Aquariumbarb · freshwater
Rosy Barb: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius) grows to about 4.7 in (10 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 39 inches long and about 24 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
- 4.7 in (10 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 39 inches long and about 24 gallons
- Temperature
- 61–75°F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–20 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: eats shrimp
Rosy 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 TetraRosy Barb and Glowlight Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careRosy Barb and Endler's Livebearer only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Pearl GouramiRosy Barb and Pearl Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Bolivian RamRosy Barb and Bolivian Ram only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- KribensisRosy Barb and Kribensis only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careRosy Barb and Angelfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Sterbai CoryRosy Barb and Sterbai Cory only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Mystery SnailRosy Barb (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careRosy Barb (61–75°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Cherry ShrimpRosy Barb will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpRosy Barb will eat Amano Shrimp.
- Boesemani RainbowfishRosy Barb (61–75°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Bamboo ShrimpRosy Barb will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksRosy Barb (61–75°F) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (76–80°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Rosy Barb is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careRosy Barb and Convict Cichlid only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
All 105 species we checked against the Rosy 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 |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | 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 |
| Pictus Catfish | 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 |
| Red-Tail Shark | 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 | Rosy Barb and African Dwarf Frog only share 74–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Rosy Barb and Angelfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | Rosy Barb and Assassin Snail only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Bolivian Ram | Caution | Rosy Barb and Bolivian Ram only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Clown Loach | Caution | Rosy Barb and Clown Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Diamond Tetra | Caution | Rosy 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 Rosy Barb. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Rosy Barb and Electric Yellow Lab only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Rosy Barb and Endler's Livebearer only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Rosy Barb and Forktail Blue-eye only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Glowlight Tetra | Caution | Rosy Barb and Glowlight Tetra only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Caution | Rosy 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 Rosy Barb. |
| Kribensis | Caution | Rosy Barb and Kribensis only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Rosy Barb (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Rosy Barb (5–20 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Pearl Gourami | Caution | Rosy Barb and Pearl Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Sterbai Cory | Caution | Rosy Barb and Sterbai Cory only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Rosy Barb and Three-spot Gourami only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Upside-down Catfish | Caution | Rosy Barb and Upside-down Catfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Rosy Barb will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Rosy Barb will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Avoid | Rosy Barb (61–75°F) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (76–80°F) need different temperatures.; Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Rosy Barb. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Rosy Barb (61–75°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Rosy Barb will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Rosy Barb is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Rosy Barb and Convict Cichlid only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Rosy Barb is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Rosy Barb will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Discus | Avoid | Rosy Barb (61–75°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Rosy Barb (61–75°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Rosy Barb will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Rosy Barb only grows to about 4.7 in. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Avoid | Rosy Barb (61–75°F) and Moonlight Gourami (77–86°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Cool-tolerant subtropical barb (FishBase 18-22 C); unsuitable for warm tropical tanks; group of 8+; planted tank with dark substrate
Group: SF: schooling, at least 8-10; 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 Rosy Barb get?
About 4.7 inches (10 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Rosy Barb need?
At least 39 inches long and about 24 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 55 gallon.
How many Rosy Barbs should be kept together?
At least 8. SF: schooling, at least 8-10; FishBase: groups of 5 or more; larger figure used
What fish can live with a Rosy Barb?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Rosy Barb setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 55 gallon (48 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 300 W for 55 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 →
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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/pethia-conchonius/
- fishbase.se /summary/Pethia-conchonius.html