Can pearl gouramis live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Pearl gouramis and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Tinfoil barbs nip at slow fish. Pearl gouramis cannot get away.

Pearl gourami77–82°F · pH 6–7.5

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outTinfoil barbs nip at slow fish. Pearl gouramis cannot get away.
Watch outTinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pearl gouramis.

What works

Both are fine at 77–80°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: pearl gouramis the top, tinfoil barbs the mid.

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

	Pearl gourami	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	77–82 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Top	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for pearl gouramis

All pearl gourami tank mates

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can pearl gouramis live with tinfoil barbs?

Yes, with care. Pearl gouramis and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Tinfoil barbs nip at slow fish. Pearl gouramis cannot get away.

What temperature suits both pearl gouramis and tinfoil barbs?

77–80 °F. Pearl gouramis need 77–82 °F, tinfoil barbs need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do pearl gouramis and tinfoil barbs need together?

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