Gold barb care

Water temperature

64–75°F

Gold barbs do best at 64–75°F and pH 6–8. Plan on 20 gallons or more. Good tank mates include goldfish, zebra danios, crayfish.

Hardy, cool-tolerant and peaceful.

Barbodes semifasciolatus

pH

6–8

Minimum tank

20 gal

Adult size

3.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 6+

Lifespan

5–7 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• GoldfishYes
• Zebra danioYes
• CrayfishYes
• Paradise fishYes
• Dojo loachYes
• Hillstream loachYes
• Panda coryYes
• Mystery snailYes
• Fancy goldfishYes
• Rosy barbYes
• CorydorasYes
• GuppyYes

Full gold barb tank mate chart: 50 yes, 29 with care, 19 no

Gold barb water compared

Fish to keep away from gold barbs

• Betta No shared temperature. Bettas need 76–82°F, gold barbs need 64–75°F.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); gold barbs need 64–75°F. They overlap only at 64–66°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Angelfish No shared temperature. Angelfish need 76–84°F, gold barbs need 64–75°F.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches gold barbs do.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful gold barbs.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches gold barbs do.
• Pearl gourami No shared temperature. Pearl gouramis need 77–82°F, gold barbs need 64–75°F.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches gold barbs do.

More barbs, danios, rasboras and sharks

• Goldfish60–74°F
• Koi59–77°F
• Tiger barb72–81°F
• Red tail shark72–79°F
• Rainbow shark72–80°F
• Bala shark72–82°F
• Celestial pearl danio72–79°F
• Zebra danio65–77°F