Rosy Barb
Pethia conchonius
Cyprinidae
About
The rosy barb is a large, robust cyprinid from the cooler rivers, streams and lakes of northern India, Bangladesh and the Himalayan foothills, where breeding males flush a striking coppery-rose. Almost all aquarium stock is now commercially bred, and its tolerance of cool, unheated water makes it a classic subtropical community fish. Endlessly active and fast-swimming, it needs a long tank and the company of its own kind; kept in a proper shoal it is peaceful, but in cramped tanks or thin groups it can turn to nipping the fins of slower tankmates.
Care
Keep a shoal of at least 6 (ideally 8+) in a long tank of 110 L or more, with cool water and open swimming space. Groups curb its fin-nipping, and it suits unheated or subtropical setups. Avoid slow, long-finned tankmates.
Diet
Non-selective omnivore that grazes small invertebrates, insect larvae and plant matter in the wild; feed varied dry foods with frozen or live meaty foods and some vegetable or algae content.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (24)
Possible with care (182)
Avoid (65)
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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Rosy Barb need?
- A Rosy Barb needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Rosy Barb need?
- Rosy Barb does best at 16–24 °C (60.8–75.2 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 4–19 °dGH.
- What group size does a Rosy Barb need?
- Rosy Barb is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Rosy Barb suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Rosy Barb is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.