If you are planning to include tank mates for Tiger Barbs, then Rosy barbs make great tank mates for Tiger Barbs, for this to work you would require at least a 30 gallon Planted Aquarium & the number of Rosy Barbs should be more then Tiger Barbs. Rosy barb fry consume baby brine Shrimp, crushed flakes, mosquito larvae, micro worms, infusoria etc. They are egg layers and they will eat the eggs. Naturally occurring fish have silver, body coloration which changes to smokey reddish. There are lots of foods you can choose from when designing their diet. If you do come across a problem fish disrupting the peace in aquarium, remove it from the community aquarium. Natural habitat includes slow moving rivers, streams, lakes & ponds. Scientific name of Rosy Barb is Pethia conchonius. It prefers lentic waters, but it can live at various conditions: from fast rivers and their tributaries to very small waters: lakes, ponds and bogs. In an aquarium Rosy barbs can be fed varied fish food like Quality Flakes, Pellets, Freeze dried worms, Live food like micro worms, mosquito larvae, Daphnia, blood worms, Spirulina based food etc. In this case, water changes should be done each other week. Hang on Back (HOB) filter is recommended if you are planning a planted aquarium. Like most Barbs, the Rosy Barb after spawning scatter their eggs & show no parental care for the fry. The rosy barb was first described in 1822. Just make sure there are plants for the fry to hide in and you should be fine. Eggs hatch in about 24 to 48 hours; you can expect an average brood size of 60-100 or more; once Rosy Barb Fry are born they would absorb, from the yolk sac for a day or 2. To make your fish disease free, good water quality and proper tank management should be maintained. Kuhli Loaches and Otocinclus are a couple of good options for adding activity to the lower levels of your tank. It comes from India. This is observed only during breeding, hence its best to move a group into the breeding tank as the Male Rosy Barb would harass a single Female barb & force her to spawn. Scientific name Pethia conchonius commonly called Rosy Barbs or Red Rosy Barb are native to the continent of Asia, their natural habitat ranges from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc. 60 to180 ppm. If Rosy barbs do spawn in the main tank & somehow the adult Rosy barbs did not eat the eggs, fry will be eaten if spotted for sure. Ideal pH for Rosy Barb  Fry is around 7 without drastic changes. Over time, decomposing organic matter, nitrates, and phosphate build up and water hardness increases due to evaporation. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. Since Rosy Barbs are well behaved fish if kept in a group of six or more, they make great compatible tank mates to a variety of freshwater fish in an aquarium who share the same size & temperament. Next step would be moving the adult Male & Females into the Breeding aquarium, matured Female would have a bloated abdomen that's because she would carry eggs, & the matured male rosy barb would have intense red coloration under belly in most strains or would appear slimmer; at this stage you would see the Males chasing each other. If the temperature in aquarium is not steady or drops below the ideal temperature it might affect their health. They will eat most foods provided to them. When kept in large groups, they can move together to create a beautiful shimmer of pink in your tank. Stock a group with a ratio of one male for every two females. Visual differences between Male & Female Rosy Barb, Rosy Barbs make a good choice for beginners as these fish are among the hardiest Barbs in fish keeping & can be included in aquariums with Live Plants or, Decoration. work fine. Their long torpedo shaped body has a black spot at the lower end of the body & fin, this spot may not be clear in all captive bred strains. Around them would be a mixture of plants and debris to acts as refuge, but they usually feel safe in a group. Like most Barbs, the Rosy Barb after spawning scatter their eggs & show no parental care for the fry. As the fry grows larger, you can feed them bigger and bigger brine shrimp. I have a rosy barb fry that's about two centimeters long. If you are planning to include tank mates for Tiger Barbs, then Rosy barbs make great tank mates for Tiger Barbs, for this to work you would require at least a 30 gallon Planted Aquarium & the number of Rosy Barbs should be more then Tiger Barbs. Eggs hatch in about 24 to 48 hours; you can expect an average brood size of 60-100 or more; once Rosy Barb Fry are born they would absorb nutrition's from the yolk sac for a day or 2. There are lot of strains of Rosy Barb available now in Ornamental Fish Keeping hobby to choose from; the popular Veil-tail Rosy Barb is one of them with long fins, some strains have prominent Green, Yellow or Red coloration. I also used Clay pots like you can see in the video above. Spawning and fry development follow much the same course as with tiger and rosy barbs, except that the fry are even smaller than those produced by their larger cousins. coloration (if that color makes sense) especially the males during breeding. Female Rosy Barb lack reddish under belly coloration, ones they mature they hold eggs in their abdomen which makes them look larger in size than Male Rosy Barbs. The waters here are cooler than most other aquarium fish are used to, which is something to bear in mind when picking tank mates.