If you buy through our links, Amazon pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. That’s how we keep the site running. How we choose.
Contents
Overview
The gold barb is the captive-bred yellow form of a barb from southern China and Vietnam, often sold under the old name "Schubert's barb." Its golden body is flecked with irregular black markings, and mature males flush red-orange on the belly and fins when they are ready to spawn.
Hobbyists like it because it is extremely hardy, lively and far more peaceful than the tiger barb it is sometimes lumped in with. It comes from subtropical waters, so it actually prefers slightly cooler temperatures than most tropical fish. That makes it a solid pick for beginners with a mid-sized community tank who want color and constant motion without the drama.
Care and tank setup
Plan on a tank of about 30 inches long and 26 gallons (100 liters) for a group of six or more, with plenty of open swimming room. Kept in small numbers, gold barbs get skittish or pester tank mates; in a proper school they settle down and color up.
- Water: they handle a wide pH and hardness range. Stability matters more than exact numbers, so start with a fully cycled tank and a good filter.
- Temperature: avoid keeping them above 77 °F (25 °C) year-round; they live longer at the cooler end.
- Decor: sturdy plants along the sides, sand or fine gravel and some gentle current.
- Tank mates: danios, cooler-water corydoras, other mellow barbs and fish of similar size.
A common mistake is adding dwarf shrimp: gold barbs eat the babies and often the adults too. They may nibble soft new shoots but don't uproot plants.
Feeding
Gold barbs are greedy omnivores. Use a quality flake or small pellet as the staple and add frozen or live foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia) plus some greens such as spirulina or blanched spinach. Two small feedings a day beat one big one, since they put on weight easily.
Breeding
They are egg scatterers that will eat their own eggs. Set up a separate breeding tank with Java moss or a mesh over the bottom, add a plump female with one or two males and remove the adults once spawning is over. The fry hatch in about two days and take infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Gold barb. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Guppy Poecilia reticulata 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Common goldfish Carassius auratus 79 gal (300 L) · 50–75 °F (10–24 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Otocinclus catfish Otocinclus vestitus 16 gal (60 L) · 70–79 °F (21–26 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Gold barb, and why.
- Discus: incompatible temperatures
- Clown loach: incompatible temperatures
- Oscar: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Ram cichlid: incompatible temperatures
- Amano shrimp: eats shrimp
- Cherry shrimp: eats shrimp
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Gold barb healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Gold barb need?
At least about 100 liters for a group of at least 6 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Gold barb need?
Between 18 and 24 °C, with a pH of 6 to 8.
What fish can live with the Gold barb?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Bronze cory, Guppy, Nerite snail and Horned nerite snail. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Gold barb be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
