CheckMyFishTank

Denison Barb care

Sahyadria denisonii · Freshwater · Intermediate level care

Denison Barb, painted illustration

A fast, beautiful schooling fish that needs lots of swimming room.

Smallest tank75 gallons
Adult size5 inches
Temperature68 to 77°F
pH6.5 to 7.8
GroupA group of 6 or more
TemperamentPeaceful
SwimsMiddle of the tank
Lives5 to 8 years
Watch for: They jump when scared, so use a lid and give them plenty of room.

Feeding

Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish. Flakes, pellets, blanched vegetables, frozen foods.

Jumps. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Denison Barb in a 150 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Black Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlue AcaraBlue GouramiBoesemani RainbowfishBrilliant RasboraBristlenose PlecoBronze Corydoras

Do not mix with

  • German Blue Ram: German Blue Ram and Denison Barb need different water temperatures.
  • Discus: Discus and Denison Barb need different water temperatures.
  • Convict Cichlid: Convict Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.
  • Green Terror: Green Terror is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.
  • Red Zebra Cichlid: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.
  • Cobalt Blue Zebra: Cobalt Blue Zebra is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.
  • Kenyi Cichlid: Kenyi Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Denison Barb.

Questions

What size tank does a Denison Barb need?

At least 75 gallons for a group of 6. Adults grow to about 5 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Denison Barb like?

68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.8. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Denison Barb should I keep together?

Keep 6 or more. They feel safe in a group and show better color and behavior.

What do Denison Barb eat?

Flakes, pellets, blanched vegetables, frozen foods. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.