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_32',114,'0','0'])); They prefer fast flowing waters with a high oxygen supply. Rosy Barbs will eat they own eggs before they even get a chance to sink to the bottom. , they feed on small insects, insect larvae, small worms, crustaceans & plant matter. I also used Clay pots like you can see in the video above. T-Barb / spanner barb - Learn more about the T-barb. There should be at least 5 Rosy Barbs in your tank to keep this shoaling species happy. This is not good for fish. Rosy Barbs make a good choice for beginners as these fish are among the hardiest Barbs in fish keeping & can be included in aquariums with Live Plants or Artificial Decoration. : Tap water in most places are treated with chlorine. Hi, I just moved my rosy barbs out of my 25 and into the 90 and the next day I see little fry all over the glass and platy babies resting in the gravel! 6 to 8, what's important in Rosy Barb Aquarium is pH level should never change drastically. Sometimes in an aquarium you would see them taking small bites on plant leaf's; they can also be fin-nippers in not kept with compatible tank mates & in the right numbers. supports HTML5 video, Whilst they are easy to keep, Rosy Barbs still have their own personal preferences that need to be replicated for them to live a long, happy life. Fins are short and generally lack color and the tail is forked. Lower pH & warm water triggers spawning in these fish. Rosy barb fry consume baby brine Shrimp, crushed flakes, mosquito larvae, micro worms, infusoria etc. If kept in a a group of 6, a 20 gallon aquarium should suffice; in case of a community aquarium with other fish 30 gallon or bigger aquarium is recommended. The adults occasionally will eat some fry, but it’s not a regular occurrence like with most fish. There are a few ways to tell males and females apart. Rosy Barbs have a peaceful temperament, so they work well as part of a community. The average Barbara Frey is around 69 years of age with around 53% falling in to the age group of 61-80. Keeping plants in the breeding tank helps the fry with shelter, conditioning water & also they consume plant matter. You should also provide balanced diet to make your fish healthy and happy. The spawning always takes places in a densely planted or covered area, use minimal lighting in this tank, reduced pH level under 7 & increased temperature triggers spawning; I use Indian Almond Leaf when breeding Barbs, this is beneficial to their health & helps reduce pH level slowly. There will be micro-organisms on these things, and the fry will often be able to eat them. They only spawn in shallow water just a few inches deep. Other wild populations can be found in Singapore, Australia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. The tank should be at least 15 gallon or bigger as each spawn would have 60-100 fry on an average. They have now spread globally to Australia, Mexico, Colombia and further. It is sometimes known as the Red Barb, and beginners often choose them because they are hardy and easy to care for. The ideal temperature for this barb variety is in the 64 to 72 °F range. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_21',119,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_22',119,'0','1'])); These fish are omnivorous and will take whatever food they can get. Male Rosy Barb have more intense red coloration under belly in most strains, they are slimmer than females. A separate breeding tank or container should be prepared. Let us know about your setup in the comments section below…, Corner Fish Tank (Setup Ideas, Equipment, Stocking And Much More…). The Rosy Barb (scientific name: Puntius conchonius) is a popular shoaling fish. But, a community tank gives you the freedom to mix your favorite species together. work fine. Hence absolute minimum tank size is 20 gallon if not bigger; smaller tanks need more frequent water changes & water parameters should be monitored, if you have the budget my advise would be start Big with at least 30 gallon aquarium for a