Intermediate careSemi-aggressiveSchool of 6+Asia

African Butterfly Barb

Cyprinidae sp.

The African Butterfly Barb (Cyprinidae sp.) is a semi-aggressive fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons), water held at 63-75°F, and a pH of 6-7.8. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.

Care levelIntermediate

TemperamentSemi-aggressive

Min tank size10.6 US gal

pH range6-7.8

Temperature63-75°F

Max size1.4 in (3.5 cm)

Captive lifespan4-8 years

SchoolingYes · 6+ recommended

Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.

Natural distribution

Asia

East & Southeast Asia

Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.

African Butterfly Barb Tank Setup

Give them a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 63-75°F with a pH around 6-7.8, and avoid sudden swings. Always keep a group of at least 6 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour.

What Do African Butterfly Barbs Eat?

They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.

African Butterfly Barb Tank Mates

Keep in groups of at least 6. May nip fins; avoid with long-finned or slow tankmates. The African Butterfly Barb is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 6 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.

Are African Butterfly Barbs Good for Beginners?

Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.

African Butterfly Barb - frequently asked questions

What size tank do African Butterfly Barbs need?

African Butterfly Barbs need a tank of at least 40 litres (11 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.

How many African Butterfly Barbs should I keep together?

Keep a group of at least 6. African Butterfly Barbs are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.

What water parameters do African Butterfly Barbs need?

Keep them at 63-75°F with a pH of 6-7.8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.

What do African Butterfly Barbs eat?

African Butterfly Barbs are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.

Are African Butterfly Barbs good for beginners?

African Butterfly Barbs are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.

Common mistakes with African Butterfly Barbs

Buying fewer than 6 - African Butterfly Barbs need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
Mixing with long-finned fish - African Butterfly Barbs will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.

Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.