Tankwise

A large, silvery shoaling barb — peaceful but far too big for an ordinary tank.

  • Temperature22–28 °C
  • pH6.5–8
  • Minimum tank300 L
  • DifficultyIntermediate

Behaviour and habits

The tinfoil barb is a large, shining silver shoaler with red-and-black fins, and it is peaceful and active in a shoal — but it grows huge, to around 35 cm, and needs a genuinely vast tank or very large pond to thrive. It swims powerfully and constantly, is an eager eater, and is best kept in a group. It is hardy and undemanding for its size, but it is emphatically not a fish for a typical community aquarium.

What to feed, and how often

Flake, pellet and frozen foods, plus plenty of vegetable matter; feed once or twice a day. It is a large, greedy eater in a large tank, so measured feeding and heavy filtration keep the water safe.

Water changes and maintenance

Change 30–50% weekly. A huge, active, messy fish, it needs enormous filtration and large, regular water changes to keep nitrate low.

Care and how easy it is

Only for a very large tank or pond, in a group of six or more; too big for ordinary community setups.

Common health problems

Hardy; ich and fin rot appear mainly after a chill or move.

If it gets sick

Keep the water clean and warm, and treat early if spots or fin damage appear.

Good tank mates

GuppyBeginner with population planning
GuppyPoecilia reticulata
  • 22-26 C
  • pH 7.0-8.5
  • 60 L+; 60 x 30 cm base
Livebearers | Social; males pursue females | Omnivore
PlatyBeginner
PlatyXiphophorus maculatus
  • 20–26°C
  • pH 7–8.2
  • 50 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore
MollyBeginner
MollyPoecilia sphenops
  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • 70 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore

Best avoided with

Similar species

Harlequin rasboraBeginner
Harlequin rasboraTrigonostigma heteromorpha
  • 22–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • 60 L+
Tetras & rasboras · Peaceful · Omnivore
Zebra danioBeginner
Zebra danioDanio rerio
  • 18–26°C
  • pH 6.5–8
  • 60 L+
Danios & minnows · Peaceful · Omnivore
White cloud mountain minnowBeginner
White cloud mountain minnowTanichthys albonubes
  • 16–24°C
  • pH 6–8
  • 50 L+
Danios & minnows · Peaceful · Omnivore

Compare at a glance

ParametersTinfoil barbHarlequin rasboraZebra danioWhite cloud mountain minnow
Parameters
Temp22–28 °C22–27 °C18–26 °C16–24 °C
pH6.5–86–7.56.5–86–8
GH6–20 °dGH2–12 °dGH4–20 °dGH4–18 °dGH
Min. tank300 L60 L60 L50 L
Size35 cm5 cm5 cm4 cm
DietOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivore
TemperamentPeacefulPeacefulPeacefulPeaceful
DifficultyIntermediateBeginnerBeginnerBeginner

Care guides

GuideHow Often Should You Feed Fish?Overfeeding causes more aquarium problems than underfeeding. Here is a realistic feeding routine, and the signs that you are giving too much.GuideHow Often Should You Change Aquarium Water?Water changes remove waste that the filter cannot, and keep minerals topped up. There is no single number, but there is a simple way to find yours.GuideHow to Treat Ich (White Spot Disease)Ich looks alarming but is one of the most treatable fish diseases. Act early, raise the heat, and it clears within a week or two — here is how.

New to the words? See the aquarium glossary.

Sources and research notes

Parameters are typical ranges for the species in home aquariums and vary with the individual fish and the water you use.