community set-up. Also there are populations of the fish in Singapore, Austria, Mexico, Columbia. Newcomers to the hobby often don’t realize how bad overfeeding can be for their fish. Yes, in fact you should be keeping them in groups. They are numerous and widespread and not considered to … Rosy barbs are schooling fish, they should always be kept in a group of 6 or more. Place a protective grid in your breeding tank (20 to 100 L (5 to 26 US gallons or 4 to 22 Imperial gallons) depending on the size of the group) to avoid egg predation by adults. So whilst the substrate is not very important, it is safest to use a fine-grained gravel or sand. A nutritious diet will maintain a strong immune system, so make sure you have read our feeding tips in the diet section above. Protein based food can be fed once in 3 days. Breeding : Breeding the Rosy Barb can be fairly easy. Water conditioner : Tap water in most places are treated with chlorine. Red Arowana Care Guide: A Fishkeeper’s Crown Jewel? They have a reddish-pink coloration all across their body. These fish tend to really enjoy lettuce, so you’ll want to keep that in mind. It can be kept together with other small fish but can be aggressive toward other fish and nip their fins. Offer green water to the young, because they are too small to eat anything larger. Rosy Barb Food. If you already have some fishkeeping experience, then keeping Rosy Barbs will be a breeze. If you do keep Tiger Barbs & Rosy Barbs in the same aquarium, ensure to keep more Rosy Barb numbers. PLEASE NOTE CURRENTLY WE ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH DEMAND AND SOME DAYS MAY BE BLOCKED OFF ON OUR CALENDAR AT CHECKOUT, CAUSING A LONGER WAIT THAN USUAL. the peace in aquarium, remove it from the community aquarium. Although they are a hardy species, Rosy Barbs can catch a few diseases. They enjoy a broad range of foods and can be kept with many different species.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_25',124,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_26',124,'0','1'])); The only problem you might experience is fin-nipping. A large group of them will turn your aquarium into a wonderful attraction. I use the aquarium air pump pipe & remove the debris on the tank bottom. Rosy Barbs are quite easy to breed. This makes them great for both species only tanks and community aquariums. If you do keep Tiger Barbs & Rosy Barbs in the same aquarium, ensure to keep more Rosy Barb numbers. They chew their food using specialized gill rakers. These are easy fish to care for because they are so hardy. The minimum tank size for a small group of Rosy Barbs is 30 gallons.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1','ezslot_33',116,'0','0'])); Each Rosy Barb you add to the shoal will need at least 5 gallons of water – the more space you can provide the better. Goldish colors of these fish with green live plants in the background is an amazing visual. Naturally occurring fish have silver body coloration which changes to smokey reddish coloration (if that color makes sense) especially the males during breeding. You could add in some leftover green vegetables like zucchini or lettuce. Perform water changes every couple of weeks to prevent pollutants from building up. Caring for Rosy Barbs in an aquarium is as easy as it gets, the reason I say this because they require very little maintenance, right from tank size, food, tank mates, water chemistry etc. Avoiding tank mates with long fins is still advisable though. After the fry are free swimming remove the unhatched eggs as there would be fungal growth on it if not removed, this could contaminate the water & effect the health of the new born fry. They will live for up to 5 year when kept in the right conditions. They also make great tank mates in community aquariums with similar sized non-aggressive fish; there is no aggression in Rosy Barbs if kept in a group of 6 or more. This makes it easier to feed the readily available fish food, like pellets, flakes, live or frozen food. They’re peaceful carnivores that get on well with other large, peaceful fish. They tolerate low to moderate water movement in the tank. They will spawn on finely leaved plants and these eggs will hatch in 24 hours, like other barbs the parents will eat the eggs if given the chance. Feral populations are … Rosy barb are among the hardiest of fish available in Fish Keeping Hobby; these fish can grow to around 3 inches in an aquarium & easily live up to 5 years with proper care. Illness is a greater risk to fish with a weak immune system because they are less able to kill off pathogens. In our article we will cover the best setups, tank mates, diet and much more…. The Rosy Barb is a schooling fish and enjoys being in numbers. Suitable tank mates are peaceful and prefer cooler water.