Golden Barb

Available in store only

pH range: 5.0-8.0
Temp range: 20-26°C
Approx. purchase size: 2cm
Max size: 6-7cm
Diet: Omnivorous

What fish can live with tiger barbs? In general, you want to avoid tiny fish that are small enough to get eaten by the tiger barbs. Plus, keep them away from any long-finned fish like betta fish and angelfish that may get nibbled. Finally, barbs believe in gobbling their food as fast as possible and can easily outcompete slow or timid fish during dinner time, potentially starving them over time.

Instead, go with other speedy swimmers (e.g., zebra danios and silver tip tetras) or larger fish that won’t eat them (e.g., clown loaches and certain South American cichlids). Tiger barbs swim all over the place but tend to hang out in the middle of the aquarium, so we often pair them with active bottom dwellers, such as Botia loaches.

What Do  Barbs Eat?

They are not picky eaters and will devour almost any omnivore fish food you give them. Because they eat so quickly, try feeding them smaller foods that scatter quickly, such as Flakes and small pellets  to ensure that everyone gets a bite. They also enjoy Freeze dried food , and frozen fish food. We have noticed that too many bloodworms can sometimes cause the females to swell up, so don’t forget to add some roughage to their diet for smoother digestion, such as daphnia, Brine shrimp, and even blanched vegetables.

How to Set Up an Aquarium for  Barbs

Tiger barbs can handle a wide range of water parameters, such as pH of 6.0-8.0 and temperatures from 72-82°F (20-28°C). This super active fish would do well in a 29-gallon aquarium or larger that has plenty of aquarium plants and fish tank decorations. By providing some obstacles that block line of sight, weaker fish can hide from the more belligerent fish if needed.

How many tiger barbs should be kept together? The more you can buy, the better. At the Aquarium Co-Op retail store, we highly recommend a minimum of seven and prefer more than 12 if possible. Having a big group of barbs spreads out the aggression among themselves and towards other fish. People who only want five barbs often don’t have enough room for them when they grow to adult size or are not truly invested in them. Be prepared to either get a huge school or try another, more peaceful species like cherry barbs.

Can I mix tiger barbs? Yes, the many color variations are all of the same species, so you can make a school of tiger barbs with multiple colors to create a kaleidoscope effect. Other hobbyists like to stay with the same type of tiger barb to create a more unified look when they are schooling together.