Tinfoil barb care
Barbonymus schwanenfeldii · Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula
Tinfoil barbs are sold at about 2 inches but grow to about 14 inches, and they live in schools, so a group needs a tank of 150 gallons or more with a tight lid and strong flow.
- Tank size
- 150 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 77 °F (22 to 25 °C)
- Group size
- 5 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 14 in
- pH
- 6.5 to 7.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 2 to 10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 150 gallon
72½ × 18½ × 29½ in outsideHow to keep tinfoil barbs
Tinfoil barbs are sold at about 2 inches but grow to about 14 inches, and they live in schools, so a group needs a tank of 150 gallons or more with a tight lid and strong flow. They are peaceful, eat plants and suit large community fish such as big cichlids and catfish.
Diet: Herbivore: vegetable pellets and flakes, blanched greens, some frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Tinfoil barb tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Peacock eel
12 in · 55+ gal · 73–82 °F
Featherfin squeaker
11.8 in · 75+ gal · 72–79 °F
Royal pleco
17 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Chinese algae eater
11 in · 75+ gal · 72–82 °F
Common pleco
18 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Dojo loach
10 in · 55+ gal · 55–77 °F
Black ghost knifefish
20 in · 125+ gal · 73–82 °F
Sailfin pleco
20 in · 150+ gal · 72–82 °F
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; neon tetras grow to 1.6 in.
Cardinal tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Black neon tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; black neon tetras grow to 1.5 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Glowlight tetra: Adult tinfoil barbs eat fish under about 2 in; glowlight tetras grow to 1.5 in.
What a tinfoil barb tank needs
A tank of 150 US gallons or more (such as the 150 gallon) with a tight lid (they jump), and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 400
Rated by the maker for 100–150 US gal, which covers a 150 gallon tinfoil barb tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM professionel 4+ 600 (2275)
Rated by the maker for 63–158 US gal, which covers a 150 gallon tinfoil barb tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 250
Tinfoil barbs need 72 to 77 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 300 W heaters for a 150 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Two Aqueon Pro 300 heaters, each rated by Aqueon for up to 100 gallons, make that pair. Heating a big tank.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding tinfoil barbs.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 77 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common tinfoil barb problems
- They outgrow every common aquarium within a year or two; plan the tank before you buy.
- Small fish such as neon tetras end up eaten.
- They eat live plants.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Barbonymus schwanenfeldii. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Tinfoil barb Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Peacock eel Zachary Randall, Florida Museum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Featherfin squeaker Silex6, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal pleco Neale Monks at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chinese algae eater Pseudogastromyzon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Common pleco Richwales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dojo loach PrinceNimblesoft, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black ghost knifefish Vassil, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sailfin pleco AnatolyPm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cherry barb Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tiger barb Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rosy barb Kkonstan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Denison barb Anandarajkumar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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