide.
Elephant nose fish A grown elephant nose fish may treat small cherry barbs as food, especially at night.
Ghost shrimp Cherry barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give ghost shrimp somewhere to hide.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast cherry barbs will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry barbs.
Clown loach A grown clown loach may treat small cherry barbs as food, especially at night.
Kissing gourami At 10 inches a kissing gourami can swallow a small cherry barb. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small cherry barb. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Koi At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small cherry barb. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Severum A grown severum may treat small cherry barbs as food, especially at night.
German blue ram They only share 80–81°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Tinfoil barb At 12 inches a tinfoil barb can swallow a small cherry barb. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: cherry barbs want pH 6–7.5, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Blood parrot A grown blood parrot may treat small cherry barbs as food, especially at night.
Peacock cichlid Different water: cherry barbs want pH 6–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Pictus catfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barbs.
Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barbs.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, cherry barbs need 73–81°F.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the cherry barb care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for cherry barbs?

Bettas, Guppies, Honey gouramis, Corydoras, Sparkling gouramis. They share cherry barbs' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with cherry barbs?

Axolotls, Oscars, Black ghost knives, Pictus catfish, Bichirs. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); cherry barbs need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.