Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Also known as Chinese Barb, Green Barb
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A very hardy, golden, cool-tolerant barb that forgives beginner mistakes. It is generally peaceful, stays active, and likes a little more space than a nano fish. Because it prefers cooler water than most tropical fish, choose tank mates that are happy in the same range.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 21 US gal
- Footprint
- 35 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 61–75 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 2–20 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 8 or more
- Lifespan
- 5–7 years
Gold Barb tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Poecilia reticulata
Xiphophorus maculatus
Xiphophorus hellerii
Poecilia sphenops
Trichogaster chuna
Trichogaster lalius
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Gold Barb is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Boraras brigittae
Gold Barb is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Ancistrus cirrhosus
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Melanotaenia boesemani
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Gold Barb is a poor match.
Gold Barb feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed flakes, pellets and some vegetable matter.
- Add frozen bloodworm or daphnia for stronger gold color.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Adult females tend to be rounder in the belly and grow slightly larger than males. In the gold form, males often show more red when ready to spawn.
Gold Barb care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 8 fish so they feel secure.
- Check the temperature. It prefers cooler water than most tropical community fish.
- Skip delicate plants, because this foraging omnivore may nibble soft growth.
- Avoid very small shrimp and fry, which it will happily eat.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons.
Gold Barb tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 21 US gal (81 L), 90 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Gold Barb. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Picks for Spain are still being checked. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 40 Breeder US
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Gold Barb, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Gold Barb's temperature range.
None of the kits we recommend fits Gold Barb yet. See Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For for what to look for.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 61–75 °F (16–24 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateDecor is not critical; a dark substrate and heavy planting show its colour best.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorFloating plants and driftwood roots or branches are appreciated.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsMostly safe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Gold Barb
We have not found a store that sells Gold Barb under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Gold Barb FAQ
What size tank do Gold Barbs need?
Our sourced minimum is 21 US gallons (81 liters), with a footprint of 90 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Gold Barbs should I keep?
Keep at least 8 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Gold Barbs?
Good matches on our list include Fancy Guppy, Platy and Swordtail. Avoid Bristlenose Pleco and German Blue Ram.
How long do Gold Barbs live?
Care guides report about 5–7 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Are gold barbs a natural color?
The gold form is an aquarium-developed color. Wild fish look greener, with broken dark bars along the body.
Gold Barb facts and sources
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Native to
- Southeast China and northern Vietnam
- Adult size
- 3 in (7.5 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Moderate
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Mostly Safe
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Easy Egg-Scatterer
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.