Tinfoil Barb
Barbonymus schwanenfeldii
Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) — Easy care, Peaceful, under Barb & Shark. Minimum tank in the app: 119 US gal min; aim for 72–82°F and pH 6–7.5. Details below match the app.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator’s origin map.
Tinfoil Barb Tank Setup
Plan for at least 119 US gal min of water—that is the minimum in our database for a workable setup, not a challenge to crowd fish. Aim to hold 72–82°F and pH 6–7.5 without daily drama. These fish use the Mid zone most, so put wood, plants, or open water there accordingly.
What Do Tinfoil Barbs Eat?
We record diet as Omnivore. Offer a few food types that match—dry, frozen, or gel—and swap now and then. One flake every day for a year is how dull color and gut trouble creep in.
Tinfoil Barb Tank Mates
Temperament in the data: Peaceful. Often sold as small juveniles but grows very large. Requires very large tank. Will eat plants and small fish. Plug your full stock list into the stocking calculator—single-species compatibility scores are hints, not a whole-tank verdict.
Are Tinfoil Barbs Good for Beginners?
Often a sensible first fish once the tank is cycled and you are willing to test water sometimes. Skip the impulse buy on the same day you set up the tank.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Similar fish to consider
Log tests and reminders in App-aquatic—free, same data you see here.