What size tank does Rosy Barb need?

Rosy Barb needs at least 30 gallons before tank mates or bioload are added; larger groups and active fish need more room.

What water parameters does Rosy Barb need?

Keep Rosy Barb at 64-78F, pH 6-8, GH 5-20 dGH, and KH 2-12 dKH.

Is Rosy Barb good for beginners?

Rosy Barb is rated intermediate for beginners. Match its tank size, water parameters, and temperament before choosing tank mates.

What do Rosy Barb eat?

Rosy Barb diet is listed as omnivore. Feed a varied aquarium diet suited to that category.

How many Rosy Barb should be kept together?

Keep at least 6 Rosy Barb together. Social behavior: schooling.

Can Rosy Barb live with shrimp?

No. Rosy Barb is marked unsafe with dwarf shrimp and may prey on adults or shrimplets.

Can Rosy Barb live with bettas?

Sometimes. Rosy Barb and Betta need at least 30 gallons, with normal group sizes handled. Rosy Barb can nip flowing fins on Betta.

Rosy Barb

Pethia conchonius compatibility profile. Find the best tank mates by checking water parameters, aquarium swim zone pressure, social rules, and shrimp-safe verifications.

Core facts & bioload limits

Adult size5.5"

Minimum tank30 gal

Temperamentpeaceful

Group6+

temperature64-78F
pH6-8
water_hardnessGH 5-20 dGH | KH 2-12 dKH
plant_safetycaution
shrimp_safetyunsafe
algae_eating_rolenone
beginner_suitabilityintermediate

Planning tools

Fish Compatibility CheckerCheck Rosy Barb against a selected tank mate.Aquarium Stocking CalculatorEstimate Rosy Barb bioload and group-size pressure.Water Parameter MatcherCompare Rosy Barb with your temperature, pH, GH, and KH.

Species resources

Rosy Barb water parameters

Community planning & swim zone pressure

When planning a community around Rosy Barb, consider the aquarium swim zone pressure. This species primarily occupies the middle zone. Balance the setup by choosing tank mates that occupy the top or bottom zones to reduce crowding and stress.

2026 smart aquarium and aquascape planning for Rosy Barb

Minimum tank footprint for adult Rosy Barb

Rosy Barb needs at least 30 gallons before tank mates, decor displacement, or group-size pressure are added.

Why nano aquarium advice does not fit Rosy Barb

Aquascape style cannot compensate for a tank that is too small. Match the adult footprint, social group, and filtration first, then choose plants or hardscape.

Does Rosy Barb need programmable LED sunrise/sunset lighting?

Programmable sunrise and sunset ramps are optional, but gradual lighting can reduce startle behavior in tanks with open swimming lanes or skittish community fish.

Ideal smart heater temperature parameters for Rosy Barb breeding

Keep the heater inside the listed range of 64-78F; breeding attempts should favor stability over chasing the warmest possible number.

How high water flow from modern powerheads affects Rosy Barb

Match flow to swim zone and body shape. If Rosy Barb avoids open water, clamps fins, or hides behind hardscape, reduce direct current and add calmer feeding areas.

Best natural biotope tank mates for Rosy Barb

Favor tank mates with overlapping temperature, pH, hardness, temperament, and swim-zone use instead of mixing fish only because they share a broad region or store display tank.

Will Rosy Barb uproot carpet plants in a Dutch style aquascape?

Plant safety is marked as caution. Even plant-safe fish can disturb carpets if they dig, graze aggressively, or crowd the foreground during feeding.

Blackwater botanical setups for Rosy Barb stress relief

Use botanicals only when the softer, tinted-water style fits the species water range. Keep pH and hardness inside the listed limits instead of dropping them quickly for appearance.

Minimalist Iwagumi aquascape stocking ideas featuring Rosy Barb

Iwagumi layouts leave fewer visual barriers, so choose peaceful tank mates and avoid territorial species that need caves, dense stems, or broken sightlines.

Care caveats

notesLarger, more active barb than the typical beginner pick; plan for size and swimming length.
caveatAdults reach roughly 4-6 inches — plan around the adult size, not the juvenile fish in the store; nano and short tanks are not appropriate.
caveatKeep a group of 6 or more so activity is dispersed; smaller groups concentrate nipping and chasing onto tankmates.
caveatMay nip slow or long-finned tankmates (bettas, gouramis, angelfish, fancy guppies); avoid those pairings even though aggression is generally moderate.
caveatBest in larger planted community tanks with open swimming length and similarly robust tankmates.

Conditional tank mates

No green matches are currently published for this species. These yellow matches may work only when the warnings are handled, especially temperature range, group size, flow, and stocking density.