Tinfoil Barb care guide
Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii) — minimum tank 500 L, temperature 22-27 °C, pH 6.5-7.5.
Overview
The Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii) is a large, fast-growing cyprinid from the major rivers of Southeast Asia. It displays a silvery, deeply scaled body with red-tipped fins and is widely farmed for food across its range.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Barbonymus
- Scientific name: Barbonymus schwanefeldii
Habitat
Native to fast-flowing main channels and large tributaries of the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Sumatran and Bornean river systems, often in deep water with rocky or sandy substrates.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L (132.1 US gal)
- Adult size: 20-35 cm
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Water flow: strong
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- School size: ≥5 individuals
Diet
An omnivore with a strong vegetarian leaning. Offer pellets, flakes, blanched vegetables, leafy greens and occasional live or frozen invertebrates.
Compatibility
A peaceful but very large active schooling species that must be kept in groups of at least five in a very large aquarium (500 L minimum). Suitable tankmates are robust mid- to large-sized peaceful species. Plants will be uprooted or eaten.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer; breeding is largely confined to commercial aquaculture due to the adult size and space requirements.