Gold Barb Care Guide
Barbodes semifasciolatus · Easy care · 20 gallon minimum
A peaceful, golden, very hardy barb — one of the easier barbs for a community tank in a group.
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How big does a gold barb get?
A gold barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) reaches about 2.8 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a gold barb a minimum of 20 gallons, with water at 65–78°F and a pH of 6–8. Keep them in groups of at least 6 — they are shoaling fish and become stressed and washed-out alone. As a easy-care, omnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a gold barb with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus, the Chinese barb, is a species of cyprinid fish native to the Red River basin in southeast Asia where they occur in fresh waters at depths of 5 metres (16 ft) or less. The captive variant popularly known as the gold barb or Goldfinned barb or Schuberti barb is an extremely popular aquarium fish.
Recommended gear for gold barbs
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