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 fish
- Lifespan
- 5–7 years
Gold Barb care mistakes to avoid
The mistakes beginners most often make with this species.
- 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 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.
Plants that suit it
Species facts
- 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
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.
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.
Complete the tank
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
Tank size for this species
At least 21 US gallons (81 L), 90 x 30 cm footprint
Filter
Hang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
We are still choosing products for this.
Heater
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.
We are still choosing products for this.
Water Conditioner
Dechlorinator 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
Maker's page · Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test Kit
Liquid 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
Maker's page · Sold at The Shrimp Farm · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply
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.
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.