What tank size does a Gold Barb need?

A Gold Barb needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Gold Barb need?

Gold Barb does best at 16–26 °C (60.8–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.

What group size does a Gold Barb need?

Gold Barb is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Gold Barb suitable for beginners?

Yes — Gold Barb is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Gold Barb

Barbodes semifasciolatus

Cyprinidae

FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 André Karwath (Aka) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Gold Barb — Barbodes semifasciolatus — 📷 André Karwath (Aka) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The gold barb is a hardy, active shoaling cyprinid native to the Red River basin and southern China, long established in the hobby in its bright golden aquarium form. Notably peaceful for a barb and tolerant of cooler, subtropical water, it is far more laid-back than the boisterous tiger barb and makes an excellent, forgiving community fish.

Care

Keep a mixed-sex group of 6 or more in a well-planted tank with open swimming space and some water movement. Tolerates unheated or subtropical conditions; large groups keep any occasional fin-nipping in check.

Diet

Omnivorous forager that grazes small invertebrates, algae and organic matter; feed a varied diet of quality dry foods plus regular frozen or live meaty treats and some greens.

Tankmate compatibility

Gets along with (52)

Possible with care (177)

Acei Cichlid African Butterfly Cichlid African Butterflyfish Agassiz's Cory Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Angelfish Auratus Cichlid Bamboo Shrimp Banjo Catfish Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor Goldfish Black Neon Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Bleeding Heart Tetra Blood Parrot Cichlid Blue Acara Blue Dolphin Cichlid Boesemani Rainbowfish Bolivian Ram Borleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell Dweller Brichard's Teleogramma Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose Pleco Bronze Corydoras Buenos Aires Tetra Buffalohead Cichlid Bumblebee Cichlid Bumblebee Goby Calvus Cichlid Cardinal Tetra Celebes Rainbowfish Checkerboard Cichlid Checkered Barb Cherry Barb Chili Rasbora Chinese Algae Eater Chocolate Cichlid Chocolate Gourami Clown Killifish Clown Pleco Cobalt Blue Zebra Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Colombian Ramshorn Snail Comet Goldfish Common Goldfish Compressiceps Cichlid Congo Dwarf Cichlid Congo Tetra Convict Cichlid Cuckoo Catfish Cylindricus Cichlid Cyprichromis Demasoni Cichlid Diamond Tetra Dogtooth Cichlid Dwarf Chain Loach Dwarf Flag Cichlid Dwarf Gourami Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Dwarf Pea Puffer Dwarf Petricola Catfish Dwarf Rasbora Electric Blue Ahli Electric Yellow Lab Elephantnose Fish Ellioti Cichlid Elongate Mbuna Ember Tetra Emerald Cory Emperor Tetra Endler's Livebearer Even-spotted Synodontis Fantail Goldfish Featherfin Squeaker Festivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 Puffer Firemouth Cichlid Five-bar Cichlid Forktail Rainbowfish German Blue Ram Glowlight Tetra Golden Julie Golden Pencilfish Golden Tetra Golden Wonder Killifish Green Neon Tetra Guppy Harlequin Rasbora Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra Honey Gourami Hongi Cichlid Jewel Cichlid Johanni Cichlid Kenyi Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Kissing Gourami Kribensis Kuhli Loach Lambchop Rasbora Lemon Cichlid Lemon Tetra Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid Maingano Cichlid Marble Hatchetfish Marlieri Cichlid Masked Julie Molly Moonlight Gourami Multifasciatus Shell Dweller Neon Tetra Nerite Snail Ocellatus Shell Dweller Oranda Goldfish Paradise Fish Peaceful Betta Peacock Cichlid Pearl Gourami Penguin Tetra Polka Dot Loach Port Cichlid Powder Blue Cichlid Purple Emperor Tetra Rabbit Snail Rainbow Cichlid Rainbow Shark Ranchu Goldfish Red Empress Red Rainbowfish Red Whiptail Catfish Red Zebra Cichlid Red-Tail Shark Redhead Cichlid Regan's Julie Rosy Red Minnow Rosy Tetra Rummynose Tetra Rusty Cichlid Ryukin Goldfish Sailfin Molly Salvini Cichlid Sand-sifting Xenotilapia Saulosi Cichlid Serpae Tetra Severum Shubunkin Goldfish Silver Tip Tetra Similis Shell Dweller Skunk Cory Sparkling Gourami Spotted Hoplo Star Sapphire Sterbai Corydoras Strawberry Rasbora Striped Kribensis Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp Sunshine Peacock Sveni Eartheater Swordtail T-Bar Cichlid Taiwan Reef Cichlid Telescope Goldfish Thai Micro Crab Thick-lipped Gourami Threadfin Acara Threadfin Petrochromis Threadfin Rainbowfish Three-spot Gourami Tiger Barb Turquoise Rainbowfish Upside-down Catfish Vampire Shrimp Venezuelan Cory Wrestling Halfbeak X-ray Tetra Yoyo Loach Zebra Mbuna

Avoid (42)

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Colour and patternA hint only · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.
Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.

All the methods, with diagrams

Also in these lists

Fish for a first aquarium Peaceful community fish Fish for a 112 litre tank

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Gold Barb need?: A Gold Barb needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Gold Barb need?: Gold Barb does best at 16–26 °C (60.8–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
What group size does a Gold Barb need?: Gold Barb is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Gold Barb suitable for beginners?: Yes — Gold Barb is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature16–26°C

Optimal temp.20–24°C

pH6–8

Hardness (GH)2–20°d

Carbonate (KH)2–15°d

Adult size7 cm

Min. volume≥ 75 L

Min. tank length≥ 80 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneMid

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowModerate

Lifespan~5 yrs

Try in the calculator