Think Fish - The Tropical Fish Keeping Resource

Fish Database: Tinfoil Barb - Barbonymus schwanenfeldii

Aquarium requirements

Aquarium suitability: 4/5
Sociability rating: 8/10
Area of tank: Middle
Aquarium water conditions: 6-8.5, vs,s,m,h
Temperature: 22 - 28C
Feeding: Flake, pellets, frozen, live, meaty and vegetable foods. Vegetable/plant matter is an important part of the diet.
Minimum tank size: 150cm
Min / Max number in tank: Min 2

Fish fact file

Family: Cyprinidae (Carps & Minnows)
Synonyms: Barbus schwanefeldi, B. pentazona schwanefeldi, B. schwanenfeldii, B. schwanenfeldi, Puntius schwanfeldi, P. schwanenfeldii, P. schwanefeldi, Systomus schwanefeldi
Other common names: Goldfoil Barb, River Barb, Schwanefeld's Barb
Origin: Southeast Asia; Mekong & Chao Phraya basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra & Borneo
Natural habitat: Large to medium rivers, streams, canals, flooded areas.
Size: 35cm
Behavior: Active, peaceful, shoaling
Breeding: Open water egg scatterer. Unlikely to breed in an aquarium
Natural water conditions: pH 6.5-7, soft to medium
Sexing:

Fish code No.0112

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Tinfoil Barbs are a highly attractive and some would even say 'cute' fish when young, but these fish will grow rapidly and soon reach up to 35cm. They therefore require an aquarium at least 150cm long, making them an unsuitable purchase for most fishkeepers. If you do have an aquarium of this size the Tinfoil Barb is an excellent active and peaceful community fish that can be kept with other large fish, including cichlids. Although like other large fish, the Tinfoil Barb will dig up and eat delicate plants, in some cases they may be kept with hardy plant varieties such as Java Fern, Crinum, or Anubias.

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