Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Gold Barb is found throughout slow-moving waters of Vietnam, Taiwan, and southwestern China. The wild-type of this species is actually “greenish” in color; the gold barb in which we are familiar with in the hobby today was a selectively bred color form from the wild-type in the 1960s and has since been commerically produced in great numbers through aquaculture practices. Both sexes of Gold barb look similar, however females will have a rounder shape and grow slightly larger than males. Despite “barb” in their name, Gold barbs are rather timid and peaceful compared to the boisterous barb species we think of (e.g., Puntius tetrazona [Tiger Barb, Green Tiger Barb], P. padamya [Odessa Barb]). Gold barbs are natural shoaling fish, requiring at least 8 to 10 individuals to avoid skittishness and show their best coloration. This group should be comprised of a mixed sex ratio, and males will occasionally flare up at one another to gain the attention of females. An adult Gold barb can reach a size of approximately 3″. Gold barbs are one of the few cyprinids that will graze on nuisance hair algae.

Diet Requirements: Gold barbs are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking micro pellet foods and bug bites are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Some emphasis should be put on offering ample plant or algal based foods for this species. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: A minimum 20 gallon aquarium is ideal for a group of Gold barbs. Gold barbs are one of our listed “hardy fish” because they are able to endure the initial break-in cycle of a newly set-up aquarium. After the cycle is completed, biweekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters favorable (Nitrates < 30 ppm). Because we offer only aquacultured Gold barbs, they have a range of water parameters in which they can adapt to. The aquarium does not need to be aquascaped with anything in particular to keep a group of Gold barbs happy, but a darker substrate, driftwood and other natural-looking arrangements will bring out the beauty of this barb. Gold barbs have been observed to show exceptional coloration in dense live planted aquariums. Gold barbs are extremely peaceful and rarely conflict with tank mates. Their timid nature, however, may make them not suitable for traditional community aquariums that have overly rambunctious or competitive species. Mix Gold barbs with fish that have a similar temperament, and these tank mates will also encourage more outgoing behavior of your Gold barbs. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 4-10, pH 6.0-8.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 1”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.