TankmateChecker

Can angelfish live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

No

No. Angelfish and tinfoil barbs should not share a tank. Tinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.

Angelfish

Angelfish76–84°F · pH 6–7.5

Tinfoil barb

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerTinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
Watch outTinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for angelfish.

What works

Both are fine at 76–80°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Angelfish	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	76–84 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for angelfish

All angelfish tank mates

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can angelfish live with tinfoil barbs?

No. Angelfish and tinfoil barbs should not share a tank. Tinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.

What temperature suits both angelfish and tinfoil barbs?

76–80 °F. Angelfish need 76–84 °F, tinfoil barbs need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do angelfish and tinfoil barbs need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the tinfoil barb. Add space for each extra fish.