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Compatibility Report

Can Discus Live With Rosy Barb?

GuideMyTank compatibility analysis for Discus and Rosy Barb.

Planning verdict

incompatible

Not recommended

Do not plan a shared aquarium for this pair. Choose a different tank mate or maintain separate aquariums.

Data confidence
high
Assessment source
Structured data model
Data completeness
100%

Blocking risks

  • Temperature requirements conflict.

Conditions and cautions

  • One species requires a significantly larger aquarium.
  • A species needing stable water has only a narrow pH, GH, or KH overlap.
  • Activity level or feeding speed may stress a slow, delicate, or long-finned species.
  • Specialist tank style requirements need careful matching.

Supporting factors

  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Species have similar temperament.
  • Both species have compatible schooling or group behavior.
  • No predation risk detected.
Discus profileRosy Barb profileMethodology and limitations

Why This Pair Received Its Verdict

Discus and Rosy Barb receive a not recommended verdict from the current structured assessment. Discus is recorded as peaceful with an aggression level of 2/10; Rosy Barb is recorded as peaceful with an aggression level of 2/10. The recommendation is based on the combined water, space, behavior, grouping, and predation checks below rather than on species names alone.

  • Temperature requirements conflict.
  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Species have similar temperament.
  • Both species have compatible schooling or group behavior.

Helpful Links

Use the Compatibility CheckerRead the Compatibility Disclaimer

Water Parameter Overlap

Discus has a recorded temperature range of 82–86°F and pH range of 4.5–6.5. Rosy Barb is recorded at 64–79°F and pH 6–8. Their shared planning window is no complete overlap in the recorded ranges for temperature and 6–6.5 for pH. A shared aquarium must stay inside the overlap rather than merely touching each species’ outer tolerance.

Aquarium Space and Adult Size

Discus sets the larger listed base aquarium requirement at 75 gallons; the other listed minimum is 30 gallons. Discus is the larger adult by the recorded maximum, reaching 8 inches, compared with 5 inches. These figures are starting constraints, not a stocking-capacity calculation, because the complete group sizes and bioload still matter.

Behavior and Social Requirements

Discus is a calm species associated with the mid zone and low flow. Rosy Barb is active, uses the mid zone, and has a moderate flow preference. Discus should be planned as a group of at least 6, while rosy barb should be planned as a group of at least 6. The aquarium must support both social structures without forcing either species into insufficient space.

Husbandry Fit

Discus is recorded as a omnivore with advanced care, while Rosy Barb is a omnivore with easy care. Their listed preferred tank styles are blackwater and community. Feeding access, cover, open swimming room, filtration, and observation should be planned around the more demanding requirement rather than averaged between the two species.

What Would Change the Decision?

Use these pair-specific boundaries before treating the verdict as an acceptable stocking plan.

  • Do not proceed unless one stable temperature and pH range can be maintained for both Discus and Rosy Barb; acclimation does not correct an incompatible long-term range.
  • Treat size, predation, and fin-damage warnings as stop conditions. Extra plants cannot reliably make an unsafe predator-to-prey or fin-target pairing safe.
  • Use broken sight lines and multiple retreats, then separate the pair if either species shows persistent chasing, hiding, clamped fins, or loss of feeding access.
  • Recalculate space using the full adult group sizes—not one specimen of each species—and reject the plan if either species must be understocked socially to fit.
  • A different tank mate is the preferred decision for this pair. Attempting the combination transfers the identified risk to the animals rather than resolving it.

Aquarium Planning Checklist

  • Keep temperature within no complete overlap in the recorded ranges.
  • Keep pH within 6–6.5.
  • Use at least the larger 75-gallon base requirement before accounting for the complete stocking plan.
  • Discus should be planned as a group of at least 6; rosy barb should be planned as a group of at least 6.
  • Choose separate aquariums or a different tank mate instead of attempting to manage a known blocking risk.

Final Recommendation

Do not plan a shared aquarium for this pair. Choose a different tank mate or maintain separate aquariums.

Sources and Data Provenance

These references support the underlying species records used by this assessment. They do not necessarily evaluate this exact pair together.

  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • seriouslyfish.comcare · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • es.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
Read the full methodology and limitations
Report quality
supported
Analysis version
2026.09.1
Species data updated
Jul 2, 2026
Review status
Structured automated assessment

Related Resources

Continue with the most relevant care and compatibility resources for Discus and Rosy Barb.

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