Tinfoil Barb
Barbonymus schwanefeldii
A colossus of the cyprinid world that is irresponsibly sold at just a few inches in length, only to end up measuring 35 cm (14 inches) as an adult. Fast, massive, and hungry: requires public aquaria or immense custom home tanks.
Température de l’eau
22 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 8
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
35 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 300 L
Groupe minimal
5 - 6
GH
4 - 15 dGH
KH
2 - 7 dKH
TDS
80 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
125 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo). Prefers large rivers and basins. It is a migratory species that regularly enters flooded forests during the rainy season to feed and spawn.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii). A "giant" of the cyprinid family. Strongly discoidal body profile (compressed and high) like a "pancake", huge and reflective scales that look like a sheet of aluminum foil (Tinfoil) and a small but ravenous mouth.
Social Behavior: Constantly active, hyperkinetic and strictly gregarious. Mandatory requires a school of 5-6 individuals. They are harmless fish towards species too big to be swallowed, but they sow chaos in the tank due to their swimming clumsiness.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dazzling silvery-metallic scales that catch the light. The large fins (especially dorsal, caudal and anal) are fiery red, sharply edged with black along the outer border. Sexing juveniles is impossible; adult females are noticeably rounder.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Monumental purchase mistake for novices. Requires an aquarium of minimum 200 cm / 80 inches (over 800 liters / 200 gallons) with immense open spaces to swim freely and highly resistant shatterproof lids (sudden jumps break light glass).
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous "lawnmower". Will insatiably devour ANY real plant placed in the tank (including Anubias and Microsorum). Must be fed with enormous quantities of flakes and vegetable pellets (spirulina), blanched spinach, zucchini and occasional meaty food.
Water Quality: Incredibly resistant and adaptable, but the industrial amount of waste produced by the school requires multiple oversized external filters and gargantuan water changes. Always maintain oxygenation at maximal levels.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent dither fish (reassuring fish) for huge "Monster Tanks". Perfect companion for Astronotus (Oscar), massive Central American Cichlids, large Datnioides and large Loricariids. Small fish, like Tetras, will be swallowed.
Aquarium Breeding: Impossible in home aquariums due to the need to make hormonal migrations in boundless spaces. In Southeast Asia they are reproduced by the ton in outdoor basins as a primary food source and, secondarily, for ornamental purposes.
Risks and Diseases: Fraudulently sold at 4 cm (1.5 inches) unaware of the final size (35 cm / 14 inches). In 100-liter (25-gallon) tanks it dies before 6 months from induced dwarfism, often smashing its snout bleeding against the glass during nocturnal panic attacks or lighting changes.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo). Prefers large rivers and basins. It is a migratory species that regularly enters flooded forests during the rainy season to feed and spawn.
Origine
Asie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- Despite their large size, Tinfoil Barbs are generally peaceful and non-aggressive fish. However, they are highly active, boisterous, and fast-moving, which can easily stress out smaller or slow-moving tank mates. They do not establish territories and are very social within their own group, showing minimal intraspecific aggression. Their energetic nature means they are best suited for spacious setups with other robust, active species.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- Tinfoil Barbs are omnivorous with a strong natural preference for plant matter and aquatic vegetation. In captivity, they should be fed a varied diet consisting of high-quality vegetable-based flakes, pellets, and algae wafers. They will also greedily consume fresh vegetables like blanched spinach, peas, and zucchini, which helps prevent them from destroying live plants in the aquarium. Occasional supplements of live or frozen foods, such as bloodworms and brine shrimp, will provide necessary proteins and keep them in peak health.
- Espérance de vie
- 8-15 years
- Taille adulte
- 35 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- Tinfoil Barbs are highly social, shoaling fish that must be kept in groups of at least 5 to 6 individuals. Single specimens or small pairs often become excessively timid, stressed, or exhibit neurotic behaviors. Because they do not form strict breeding pairs or display aggressive harem behavior, a balanced ratio of males to females is not critical. The focus should be on keeping a large enough group to distribute minor hierarchy adjustments and ensure the fish feel secure.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is recommended to feed Tinfoil Barbs two to three times daily, offering only what they can consume within two to three minutes. Because of their voracious appetite and active metabolism, frequent small meals are better than one large feeding. Care must be taken not to overfeed, as they are greedy eaters that will consume food until they bloat, which can compromise water quality. Consistent feeding schedules paired with a weekly fasting day can help maintain their digestive health.
- Charge biologique
- High
- Due to their potential size of up to 35 cm and their active feeding habits, Tinfoil Barbs produce a substantial amount of biological waste. They require highly robust external filtration systems, such as canisters or sumps, to maintain stable water parameters. A weekly water change of 20-30% is strongly recommended to dilute built-up nitrates and maintain water purity. High oxygen levels are also crucial, so supplemental aeration via airstones or powerheads should be provided.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- Coming from flowing river systems and streams, Tinfoil Barbs prefer moderate to strong water flow in the aquarium. They benefit from the current, which simulates their natural riverine habitat and encourages healthy swimming exercise. Powerheads or filter outlets can be positioned to create a directional flow that keeps the water well-oxygenated. However, it is important to provide some calmer areas in the tank where they can rest when they are less active.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- These fish are exceptionally powerful and fast swimmers, making them a high risk for jumping out of the aquarium. They can easily become startled by sudden movements or lights turning on, leading to frantic dashes that can carry them out of open-top tanks. A heavy, tight-fitting lid is absolutely essential to prevent accidental escapes and injury. Any openings in the canopy for cables or filters should be securely covered to eliminate potential exit points.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Reproduction in a standard home aquarium is extremely rare due to the sheer size of the adult fish and their migratory spawning requirements. In nature, they migrate upstream during the rainy season to spawn, scatter their eggs, and offer no parental care. In commercial aquaculture, they are typically bred using hormone injections to induce spawning, followed by stripping eggs and milt. Raising the fry is challenging, requiring large volumes of clean water and infusoria followed by baby brine shrimp.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- Due to their large size and active behavior, Tinfoil Barbs should only be housed with similarly sized, robust, and peaceful tank mates. Excellent companions include silver dollars, bala sharks, larger barbs, peaceful medium-to-large cichlids, and large catfish. They must never be kept with small species like neon tetras or guppies, as these will eventually be eaten when the barbs grow larger. Slow-moving or long-finned fish should also be avoided, as the energetic barbs may accidentally stress them or nip at their fins.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- In the aquarium, Tinfoil Barbs are highly active swimmers that primarily occupy the middle and bottom levels of the water column. They require a significant amount of open swimming space to accommodate their rapid, energetic movements. While they will occasionally dart to the surface during feeding times, they spend most of their time cruising through the mid-water zone. Decor should be kept to the perimeter of the tank to ensure their swimming lanes remain completely unobstructed.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3 ± 0 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5156
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01023, b = 3.01
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible à modérée (33 / 100)
Espèces associées
Recommandations regroupées par proches parents, compagnons et soins similaires.
