Rosy Barb

The Rosy Barb is a beautiful, active schooling fish from South Asia that gets its name from the males' stunning rosy-red coloration during spawning. These hardy fish are larger than Tiger Barbs (reaching 6 inches) but generally more peaceful. They are excellent for community tanks with appropriately-sized tankmates and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. Rosy Barbs are active swimmers that add movement and color to the mid-level of the aquarium. They are prolific breeders and relatively easy to care for, making them suitable for beginners with larger tanks. Their semi-aggressive nature means they should not be kept with long-finned or very slow-moving fish, but they are significantly less nippy than Tiger Barbs.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Rosy Barbs need appropriate space:

• Minimum 30 gallons for a school (40+ recommended)
• Long tanks preferred - they need swimming space
• Hang-on-back or canister filter
• Heater to maintain 74-82°F
• Gravel or sand substrate
• Plants for cover (but they may nibble)
• Driftwood and rocks
• Open swimming space in center

Important: They are active swimmers. Provide open areas for schooling behavior.

Water Quality

• Temperature: 74-82°F (23-28°C)
• pH: 6.0-8.0 (very adaptable)
• Water Hardness: Moderate (5-20 dGH)
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <40 ppm

Maintenance:

• Weekly 25% water changes
• Hardy and adaptable to various conditions
• Tolerate cooler temperatures briefly
• Good for beginners

Feeding

Rosy Barbs are omnivores:

• High-quality flakes or pellets as staple
• Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia
• Vegetables: spirulina flakes, blanched vegetables
• Live foods: occasional treats

Feeding Schedule: 2 times daily, moderate amounts.

Note: Include vegetable matter regularly - they need plant-based foods.

Behavior & Compatibility

Semi-aggressive schooling fish:

• Good Tank Mates:

  • Other active barbs (avoid with very small fish)
  • Danios
  • Rainbowfish
  • Corydoras
  • Plecos
  • Larger tetras
  • Peaceful gouramis
  • Active community fish

• Avoid With:

  • Long-finned fish (may nip)
  • Very slow fish
  • Small shrimp (will eat them)
  • Betta fish
  • Angelfish
  • Guppies (may nip fins)

Behavior: Active schoolers, males spar harmlessly, generally peaceful but boisterous.

Schooling Behavior

Need to be kept in groups:

• Minimum school: 6 individuals
• Ideal: 8-10+ for best behavior
• Male ratio: More males = better color displays
• Less nippy: When kept in proper schools, less likely to nip fins

Note: Like all barbs, they establish a pecking order. Some chasing is normal.

Breeding

Easy to breed:

• Egg scatterers
• Spawning: Early morning among plants
• Breeding triggers: Temperature increase, water changes
• Color display: Males turn intensely red during spawning
• Parental care: None - remove parents or use spawning mop
• Fry food: Infusoria, then baby brine shrimp

Breeding setup: Planted tank or spawning mop to catch eggs.

Health Considerations

Generally very hardy:

• Ich: Treatable with standard methods
• Fin rot: From poor water quality or aggression
• Bloat: From overeating
• Generally robust: Few health issues

Prevention:

• Maintain good water quality
• Feed varied diet
• Keep in proper school size

Size Considerations

Larger than many barbs:

• Juvenile size: 1-2 inches when purchased
• Mature size: 4-6 inches
• Lifespan: 4-6 years

Note: They grow significantly larger than Tiger Barbs.

Appearance

Beautiful coloration:

• Males: Rosy-red body, especially during spawning; black-edged fins
• Females: Bronze-gold, less colorful, fuller bodied
• Body: Torpedo-shaped, deeper bodied than Tiger Barbs
• Fins: Often have black edges
• Colors: Red, gold, orange, with black markings

Tank Maintenance

• Weekly 25% water changes
• Filter maintenance
• Remove uneaten food
• Monitor plant health (they may nibble)
• Watch for fin nipping behavior

Tips for Success

• Keep in schools of 6+ to minimize nipping
• Provide plenty of swimming space
• Include vegetable matter in diet
• Good for beginners with appropriate tank size
• Males display intense red when breeding
• Less aggressive than Tiger Barbs
• Can tolerate cooler temperatures
• Active and entertaining to watch
• May nibble plants - use hardy varieties
• Choose active tankmates of similar size

Comparison to Tiger Barb

• Rosy Barb: Larger (6”), more peaceful, less nippy, red/gold colors
• Tiger Barb: Smaller (3”), more aggressive, very nippy, striped pattern
• Both: Schooling, active, egg scatterers, hardy
• Rosy better for: Community tanks with more delicate fish

Long-Fin Variety

• Long-fin Rosy Barb: Extended flowing fins
• More delicate: Fin nipping more damaging
• Slower swimming: Less active than standard
• Beautiful: Very ornamental