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_18',117,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_19',117,'0','1'])); Fellow Barbs are great choices, such as Tiger Barbs and Cherry Barbs. If you want to see these fish thrive in your aquarium below information will help. In their natural habitat these fish are. When the female is ready to breed, she will become more colorful. Community Aquarium works best with the right number of fish, right tank decoration & live plants. This is easily avoided by choosing tank mates with small fins. With their stunning appearance and their shy and peaceful temperament, it’s no surprise that they have grown very [Continue reading …]. Driftwood, Rocks, Clay pots can be used to decorate Rosy Barb Aquarium. Free-swimming stage: Most of your worries are over now, if the fry are eating. Feed the fry at least 3 times a day & follow about 25% water change every 3 days. PDF | The treatment of rosy barb with sodium bicarbonate brought a significant improvement in the growth in 50 mg per lit concentration. A 20 gallon aquarium is large enough. Rosy barbs are classified as omnivores, so they eat both meat and plant matter. The water should be very clean with a temperature of 72°F. They make good tank mates for a variety of similar sized fish; tank should be a minimum of 20 gallon or bigger & preferably a Planted Set-up as this impacts both color & their health. Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard i.e. Ideal pH is a steady 7 which is recommended. from the yolk sac for a day or 2. In the wild Rosy Barbs can spawn every 8 to 10 days, in an aquarium they spawn at least every 15 days that I've noticed. You can give them a wide range of foods, including bloodworms, brine shrimp, and vegetables. I think the fry on the glass are rosy barbs and I am sure the ones in the gravel are platies. They enjoy having live plants around them, as they release oxygen, offer shade and provide shelter to stressed fish. Hence absolute minimum tank size is 20 gallon if not bigger; smaller tanks need more frequent water changes & water parameters should be monitored, if you have the budget my advise would be start Big with at least 30 gallon aquarium for a community set-up. Aquariums are closed systems, and regardless of size, all need some maintenance. Its dazzling color and flamboyant personality are all reasons why it has remained so popular for over 30 years. Goldish colors of these fish with green live plants in the background is an amazing visual. However, if you keep them in group of 2 or 3 they seem to be aggressive to other smaller fish & fight among themselves. If you get artificial plants any light will do. This is why it is recommended you quarantine new fish for a while before introducing them to your main setup. Provide plenty of broad leaf plants for them to scatter thier eggs on. Rosy Barbs are easy to care for provided their water is kept clean and at the proper temperature. Breeding Rosy Barbs in an aquarium is not an difficult task; s. ince, adult Rosy barb show no parental care, in case you are breeding Rosy barbs in an aquarium you must care for them in a separate Nursery tank/ Grow-out Tank to ensure higher survival rate of the fry. During this time a pair will begin courting and moving around the tank together. Copyright © 2020 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved. In most cases, the fry are pretty safe with rosy red minnows. Provide a coarse gravel in the breeding tank and after the eggs have been laid, remove the parents. Rosy barbs enjoy water that’s up to up to 10 dGH in hardness and has a pH of 6.5. This makes it easier to feed the readily available fish food, like pellets, flakes, live or frozen food. Their natural habitat is the subtropical lakes and rivers of Southern Asia. Rosy Barb Males are a deep red when ready to breed, while females have a yellow base to their color. Other tank mates for Rosy Barb include Giant Danio. Rosy barbs school if provided with the right tank size, they fight with each other to pick a pecking order. Eggs hatch in about 24 to 48 hours; once Rosy Barb Fry are born they would absorb. Ideal pH is a steady 7 which is recommended. When the eggs are fertilized, the females will spread them around the plants in the tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-2','ezslot_34',123,'0','0'])); Within 36 hours the fry will hatch and you should move them to a deeper tank – this will also separate them from the adults who might eat them. without any problems. Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third generation fish keeper and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. Rosy Barb Fish food : The wild Rosy Barbs are Omnivores, they feed on small insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, small worms & Plant matter. They would also eat their eggs & the fry if given a chance, hence raising Rosy Barb Fry in a separate Tank is important for better survival rate. The temperature should be around 78 to 80°F as I find at these temperature the fry seem to grow faster. Ruby Barb - Ruby barbs are easy to spawn and a good beginner species. They’re most commonly found in India and Bangladesh. Most species require soft, slightly acid water to breed. If there is any food left over, remove it before it contaminates the water. Community Aquarium works best with the right number of fish, right tank decoration & live plants. Effect of 3 nitro on fry of rosy barb May 2015 Conference: International Conference on “Ethical Prospects : Economy, Society and Environment” March 2015, ISBN 978-93-83046-46-1 Alternatively, you could keep them with Swordtails, some Gouramis, Mollies, Pearl Danio or Neon Tetras. Temperature range: 64.0 to 75.0° F (17.8 to 24° C) The temperature range is what is found in their natural habitat across all seasons. This fish can be kept with Tiger Barbs in a 30 gallon or bigger tank. Though they’re not the most colorful species, adding rope fish [Continue reading …], The Green Chromis is by far one of the most popular saltwater fish amongst fish keeping hobbyists. The fish dwells in Bangladesh, North-East India ans some other regions of South-East Asia. I've had her/him for a number of weeks... And she's still this small. Breeding Rosy Barbs in an aquarium is not an difficult task; since, adult Rosy barb show no parental care, in case you are breeding Rosy barbs in an aquarium you must care for them in a separate Nursery tank/ Grow-out Tank to ensure higher survival rate of the fry. Aquarium decoration: If you want to see Rosy barbs thrive in an aquarium, planted set-up would be the way to go. Adding Indian almond leaf to the Rosy barb fry tank also helps with their health & achieving optimal growth rate. First step to breed rosy barbs involves a breeding tank about 15 gallon or bigger, a sponge filter powered by an air pump, you can use mess with tiny holes for eggs to fall on tank bottom where the adult fish cannot reach, or floating plants like Java moss can be used, an alternate method is the breeding or spawning mop which is made of cotton or jute thread which collects the eggs. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'fishkeepingworld_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',109,'0','0'])); The Rosy Barb (Pethia conchonius) is a freshwater aquarium fish in the Cyprinidae family – which also contains the closely related Carp and Minnow groups. Remember to turn the light on & off everyday at the same time or as required by the plants you have in the aquarium. Nevertheless, if you want a higher fry survival rate, it is better to dedicate a special tank dedicated to their breeding. Jun 7, 2014 - A comprehensive article about all aspects of keeping and breeding Rosy barb (Puntius conchonius) in aquarium including but not limited to information … Soft to moderately hard i.e. Sometimes in an aquarium you would see them taking small bites on plant leaf's; they can also be fin-nippers if not kept with compatible tank mates & in the right numbers. The healthiest foods are live or frozen as they have the highest nutritional content – brine shrimp and bloodworms are good options. Next step would be moving the adult Male & Females into the Breeding aquarium, matured Female would have a bloated abdomen that's because she would carry eggs, & the matured male rosy barb would have intense red coloration under belly in most strains or would appear slimmer; at this stage you would see the Males chasing each other. A fundamental aspect of caring for fish is keeping their aquarium clean. (Summary), Green Chromis: Care Guide, Reef Compatibility, Diet and More, Scarlet Badis Care Guide: Tank Mates, Feeding and Breeding, The Complete Guide to Vampire Shrimp Care, The Complete Malaysian Trumpet Snail Care Guide, The Ultimate Hermit Crab Care Guide: Habitat, Food And Much More…, Freshwater with plants and swimming space. Avoid extreme conditions and offer them enough space, so they can grow. Sometimes, the Rosy Barb breeds without the intervention of the aquarist. If you are a fan of freshwater invertebrates, you will be happy to hear that Rosy Barbs make safe companions. For orders over £120, it is free. In an aquarium Rosy barbs can be fed varied fish food like Quality Flakes, Pellets, Freeze dried worms, Live food like micro worms, mosquito larvae, Daphnia, blood worms, Spirulina based food etc. A 20 gallon aquarium should be large enough. : If you are planning on live plants in your tank, make sure you get suitable light for your plants. Keeping plants in the breeding tank helps the fry with shelter, conditioning water & also they consume plant matter. We’re thrilled to have you as part of our community. They go by names as Silver Rosy Barb, Green Rosy Barb, Red Rosy Barb, Yellow Rosy Barb or Golden Rosy Barb etc. You can choose low maintenance plants which require low light & minimal fertilizers for Rosy Barb Aquarium. these fish are less demanding. In stock ... Fry hatch out after 24-35 hours, feed on fine foods. The larger the shoal you have, the bolder their colors appear.