Species › Barbs

Rosy barb tank mates and minimum tank size

Pethia conchonius

Rosy barbs grow to 14 cm (5.5 in). They live in groups: keep at least 10. They need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F) and pH 6.0–8.0.

Minimum tank

90 L (24 US gal), at least 100 cm (39 in) long

Adult size

14 cm (5.5 in)

Temperature

18–22 °C (64–72 °F)

pH

pH 6.0–8.0

Group

10 or more

Rosy barb minimum tank size

Rosy barbs need at least 90 L (24 US gal), in a tank at least 100 cm (39 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 14 cm (5.5 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (56 cm (22 in)).

Rosy barb tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against rosy barbs by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (14)

• Black skirt tetra
• Glass catfish
• Goldfish
• Guppy
• Molly
• Mystery snail
• Neon tetra
• Otocinclus
• Paradise fish
• Platy
• Tiger barb
• White cloud mountain minnow
• Yoyo loach
• Zebra danio

With care (10)

• Celestial pearl danioCelestial pearl danios (2.1 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Harlequin rasboraThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by harlequin rasboras and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Honey gouramiThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by honey gouramis and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Nerite snailThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by nerite snails and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Panda corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by panda corydoras and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Peppered corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by peppered corydoras and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Pygmy corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by pygmy corydoras and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin. Pygmy corydoras (3 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Red tail sharkThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by red tail sharks and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Serpae tetraThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by serpae tetras and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• SwordtailThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by swordtails and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.

Not compatible (28)

• AngelfishAngelfish need 25.6–28.9 °C (78–84 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• BettaBettas need 24.4–29.4 °C (76–85 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as rosy barbs, many do not.
• Black neon tetraBlack neon tetras need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Bristlenose plecoBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Bronze corydorasBronze corydoras need 25–27 °C (77–81 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cardinal tetraCardinal tetras need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by rosy barbs and cardinal tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Cherry barbCherry barbs need 23–27 °C (73–81 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cherry shrimpRosy barbs grow to 14 cm, big enough to eat adult cherry shrimp (4 cm).
• Chili rasboraChili rasboras need 25–28 °C (77–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Chili rasboras (3.5 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Clown loachClown loaches need 25–30 °C (77–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidCockatoo dwarf cichlids need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by rosy barbs and cockatoo dwarf cichlids. That leaves no margin.
• Common plecoCommon plecos need 23.3–26.7 °C (74–80 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Congo tetraCongo tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Convict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so rosy barbs would be harassed.
• DiscusDiscus need 26–30 °C (79–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Dwarf gouramiDwarf gouramis need 25–27 °C (77–81 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Ember tetraEmber tetras need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Ember tetras (2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Endler's livebearerEndler's livebearers need 24–30 °C (75–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. Endler's livebearers (2.5 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• German blue ramGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by rosy barbs and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Glowlight tetraGlowlight tetras need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• KribensisKribensis need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Kuhli loachKuhli loaches need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Lemon tetraLemon tetras need 23–28 °C (73–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; rosy barbs grow to 14 cm. The only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by oscars and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• Pearl gouramiPearl gouramis need 24–28 °C (75–82 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Rummy-nose tetraRummy-nose tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by rosy barbs and rummy-nose tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Siamese algae eaterSiamese algae eaters need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Check against another species Plan a tank