Golden barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Recommended tank
- 80 L
- Maximum size
- 7 cm
- Temperature
- 18–25 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Group size
- ≥ 5
- Diet
- Omnivore
Care at a glance
The golden barb is the golden-yellow bred form of a barb from southern China and northern Vietnam, marked with dark blotches on the flank. In the wild the species is greenish brown; the gold variety has become so dominant in the hobby that the wild form is rarely seen.
It tolerates cooler temperatures well and can go without a heater in many living rooms, which makes it a rewarding fish for an unheated community tank. Keep it in a group and it stays lively and peaceful, with display limited to its own kind.
Related species
Keep Golden barb in the BlubHub app
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.