Cherry Barb tank mates
Every recommendation below is computed, not copied: the AquaSage engine paired Cherry Barb (5 cm / 2 in, peaceful) with 271 fish and invertebrates in a spacious reference tank and scored each pair for water-parameter overlap, temperament, predation and husbandry. A species makes the green list only when every check passes at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F).
Verdicts by the AquaSage engine v0.1.2 in a 450 L reference tank. Read the full methodology →
Best tank mates for Cherry Barb

Blackline Rasbora
5 cm · 22–26°C

Golden Tetra
5 cm · 23–28°C

Honey Gourami
5 cm · 22–28°C

Otocinclus
5 cm · 21–27°C

Rummynose Tetra
5 cm · 23–29°C

Silver Tip Tetra
5 cm · 23–28°C

Black Phantom Tetra
4.5 cm · 22–28°C

Bloodfin Tetra
5.5 cm · 18–28°C

Cochu's Blue Tetra
5.5 cm · 21–26°C

Dwarf Chain Loach
5.5 cm · 22–30°C

Emperor Tetra
5.5 cm · 23–27°C

Harlequin Rasbora
4.5 cm · 22–28°C
59 more species pass every check:
Possible with care
- African Butterflyfish— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Amano Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Assassin Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Bamboo Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Bladder Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Blood Parrot Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Blue Acara— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Blue Dolphin Cichlid— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Blue Tiger Shrimp— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Blue Velvet Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Boesemani Rainbowfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Borneo Sucker— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Brichard's Teleogramma— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Buenos Aires Tetra— Setup needs adjustments for some species
- Buffalohead Cichlid— Setup needs adjustments for some species
- Bumblebee Goby— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Cardinal Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Celebes Rainbowfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Celestial Pearl Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Checkerboard Cichlid— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Checkered Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Cherry Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Chili Rasbora— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Chocolate Cichlid— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Chocolate Gourami— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Colombian Ramshorn Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Convict Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Crystal Red Shrimp— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Denison Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Doctor Fish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Dojo (Weather) Loach— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Dwarf Orange Crayfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Dwarf Pea Puffer— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Dwarf Rasbora— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Elephantnose Fish— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Ellioti Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Ember Tetra— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Endler's Livebearer— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Festivum (Flag Cichlid)— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Figure-8 Puffer— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Firemouth Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Forktail Rainbowfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Freshwater Clam— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- German Blue Ram— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Ghost Shrimp— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Glowlight Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Gold Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Green Neon Tetra— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Guppy— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Japanese Trapdoor Snail— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Jewel Cichlid— Some tension — cover and space are doing the work
- Kissing Gourami— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Least Killifish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Leopard Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Marble Hatchetfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Medaka Ricefish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Moonlight Gourami— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Mystery Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Neon Tetra— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Nerite Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Odessa Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Panda Corydoras— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Paradise Fish— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Paraguay Eartheater— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Pearl Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Peppered Corydoras— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Pictus Catfish— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Platy— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Polka Dot Loach— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Port Cichlid— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Rabbit Snail— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Rainbow Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Rainbow Shark— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Ramshorn Snail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Red Rainbowfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Redhead Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Reticulated Hillstream Loach— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Rosy Barb— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Rubber Lip Pleco— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Severum— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Spotted Hoplo— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Strawberry Rasbora— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Sunshine Peacock— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Sveni Eartheater— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Swordtail— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- T-Bar Cichlid— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Threadfin Acara— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Three-spot Gourami— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Turquoise Rainbowfish— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Vampire Shrimp— pH is a compromise for someone here
- Venezuelan Cory— pH is a compromise for someone here
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Wrestling Halfbeak— Everyone is close on pH — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Yoyo Loach— Some tankmates are at risk of being eaten
- Zebra Danio— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
- Zebra Pleco— Everyone is close on temperature — one fish sits just outside its favourite
Avoid with Cherry Barb
- Acei Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Adonis Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
- Altum Angelfish— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
- Angelfish— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Auratus Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Bala Shark— Tank is too small for some species
- Black Moor Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Borleyi (Redfin Hap)— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Brevis Shell Dweller— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)— No pH value suits every species here
- Bumblebee Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Calvus Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Clown Loach— Tank is too small for some species
- Cobalt Blue Zebra— No pH value suits every species here
- Comet Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Common Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Common Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
- Compressiceps Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Cuckoo Catfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Cylindricus Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Cyprichromis— No pH value suits every species here
- Demasoni Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Demon Eartheater— Tank is too small for some species
- Discus— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
- Dogtooth Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Duboisi Tropheus— No pH value suits every species here
- Dwarf Petricola Catfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Electric Blue Ahli— No pH value suits every species here
- Electric Yellow Lab— No pH value suits every species here
- Elongate Mbuna— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Endlicheri Bichir— Tank is too small for some species
- Even-spotted Synodontis— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Fantail Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Featherfin Squeaker— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Five-bar Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Frontosa— No pH value suits every species here
- Goby Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Golden Julie— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Green Discus— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
- Green Spotted Pufferfish— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Green Terror— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Heckel Discus— Only one temperature suits everyone — no margin
- Hongi Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Iridescent Shark— Tank is too small for some species
- Jack Dempsey— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Jaguar Cichlid— Tank is too small for some species
- Johanni Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Kenyi Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Koi— No temperature suits every species here
- Lemon Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Livingstoni— No pH value suits every species here
- Maingano Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Malawi Eyebiter— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Malawi Hawk— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Marlieri Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Masked Julie— No pH value suits every species here
- Molly— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Multifasciatus Shell Dweller— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Ocellatus Shell Dweller— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Oranda Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Ornate Bichir— Tank is too small for some species
- Oscar— Tank is too small for some species
- Peacock Bass— Tank is too small for some species
- Peacock Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Pike Cichlid— Tank is too small for some species
- Powder Blue Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Ranchu Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Red Devil— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Red Empress— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Red Terror— Tank is too small for some species
- Red Zebra Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Regan's Julie— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Reticulated Flying Fox— Tank is too small for some species
- Rostratus— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Rosy Red Minnow— No temperature suits every species here
- Royal Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
- Rusty Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Ryukin Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Sailfin Molly— Only one hardness (GH) value suits everyone — no margin
- Sailfin Pleco— Tank is too small for some species
- Salvini Cichlid— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Sand-sifting Xenotilapia— No pH value suits every species here
- Saulosi Cichlid— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Shubunkin Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Silver Arowana— Tank is too small for some species
- Silver Moony— Freshwater and brackish species cannot share a tank
- Similis Shell Dweller— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Star Sapphire— No pH value suits every species here
- Striped Raphael Catfish— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Taiwan Reef Cichlid— No pH value suits every species here
- Telescope Goldfish— No temperature suits every species here
- Texas Cichlid— A predator will eat a tankmate
- Threadfin Petrochromis— No pH value suits every species here
- Tropheus— No pH value suits every species here
- Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
- Wolf Cichlid— Tank is too small for some species
- Zebra Mbuna— Only one pH value suits everyone — no margin
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best tank mates for Cherry Barb?
- Top engine-approved picks: Blackline Rasbora, Golden Tetra, Honey Gourami, Otocinclus, Rummynose Tetra. Each shares a workable temperature and pH band with Cherry Barb and clears the temperament and predation checks in a spacious reference tank.
- What fish should you avoid keeping with Cherry Barb?
- The engine red-flags Acei Cichlid, Adonis Pleco, Altum Angelfish among others — for incompatible water, temperament conflict or predation risk. The avoid list above states the specific reason for each pairing.