Gold barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
A golden aquarium form of the Chinese green barb; peaceful, hardy and happy in cooler tanks without a heater.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- 8+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, pellets, spirulina, frozen bloodworm
- Origin
- East Asia
- Hardier than87%
- Bigger than46%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Gold barb tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGold barb eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (PROP: крупный активный всеядный карповый).Risky
- Amano shrimpGold barb eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (PROP: крупный активный всеядный карповый).Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Gold barb.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Gold barb.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat young or small Gold barb; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Gold barb.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Gold barb: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Gold barb: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Gold barb: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Gold barb: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for gold barbs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 7.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 13.90 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 5.58 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 8+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Barbodes semifasciolatus · FishBase: Barbodes semifasciolatus
Care notes
Gold barbs come from East Asia, and the golden form is often sold under the made-up name 'Puntius schuberti'. It is heavily line-bred, so body deformities are not unusual; the wild green form is sold too.
Keep eight to ten in a tank at least 3 feet long, about 20 gallons, at 61–75°F with some current. They are a good beginner fish but will eat shrimplets and dwarf shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a gold barb need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3 inches without fins.
How many gold barbs should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do gold barbs need?
64–75 °F, pH 6–8 and 2–20 dGH. Gold barbs come from East Asia.
How long do gold barbs live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with gold barbs?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.