The rosy barb is one of the most beautiful cyprinid species available for the home aquarium. These forgiving fish can thrive in a wide variety of water conditions, and they are among the few ornamental fish species that can readily thrive in colder waters.
Good care is important for maintaining the health of your rosy barbs. This guide can help you establish a good home for your new aquatic companions.
Adult Size
An adult rosy barb will generally be 3.5-4 inches in length.
Tank Size
Rosy barbs can live in relatively small tanks, but they cna not thrive in anything below 20 gallons.
Social Behavior
A rosy barb will become anxious and aggressive unless it has a group of companions. Keep rosy barbs in schools of five or more individuals.
Tank Mates
Rosy barbs are notorious fin-nippers. They may attack and kill slow-moving or long-finned fish, such as bettas or angelfish.
Life Span
A healthy rosy barb may live to be 4 years old or more, but few live more than 3 years in captivity.
Diet
Rosy barbs are omnivorous, eager eaters. Feed a combination of flake, frozen and live food. Brine shrimp and bloodworms are a nutritious treat.
Breeding
Males become intensely colorful when ready to breed. Females scatter their eggs on broad-leafed plants and do not engage in brood care. Because the parents may eat their eggs or fry, it is important to separate them from the young as soon as spawning has taken place.
Water Parameters
Rosy barbs thrive at a pH between 6-7. Ammonia levels should remain as low as possible at all times, and nitrate levels should stay below 25 ppm.
Temperature
The rosy barb is one of the few ornamental species that does not require a heater. In fact, they show their most brilliant colors at the lower end of the temperature range. Keep rosy barbs between 60-80 degrees. While they can tolerate a wide temperature range, it is important to avoid sharp flucutations.
Variations
Many domesticated varieties of the rosy barb exist. Breeders have established long-finned, golden, neon, blushing and striped varieties of rosy barb.
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