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',135,'0','0'])); Feeding them foods high in carotenoids can help to maintain their colors. Also ensure plants you choose are having thick leafs, plants like Java fern, Anubias, Vallisneria etc. Rosy barbs do not care for egg or fry and may eat their own offspring. These are not as healthy though as they lose most of their nutritional content while they are made. If you want one, you will need to buy a few – they are a shoaling species that become stressed on their own. Sometimes in an aquarium you would see them taking small bites on plant leaf's; they can also be fin-nippers if not kept with compatible tank mates & in the right numbers. Preferably include plants in the set up. The water should be very clean with a temperature of 72°F. You can choose low maintenance plants which require low light & minimal fertilizers for Rosy Barb Aquarium. I didnt even know that I would have babies. One individual may not look particularly colorful, but a shoal can be remarkably attractive. Aquarium size for Rosy Barb : These fish should kept in in group of 6 or more & rosy barbs may reach a size close to 3 inches when fully grown in an aquarium. You can enter your required … Dried foods are popular because they are cheap and commonly stocked. Driftwood & rocks can be added & used to decorate the aquarium, make sure there is lot of open swimming place for these fish to hang around in group. Whilst many members of the damselfish family are known for their aggression, this particular [Continue reading …], If you are looking for an easy to care for freshwater fish, the Scarlet Badis is the fish for you. Rosy Barb Fry Care You need not worry about the survival of this juvenile fry as they are quite hardy. This is observed only during breeding, hence its best to move a group into the breeding tank as the Male Rosy Barb would harass a single Female barb & force her to spawn. Keeping plants in the breeding tank helps the fry with shelter, conditioning water & also they consume plant matter. Ration their diet and the swelling will decrease. When selecting a tank for breeding rosy barbs, a 20- or 30-gallon is optimal. Fish Keeping World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. Feed the fry small crushed foods or infusoria until they reach a size where they can eat adult foods. Male Rosy Barbs display deep red under belly coloration & this intensifies during breeding ( This may not apply to all strains of Rosy Barb) Males appear a bit Slimmer & smaller than females. It would make breeding Rosy Barbs easier too. The temperature should be around 78 to 80. However, if you keep them in group of 2 or 3 they seem to be aggressive to other smaller fish & fight among themselves. It is best, when trying to breed the Rosy Barb, to house two females with one male. If you do come across a problem fish. Only give them what they can easily finish in 2 minutes, twice a day. The best ratio would be 1 male for every 2 or 3 females. In the wild Rosy Barbs can spawn every 8 to 10 days, in an aquarium they spawn at least every 15 days that I've noticed. Below we describe how to create their perfect aquarium environment, by recreating their natural habitat. Remember to turn the light on & off everyday at the same time or as required by the plants you have in the aquarium. Fishkeeping world was created by a school of fish fanatics. Are Rosy Barbs Suitable For Your Aquarium? Our aim is to help educate anyone who wants to keep fish. , they feed on small insects, insect larvae, small worms, crustaceans & plant matter. Rosy Barb The Rosy Barb Puntius conchonius (previously Barbus conchonius) was described by Hamilton in 1822. Sometimes in an aquarium you would see them taking small bites on plant leaf's; they can also be fin-nippers in not kept with compatible tank mates & in the right numbers. They’re known to withstand higher nitrates levels, which makes them a good pick for newly cycled tanks. Rosy Barb should be kept in a group of 6 or more in at least a 20 gallon preferably Planted Aquarium. , they feed on small insects, insect larvae, crustaceans, small worms & Plant matter.