Mascara Barb Tank Mates

Mascara Barb is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 196 freshwater species that pair well with a mascara barb — plus the 47 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Mascara Barb care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a mascara barb

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Flame Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
With caution

Mascara Barb tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Mascara Barb 6–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Mascara Barb, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Expect Angelicus Synodontis to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Arrowhead Puffer and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
  • Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Adult Bamboo Shrimp might survive with Mascara Barb, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.

+ 89 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a mascara barb

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 12 cm): Fire Eel will treat Mascara Barb as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 12 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Mascara Barb as food.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.

+ 39 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a mascara barb

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a mascara barb, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Mascara Barb?

We compare each fish against your mascara barb on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Convict Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Wonder Killifish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keyhole Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Kribensis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Molly✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Paradise Fish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 16–26 °C (61–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Porthole Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Striped Eel Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 11 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Topaz Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Upside-down Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Arrowhead Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 12 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Arrowhead Puffer and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Auratus Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 11 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Auratus Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Mascara Barb is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 6+ with plenty of cover.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Auratus Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Banded Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Banded Gourami is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 13 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Blue Gourami and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bucktooth Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Expect Bucktooth Tetra to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bucktooth Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Calvus Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Mascara Barb 6–7.5 vs Calvus Cichlid 7.8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Calvus Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cupid Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Cupid Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ice Blue Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Mascara Barb 6–7.5 vs Ice Blue Cichlid 7.6–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Ice Blue Cichlid and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pictus Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Pictus Catfish is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Polka-dot Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 13 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Polka-dot Loach and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Powder Blue Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Powder Blue Cichlid and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Powder Blue Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rainbow Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Rainbow Cichlid and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Red Zebra Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 13 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Mascara Barb 6–7.5 vs Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Red Zebra Cichlid and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Swordtail⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Swordtail is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • T-bar Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Expect T-bar Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • White Spotted Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 12 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect White Spotted Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
    • Expect Alligator Gar to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
    • Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 12 cm): Fire Eel will treat Mascara Barb as food.
    • Expect Fire Eel to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm Mascara Barb whole.
    • Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Mascara Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 12 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Mascara Barb as food.
    • Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Mascara Barb and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Expect Wels Catfish to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Mascara Barb is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
    • Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a mascara barb community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 200 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — buying through these links costs you nothing extra.

How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a mascara barb

As a peaceful species, mascara barb is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the middle of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Mascara Barb grows to about 12 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 6 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), pH 6–7.5 and 2–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Mascara Barb is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 8+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a mascara barb live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 196 compatible freshwater species for mascara barb. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a mascara barb?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a mascara barb?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do mascara barb tank mates need?

Start from Mascara Barb's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 200 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Mascara Barb care guide