How many barbs should I keep together?

At least 8 of the same species, and more is better. Barbs are active shoaling fish that establish a pecking order among themselves; a proper group keeps them confident, colourful and far less likely to bother other fish. Small groups are where most barb behaviour problems come from.

How much do barbs cost in the UK?

Common tiger and rosy barbs start at about £2-£4 each, with denison barbs and rarer species running higher up to around £37. They are usually bought in groups. Prices on this page are live: what you see is what's in stock today.

Are barbs good for beginners?

Yes, with the right expectations. Barbs are hardy and forgiving of water conditions, which makes them beginner-friendly, but you must commit to a proper shoal and choose tank mates that can handle their energy. A tank of tiger barbs kept in good numbers is a lively, rewarding first setup.

What tank mates suit barbs?

Fast, robust fish that aren't long-finned — other barbs, danios, larger tetras, corydoras and many catfish. Avoid slow or trailing-finned species like bettas, angelfish, guppies and fancy goldfish, which are easy targets for nipping. Match energy levels and you'll have a peaceful tank.

Is it safe to buy barbs online?

Yes. Barbs are robust travellers, shipped in oxygen-charged bags inside an insulated box with a winter heat pack and carried midweek by a licensed live-animal courier. Tuesday or Wednesday dispatch keeps transit short, and our photo-proof live arrival guarantee covers every order.

Aquarium Barbs for Sale UK

Aquarium barbs for sale UK — Cherry, Tiger, Rosy, Denison, Gold, Odessa. Hardy community fish, perfect for beginners.

31 products available

Every barb on this page is a live fish held in our own system before dispatch — not a stock photo. We stock tiger, cherry, rosy, odessa and denison barbs among many others, with new imports landing most weeks.

Barbs ship in oxygen-charged bags inside an insulated box, dispatched Tuesday or Wednesday with a licensed live-animal courier so your fish never sits over a weekend. Every order carries our live arrival guarantee: photograph any problem in the unopened bag within 2 hours and we refund or replace.

Barbs are lively, robust shoaling fish with plenty of personality — but some are notorious fin-nippers if kept in small numbers. Read the care guides linked below before ordering: the trick with most barbs is to keep a proper group so their energy stays focused on each other, not on their tank mates.

Current delivery and offer information

Follow each link for the latest terms before ordering.

Arrival guaranteeLive Arrival GuaranteeRead the current claim and evidence terms.Specialist deliverySpecialist live-animal deliverySee current price, postcode coverage and dispatch information.First-order offerCurrent first-order offerCheck the offers page for active terms.31 in stock31 in stockBrowse the current in-stock catalogue.

Browse all 31 Barbs

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Frequently asked questions

Some are — tiger barbs especially. The cause is almost always keeping too few of them: in a small group they redirect their natural chasing onto slow, long-finned tank mates. Kept in a shoal of eight or more, that behaviour stays within the group and nipping drops dramatically. Avoid housing them with bettas, angelfish or guppies.

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