Rosy barb
Pethia conchonius
A large, hardy barb whose males turn bright pink-red when breeding; suits cooler tanks that run without a heater.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 28 gallons
- Group
- 8+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, pellets, spirulina, frozen bloodworm
- Origin
- Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh
- Hardier than87%
- Bigger than59%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Rosy 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
- 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
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusRosy barb outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Cherry shrimpRosy barb eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (PROP: крупный активный всеядный карповый).Risky
- Amano shrimpRosy barb eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (PROP: крупный активный всеядный карповый).Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidRosy barb outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Rosy barb.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Rosy barb.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Rosy barb: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Rosy barb: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Rosy barb: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 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
- AxolotlAxolotl can eat Rosy barb: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for rosy barbs: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 10 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 15.73 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 6.79 BU
- Min. water
- 90 L net
- Min. footprint
- 100 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 8+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore plant
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Pethia conchonius · FishBase: Pethia conchonius
Care notes
Rosy barbs come from hill streams and still waters from Pakistan to Bangladesh. They can reach about 4 inches, swim fast and eat greedily, and long-finned and neon forms are sold too.
Keep eight to ten in a tank at least 40 inches long at 61–75°F. They may nibble soft plants and will eat shrimplets and dwarf shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a rosy barb need?
At least 28 gallons (90 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.9 inches without fins.
How many rosy barbs should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do rosy barbs need?
64–72 °F, pH 6–8 and 5–20 dGH. Rosy barbs come from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
How long do rosy barbs live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with rosy barbs?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.