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Freshwater fishTinfoil Barb
Tinfoil Barb
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Tinfoil barbs are all over the aquarium trade and may be the hardiest, biggest schooling fish there is in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Tinfoil barbs will eat just about anything and get along with all fish of similar size, even large, aggressive cichlids. These aquarium pets will grow with two-inch cichlids until you have a tank of monsters.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Barbonymus schwanenfeldii |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Care Level | Easy (but grows very large) |
| Temperament | Peaceful, but eats small fish |
| Adult Size | Up to 12–14" |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water Temperature | 72–79°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Group Size | Does best in a group |
| Shipping Size | Small: approx. 1½" · Medium: approx. 2–3" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Tinfoil barbs start small but can reach a foot long, so give them strong filtration and a tight lid.
Feeding: Feed sinking pellets or large flakes once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. Tinfoils eat a lot of plant matter and will also eat live aquarium plants.
Tankmates: Keep them with other large fish such as big cichlids, plecos, silver dollars and other tinfoils. Any fish small enough to swallow will be eaten.
Good to know: Tinfoil barbs grow fast and will eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouths, so check their adult size before buying.
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