Tinfoil barb care

Water temperature

72–80°F

A tinfoil barb wants water at 72–80°F, pH 6.5–7.5, and a tank of 125 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include bichirs, rainbow sharks, plecos.

Sold small, grows past a foot. Eats plants and small fish, and nips long fins.

Barbonymus schwanenfeldii

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

125 gal

Adult size

12.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 5+

Lifespan

8–10 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• BichirYes
• Rainbow sharkYes
• Common plecoYes
• OscarYes
• Red tail sharkYes
• Black ghost knifeYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• Bala sharkYes
• Chinese algae eaterYes
• KoiYes
• Yoyo loachYes
• Kissing gouramiYes

Full tinfoil barb tank mate chart: 16 yes, 67 with care, 15 no

Tinfoil barb water compared

Fish to keep away from tinfoil barbs

• Betta Tinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); tinfoil barbs need 72–80°F. No temperature suits both.
• Guppy Tinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); tinfoil barbs need 72–80°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Cherry shrimp A tinfoil barb is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Amano shrimp A tinfoil barb is big enough to swallow adult amano shrimp.
• Angelfish Tinfoil barbs nip fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
• Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful tinfoil barbs.

More barbs, danios, rasboras and sharks

• Goldfish60–74°F
• Koi59–77°F
• Tiger barb72–81°F
• Red tail shark72–79°F
• Rainbow shark72–80°F
• Bala shark72–82°F
• Celestial pearl danio72–79°F
• Zebra danio65–77°F