At a glance the quick version
FishBase gives a common length of 20 cm and a maximum of 35 cm standard length; Wikipedia gives up to 36 cm
Looks how to spot one
Large scaled cyprinid (barb), deep-bodied
A big, deep-bodied barb with a shining body that looks like polished metal, silver in most fish and golden yellow in some. The fins are boldly coloured: a red dorsal fin with a dark tip, red lower fins, and a red to orange tail edged in white with a dark stripe just inside the edge.12
Personality what they are like
An active, peaceful schooling fish that keeps to the middle and lower water. Because of its size and hearty appetite it is best kept with other fish of similar or larger size.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A strong, constant swimmer that grows large, so it needs a very big tank with lots of open space and good water current, similar to the flowing rivers it comes from.21
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Plan for its full adult size from the start, as it can pass 30 cm. Keep the water well filtered with a decent current. Water: about 22 to 25 C, pH 6.5 to 7.0, hardness up to about 10 dGH.21
Home where they are happiest
Wild fish live in rivers, streams, canals and ditches, with adults mostly in medium to large rivers. A large, long aquarium or a heated indoor pond-sized setup with a strong current suits it.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Mostly plant-eating in the wild, taking aquatic plants, land plants that fall into the water and algae, plus some insects, worms, crustaceans and small fish. In aquariums it eats eagerly; offer quality pellets with plenty of plant matter and vegetables, plus occasional meaty foods. It will graze on soft aquarium plants.12
Company who they like around
A schooling species that prefers to be with its own kind, so keep it in a group in a tank large enough for several adults.2
The story where it all began
Pieter Bleeker described the tinfoil barb in 1854. It has moved through several genera over the years and has been placed in Barbonymus since that genus was created in 1999. Besides being an aquarium fish it is caught and farmed for food in Southeast Asia.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its common name comes from its shiny, foil-like scales.2
- 2
In Southeast Asia it is also an everyday food fish, used in local fisheries and aquaculture and usually sold fresh.1
- 3
A single spawning can produce several thousand eggs, which are scattered rather than guarded.2
- 4
Wild fish in East Kalimantan have been recorded in water from about 20 C up to almost 34 C.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Assessed as Least Concern (LC), January 20191
- Scientific description
- Described by Bleeker in 18541
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Tinfoil Barb. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Feedingevery day
- Water changeAbout 30 to 50% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Filter rinseevery 2 weeks
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Barbonymus schwanefeldii summary fishbase.seused for origin, IUCN status, describer, size, water parameters, habitat, diet, fin colours, uses
- Wikipedia: Tinfoil barb en.wikipedia.orgused for lifespan, size, care, diet, behaviour, colour, breeding, history
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.