Aquariumbarb · freshwater
Denison Barb: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Denison Barb (Sahyadria denisonii) grows to about 5.2 in (11 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. Keep at least 6 together, at 59–77°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Outgrows most home tanks. Sold as juveniles for community tanks but grows to 110 mm SL and needs a 120 x 45 cm base.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 5.2 in (11 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 47 inches long and about 64 gallons
- Temperature
- 59–77°F
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Hardness
- 5–25 dGH
- Group size
- 6+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: eats shrimp
Denison Barb tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Nerite SnailDenison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailDenison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksDenison Barb and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Cockatoo Dwarf CichlidDenison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH.
- Kissing GouramiOutgrows tanksKissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Denison Barb.
- Moonlight GouramiDenison Barb and Moonlight Gourami only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar can bully smaller, peaceful Denison Barb.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careDenison Barb (59–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Cherry ShrimpDenison Barb will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpDenison Barb will eat Amano Shrimp.
- Boesemani RainbowfishDenison Barb (59–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Bamboo ShrimpDenison Barb will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful.
- Crystal Red ShrimpDenison Barb will eat Crystal Red Shrimp.
All 105 species we checked against the Denison Barb
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Paradise Fish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Yoyo Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Denison Barb and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window.; Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Denison Barb. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | Denison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Denison Barb. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Caution | Denison Barb and Moonlight Gourami only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Denison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Denison Barb (5–25 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Denison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Denison Barb. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Denison Barb will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Denison Barb will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Denison Barb (59–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Denison Barb will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Denison Barb will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Discus | Avoid | Denison Barb (59–77°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Denison Barb (59–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Denison Barb will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Denison Barb only grows to about 5.2 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Large active schooling barb needing a 120 x 45 cm base; IUCN Endangered in the wild, choose captive-bred stock; sinking foods plus live/frozen
Group: SF: schooling, at least 6-10; males spar when kept in numbers
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Denison Barb get?
About 5.2 inches (11 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Denison Barb need?
At least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 75 gallon.
How many Denison Barbs should be kept together?
At least 6. SF: schooling, at least 6-10; males spar when kept in numbers
What fish can live with a Denison Barb?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Denison Barb setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 75 gallon (48 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 200 W for 75 gallons, holding 59–77°F.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified (independent spot-check). Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/sahyadria-denisonii/
- fishbase.se /summary/Sahyadria-denisonii.html