Can swordtails live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Swordtails and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Tinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.

Swordtail72–79°F · pH 7–8.3

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outTinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 7–7.5 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

	Swordtail	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	72–79 °F	72–80 °F
pH	7–8.3	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 5+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for swordtails

All swordtail tank mates

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can swordtails live with tinfoil barbs?

Yes, with care. Swordtails and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Tinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.

What temperature suits both swordtails and tinfoil barbs?

72–79 °F. Swordtails need 72–79 °F, tinfoil barbs need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do swordtails and tinfoil barbs need together?

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