Golden dwarf barb
Pethia gelius
- Tank length
- 21 cm8 in
- Group
- 8+
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C64–75 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm1.4 in
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
A tiny subtropical barb that prefers cooler water and a planted tank; keep a group of eight or more with other small fish.A tiny subtropical barb that prefers cooler water and a planted tank; keep a group of eight or more with other small fish.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Black kuhli loach
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Boeseman rainbowfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Julii cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Parkinson's rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Afra cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Golden dwarf barbAfrican knifefish may eat Golden dwarf barb
- African pike
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Golden dwarf barbAlligator gar may eat Golden dwarf barb
- Altum angelfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Golden dwarf barbAntenna ray may eat Golden dwarf barb
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 18–24 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages, India and Bangladesh | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 3–5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |