Tank mates for cherry barbs
We checked cherry barbs against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for cherry barbs include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid common goldfish, oscar and bala shark: they need different temperatures: Cherry barb 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Cherry barbs: 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 5 cm (2 in), minimum tank 15 gallons (57 L). Full cherry barb care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (99)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Cherry barb will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Cherry barb will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Cherry barb will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kribensis
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Cherry barb will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Cockatoo cichlid
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Cherry barb will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Moonlight gourami
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Caution Possible, with care (26)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish may eat cherry barbs, especially young or small ones.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cherry barbs.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase cherry barbs, which use the same area.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Clown loach grows much larger than cherry barbs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- African butterfly fish may eat cherry barbs, especially young or small ones.
- African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cherry barbs.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish may eat cherry barbs, especially young or small ones.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than cherry barbs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like cherry barbs.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (24)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Cherry barb 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Cherry barb 23–27°C (73–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Cherry barb 23–27°C (73–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Cherry barbs don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with cherry barbs?
Good tank mates for cherry barbs include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat cherry barbs.
Can cherry barbs live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish may eat cherry barbs, especially young or small ones. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
Can cherry barbs live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–27°C (75–81°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can cherry barbs live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can cherry barbs live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.