Aquariumbarb · freshwater
Gold Barb: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Gold Barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) grows to about 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 35 inches long and about 21 gallons. Keep at least 8 together, at 61–75°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 35 inches long and about 21 gallons
- Temperature
- 61–75°F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 2–20 dGH
- Group size
- 8+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp
Gold 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
- Lemon TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 68–82°F
Use caution
- Glowlight TetraGold Barb and Glowlight Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careGold Barb and Endler's Livebearer only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Pearl GouramiGold Barb and Pearl Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Bolivian RamGold Barb and Bolivian Ram only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- KribensisGold Barb and Kribensis only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careGold Barb and Angelfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Sterbai CoryGold Barb and Sterbai Cory only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Cherry ShrimpGold Barb may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careGold Barb (61–75°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Boesemani RainbowfishGold Barb (61–75°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksGold Barb (61–75°F) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (76–80°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Gold Barb is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careGold Barb and Convict Cichlid only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- DiscusNeeds careGold Barb (61–75°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Gold Barb only grows to about 3.5 in.
- Moonlight GouramiGold Barb (61–75°F) and Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Gold Barb
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | 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 |
| 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 |
| Nerite Snail | 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 |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | 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 |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| African Dwarf Frog | Caution | Gold Barb and African Dwarf Frog only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Gold Barb may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Gold Barb and Angelfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | Gold Barb and Assassin Snail only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Gold Barb may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Bolivian Ram | Caution | Gold Barb and Bolivian Ram only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Gold Barb may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Clown Loach | Caution | Gold Barb and Clown Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Gold Barb may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Diamond Tetra | Caution | Gold Barb and Diamond Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Gold Barb and Electric Yellow Lab only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Gold Barb and Endler's Livebearer only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Gold Barb and Forktail Blue-eye only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Gold Barb may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Glowlight Tetra | Caution | Gold Barb and Glowlight Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Caution | Gold Barb and Head-and-tail-light Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Kribensis | Caution | Gold Barb and Kribensis only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Gold Barb (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Gold Barb (2–20 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Pearl Gourami | Caution | Gold Barb and Pearl Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Sterbai Cory | Caution | Gold Barb and Sterbai Cory only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Gold Barb and Three-spot Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Upside-down Catfish | Caution | Gold Barb and Upside-down Catfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Avoid | Gold Barb (61–75°F) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (76–80°F) need different temperatures.; Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Gold Barb. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Gold Barb (61–75°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Gold Barb is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Gold Barb and Convict Cichlid only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Gold Barb is peaceful. |
| Discus | Avoid | Gold Barb (61–75°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Gold Barb (61–75°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Gold Barb only grows to about 3.5 in. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Avoid | Gold Barb (61–75°F) and Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Gold Barb only grows to about 3.5 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Subtropical; does best at the cooler end of tropical temperatures; planted tank with dark substrate; feed some plant/algal matter
Group: SF: mixed-sex group of 8-10 or more; FishBase: groups of 5 or more; larger figure used
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Gold Barb get?
About 3.5 inches (7.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Gold Barb need?
At least 35 inches long and about 21 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.
How many Gold Barbs should be kept together?
At least 8. SF: mixed-sex group of 8-10 or more; FishBase: groups of 5 or more; larger figure used
What fish can live with a Gold Barb?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Gold Barb setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 200 W for 40 gallons, holding 61–75°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 →
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/barbodes-semifasciolatus/
- fishbase.se /summary/Barbodes-semifasciolatus.html