Tinfoil barb
Barbonymus schwanenfeldii
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Group
- 5+
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 8–10 yrs
Sold tiny but becomes a fast, plant-eating shoal fish that needs a very long tank and eats small tankmates.Sold tiny but becomes a fast, plant-eating shoal fish that needs a very long tank and eats small tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Tinfoil barbAlligator gar may eat Tinfoil barb
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Tinfoil barbArapaima may eat Tinfoil barb
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Tinfoil barbCuban gar may eat Tinfoil barb
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Tinfoil barbDourada may eat Tinfoil barb
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Tinfoil barbIridescent shark may eat Tinfoil barb
- Longnose gar
Longnose gar may eat Tinfoil barbLongnose gar may eat Tinfoil barb
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Tinfoil barbParoon shark may eat Tinfoil barb
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Tinfoil barbPiraiba may eat Tinfoil barb
- Redtail catfish
Redtail catfish may eat Tinfoil barbRedtail catfish may eat Tinfoil barb
- Sailfin cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Shovelnose sturgeon
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Mekong, Chao Phraya and Sundaland rivers | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |