Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
A hardy barb with a brilliant golden body dotted with irregular black spots. The selected 'gold' form — entirely yellow-golden — is more widespread than the wild olive-green form. One of the most peaceful barbs: doesn't nip fins. Tolerates cold well (down to 15 °C), ideal for unheated tanks. Lively in large schools, it creates a 'golden rain' effect when swimming in groups.
Température de l’eau
18 - 24 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 8
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
7 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 6
GH
5 - 15 dGH
KH
2 - 7 dKH
TDS
95 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
148 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to southern China (Red River Basin), Northern Vietnam and Taiwan. Lives in small rivers, agricultural irrigation canals and slow streams often subject to strong seasonal thermal excursions.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Gold Barb / China Barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus). The wild metallic green form is now very rare in the aquarium hobby; almost the entire market is dominated by the xanthochroic "Gold" (Yellow/Golden) variant created in captivity decades ago, once known as Puntius schuberti.
Social Behavior: Excellent gregariousness and peaceful temperament. Tirelessly animate the middle and lower band of the tank patrolling the bottom. Always keep in thick groups (min. 8-10): in isolation they hide continuously and fade.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The Gold variant is a vibrant metallic yellow/gold, often sprinkled with dark dots or broken bars on the flanks. Males ready for reproduction develop a spectacular bright orange/red belly; females are clearly larger and rounder-bellied, and yellower.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: 80-100 cm (32-40 inches) tank. Prefers a bottom of sand or blunt fine gravel in which to dig slightly with the snout looking for food. The introduction of robust plants and smooth river pebbles is excellent. Requires very well lit areas alternating with shaded areas.
Diet and Feeding: Generalist omnivore (Micro-scavenger). Has no feeding difficulties: flakes, micro-granules, bloodworms and bottom tablets. However, it tends to nibble on filamentous algae or the shoots of very fine mosses if it does not receive a vegetable contribution.
Water Quality: Highlight of "Temperate Aquariology". It is a sub-tropical species that lives very well at temperatures of 18-22°C (64-72°F), not requiring a heater in modern homes. Constant tropical temperatures (26+°C / 79+°F) wear it out, accelerating its aging.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect for "unheated" temperate community tanks. Excellent with Corydoras paleatus, Danio rerio (Zebra Fish), Tanichthys albonubes and Odontobutis. Does not nip fins, but is too frantic for slow Betta splendens.
Aquarium Breeding: Very easy and spontaneous (egg-scatterer). They deposit adhesive eggs among the leaves of Java Moss at dawn. The parents are fierce devourers of their own eggs: to save them, a very thick protective net on the bottom is needed or separate the adults after spawning.
Risks and Diseases: Extremely resistant to common diseases and pH sudden changes. The only real critical issue is keeping it at the high temperatures typical of Discus or South American Dwarf Cichlids, which will cause its immune defenses to collapse in a few months.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Native to southern China (Red River Basin), Northern Vietnam and Taiwan. Lives in small rivers, agricultural irrigation canals and slow streams often subject to strong seasonal thermal excursions.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAsie du Sud et du Sud-EstAsie de l'Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Aggressive
- The Gold Barb is a peaceful, active, and social species that is highly suited for most community aquariums. Unlike some of their more aggressive relatives, they rarely nip fins unless they are kept in insufficient numbers or housed with very slow-moving, long-finned fish. They display interesting shoaling behaviors and are constantly active throughout the day, bringing energy to the tank. They are generally non-territorial and will peacefully interact with other tank mates.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- In their natural habitat, Gold Barbs are opportunistic omnivores that feed on algae, detritus, small insects, worms, and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they are not picky eaters and will readily accept high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, and granules. For optimal health and coloration, their diet should be supplemented with live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. Including vegetable matter or spirulina-based foods is also beneficial to meet their herbivorous nutritional needs.
- Espérance de vie
- 4-7 years
- Taille adulte
- 7 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- Gold Barbs are shoaling fish and should always be kept in a group of at least six to eight individuals, though larger groups are preferred. In these groups, the ratio of males to females is not highly critical, but a balanced mix is ideal to distribute any minor chasing behavior. Having more females than males can also help reduce stress on individual females during spawning attempts. Keeping them in groups also ensures they display their natural, vibrant colors and schooling behavior.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is recommended to feed Gold Barbs two to three times a day in small portions that they can consume within a couple of minutes. Feeding smaller amounts multiple times a day mimics their natural foraging behavior and prevents excess food from decaying on the bottom. Care should be taken not to overfeed, as they are greedy eaters and will consume almost anything offered. Fasting them once a week can also help keep their digestive system healthy and prevent issues like bloat.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- The Gold Barb has a medium biological load due to its active shoaling nature and constant foraging behavior. In a standard setup, maintaining a group of these fish requires a well-cycled tank with robust filtration to handle their waste. Regular water changes and a reliable filter, such as a canister or hang-on-back filter, are essential to keep ammonia and nitrate levels at zero. Providing adequate water flow and mechanical filtration will ensure their environment remains clean and clear.
- Courant
- Strong
- Gold Barbs prefer weak to moderate water flow, reflecting their natural habitats in slow-moving streams, swamps, and irrigation channels. While they are strong swimmers and can handle a gentle current, turbulent or strong currents should be avoided as it can cause them stress. A filter output that breaks the surface without creating a washing-machine effect is ideal for oxygenation. Adding plants and decorations can help create resting zones where they can escape the current if needed.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Gold Barbs are active, fast-moving fish that can easily jump out of the aquarium, especially when startled, during maintenance, or when chased. Therefore, a secure, tight-fitting lid or canopy is highly recommended to prevent any tragic escapes. Floating plants can also be added to the surface to help create a sense of security and reduce the likelihood of jumping. Ensure there are no gaps around filter pipes or heaters where a fish could squeeze through.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Reproduction in Gold Barbs is relatively easy and they are considered an excellent species for beginner breeders. They are egg-scatterers that release their eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, showing no parental care. To breed them successfully, a separate spawning tank with soft, slightly acidic water and dense vegetation is recommended. The parents must be removed immediately after spawning, as they will readily consume their own eggs. The eggs hatch in about 24 to 48 hours, and the fry should be fed infusoria or freshly hatched brine shrimp once free-swimming.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Community
- Due to their peaceful nature, Gold Barbs are highly compatible with a wide range of similar-sized, non-aggressive community fish. Excellent tank mates include other peaceful barbs, danios, tetras, rasboras, corydoras catfish, and peaceful dwarf cichlids. They should not be kept with very large, predatory fish that could view them as prey, nor with very slow-moving or long-finned species like fancy guppies or bettas, which might tempt occasional fin-nipping. Keeping them in a proper shoal ensures they remain peaceful and focused on their own group.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- This species primarily occupies the bottom and middle zones of the aquarium, where they spend most of their time swimming and searching for food. Although they are active and may occasionally visit the surface or explore the entire tank, their preferred habitat is lower in the water column. Aquascaping with open swimming space in the center and dense plantings along the sides and background replicates their natural environment. A sandy or fine gravel substrate is ideal since they frequently browse the bottom for edible particles.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,8 ± 0,28 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01318, b = 3.11
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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