Rosy barb Tank Mates
Short answer: the best rosy barb tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. Rosy barbs need 61–75 °F (16–24 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 30 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Rosy barb care at a glance
| Adult size | 5.5 in (14 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 US gallons |
| Temperature | 61–75 °F (16–24 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (35)
- Dwarf gourami
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cherry barb
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- X-ray tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Firemouth cichlid
⚠️ Possible with caution (14)
- Betta fish — Rosy barb sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Guppy — Rosy barb sometimes nips long fins, so guppy may get harassed.
- Fancy goldfish — Goldfish are coldwater fish that produce a lot of waste; they are usually kept only with other goldfish.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like rosy barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rosy barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Cardinal tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Cardinal tetra 23–29 °C (73–84 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Rummy nose tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rosy barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Common pleco — Very narrow shared temperature range: Common pleco 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like rosy barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Congo tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Congo tetra 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller rosy barb (14 cm), especially at night.
❌ Not recommended (22)
- Cherry shrimp — Rosy barb will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Angelfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rosy barb (14 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful rosy barb.
- Amano shrimp — Rosy barb will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Endler's livebearer — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Glowlight tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Kribensis — No comfortable shared temperature: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Pearl gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: Pearl gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Three spot gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Three spot gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — No comfortable shared temperature: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Electric yellow cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Clown loach — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Forktail blue-eye — No comfortable shared temperature: Forktail blue-eye 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful rosy barb.
- Sterbai cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Convict cichlid — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Upside-down catfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Upside-down catfish 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Bolivian ram — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful rosy barb.
How many rosy barbs per tank?
40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with rosy barbs?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. They share a temperature range with rosy barbs (61–75 °F (16–24 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with rosy barbs?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, Amano shrimp, Endler's livebearer.
What size tank do rosy barbs need?
We recommend at least 30 US gallons for a group of 6 rosy barbs, more if you add tank mates.
Can rosy barbs live alone?
No. Rosy barbs are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.