Rosy Barb

Rosy Barbs

The Rosy Barb, Pethia conchonius, is a great addition to most community, freshwater aquariums. They are hardy, good for beginners and can survive well in temperate water. Rosy Barbs will happily swim around in a shoal.

The rosy barb long fin is an active, peaceful species well-suited for a community aquarium. It is considered one of the hardiest barbs, undemanding and beautiful, and most impressively coloured during the mating period. Like many barbs, Rosy Barbs have a tendency to nip the fins of other fish, so do not house with other long-finned or slow swimming tankmates.

Are Rosy Barbs a shoaling fish?
Yes, Rosy Barbs are a shoaling barb, which will happily shoal. Pair with six or more Rosy Barbs or barbs of a similar size to encourage active shoaling behaviour.

What fish are ideal tank mates for Rosy Barbs?
Several species can coexist as tank mates to the Rosy Barb. In general, Rosy Barbs are very peaceful and do well in community tanks as long as you avoid long-finned fish to prevent fin-nipping behaviour. House Rosy Barbs will happily live with cherry barbs, danios, dwarf gourami, neon and ember tetra, swordtails and rope fish to name but a few.

Features
Approx. supplied size: 3-4cm / 1-2"
Maximum size: 14cm / 6"
Origin: Asia
Family: Cyprinidae
Temperament: semi-aggressive, may fin-nip
Ideal number kept together: 6+

Water conditions
Our conditions: temp: 22 °C pH 7.5
Ideal pH: 6.5–7.5
Ideal hardness: 10 dGH
Ideal Temperature: 18–23 °C
Lighting: moderate to high

Ease of care
Moderate. Rosy barbs can tolerate a broad range of water conditions, but they do have the tendency to fin-nip so avoid housing with slow-swimming long finned fish. The long-finned Rosy Barb variety must not be housed with other species that aggressively fin nip either (although housing with normal rosy barbs is fine!)

Diet
Omnivore. The main food we recommend would be tropical fish flake. Occasional meaty live or frozen food can be given as a treat.

Compatibility
Community aquarium with caution - fin nippers. 

Breeding
Moderate. Rosy Barbs are egg scattering, free spawners that rarely show parental care. They will need a mature, dimly lit aquarium at a minimum. The male has a brighter pinkish colour and the female is slightly plumper. Also note that females do not have any black colour in their fins while males do.

Life Span
Rosy Barbs can live to anything from 2-5 years in perfect conditions. 

For more information on general fishkeeping and our shipping procedures click here.