Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cyprinids > Red-tail Tinfoil Barb

Red-tail Tinfoil Barb

Tinfoil Barb ~ Tall Barb Family: Cyprinidae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Barbonymus altus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Red-tail Tinfoil Barbs makes an excellent addition to a large aquarium, especially when you need large but relatively peaceful inhabitants!

   The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb can be confused with other members of its genus, especially the almost identical Tinfoil Barb Barbonymus schwanenfeldii. Though both these tinfoil barbs have a black marking on their dorsal fin only the Tinfoil Barb has red on this fin. The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb also is also missing black submarginal lines on the caudal fin.

   It is important to know which of these two species you are getting. One of the main reasons is the difference in size. The Red-tail Tinfoil barb is a much smaller fish and so is much easier to house. Though both of these fish get quite large, the Red-tail Tinfoil Barb will only reach about 8" (20 cm) while the Tinfoil Barb will rapidly acquire a length of 14 inches (35 cm) and is considered too large for most aquariums.

   The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb is hardy and undemanding. Being peaceful it makes a good community addition, though it is always important to house fish with similar sized tankmates so nobody gets eaten. It can also be be kept with some of the more tolerant cichlids. An aquarium best suited to this fish would be large and roomy with dense plantings along the edges.

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb was originally described by Günther in 1868 as Barbus altus but is now described as Barbonymus altus. They are found in Southeast Asia, Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, as well as Maeklong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems. They inhabit large waterways and rivers, and will enter flood plains.

Status:
   These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   Although The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb is very similar to its close relative the Tinfoil Barb B. schwanenfeldii in coloration, it does not get quite as large. In its natural coloration large adults have a silvery or golden yellow body. The dorsal fin has a black marking or blotch along the tip. The pelvic, anal, and caudal fins are also red.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 8 inches (20 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous, the Red-tail Tinfoil Barb will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Even though they like proteins, they need lots of vegetable foods. Vegetable supplements include vegetable based fish pellets, and also blanched lettuce or spinach.
  An aquarium best suited to this fish would be large and roomy with dense plantings along the edges. Due to their size a minimum 100 gallon tank is suggested.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
  These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 2-10° dGH
   Ph: 6.5 to 7.5
   Temp: 72 - 81° F (22 - 27° C)

Social Behaviors:
   Although they are can be good community fish they will prey upon smaller fish. Lively and fun to watch. One of the few fishes that can be kept with cichlids.

Sexual Differences:
   No external differences, though females are significantly rounder during spawning season.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Red-tail Tinfoil Barb has not been bred in the aquarium yet.

Availability:
   Through the mid-1990's, the Red-tail Tinfoil Barb was only showing up in the pet trade as a bi-catch mixed in with other fish shipments. Today it is being harvested (as well as cultivated) in their native countries and sold to the ornamental fish market. However, finding this fish is not so easy and it is not readily available. Most often the Tinfoil Barb B. schwanenfeldii is being sold as the Red-tail Tinfoil Barb. Be sure you know what you are getting. There is a huge difference in the adult size of these two fish.

Add your comment here!
Latest Comments
I have two red-tail tinfoil barbs (9") in a 55-gallon community tank with one large oscar (12"), one clown loach (6.5") and two striped raphael catfish (6"). Because of the occasional racing they do in the middle of the night I placed my aquarium far, far away from the bedroom, all the way in the dining room. Miquel 2009-03-07
I keep 2 red-tailed tinfoils in a community tank of only 58 gallons. yes, only 58. and they're doing great. They have very good coloring and seem content to poke at their coral all day. The two we have are inseparable chums and swim side by side at all times. One is 13 years old, the other is about 7. They are extremely gentle with the other fish. I bought an Albino corydoras a few weeks ago, and I swear, I was so scared they were going to eat him at meal times. The cory looked much bigger at the store, and when we took him home we realized he was smaller than their mouths and looked like fishy flake food. not good, right? I was watching them at feeding time, and like usual, the little Albino clown was swimming around like he was taking a Sunday drive. The biggest of my tinfoils swooped (quite literally) in to snatch him up, stopped with his nose practically touching him, did a double take, then turned and swam away. The cory just kept swimming like nothing happened. He could have been a tasty meal for my tinfoil, yeah? I'm certainly impressed by how large and gentle these guys are!! If you have space, unlike me, you should seriously consider getting a pair! 8) a very good fish indeed Jennifer 2009-03-02
Tinfoil barbs and red tails, also golden ones, are easy to care for. Your crazy and cruel if you don't have a 120+ gallon tank as they need copious amounts of filtration and water movement. They love live foods and get along with most fish if fed well and balnced mix of fish. I have 5 with a butterfly koi, 2 blood parrots, 2 kissing gouramies, and a 6 inch blue crayfish. They all get along great. But beware! they love to jump and swoop at food when they feed at the surface. They play chase the leader a lot. They are not fighting but love room to swim. Enjoy your fish and don't forget "how would you like to live in a shoe box with several others" buy bigger tanks please... bob 2008-12-16
I had a red tinfoil for awhile, and I accidentally killed it as I was cleaning the tank, On the top glass I used 4 drops of bleach to clear up the glass, and one slid down into the tank. About one minute later it was swimming upside down. When it died, I had it with about 20 1-week-old bluegill and one 2-pound blue gill (I have a bluegill pond next to my house). But before that it was in with another tinfoil, 2 bala sharks, and 2 silver dollars. A great family fish, except once a baby bluegill was chasing it around the tank and the tinfoil ate it. Andy 2008-02-15
I recently acquired (rescued) two 6-inch Red Tailed Tinfoils from a local pet store. I have them in a 75-gallon tank with 4 5-6 inch golfish of various colors, and they love each other! They all swim in formation at the front of the tank, and aren't skittish at all! I am militant about water changes, and the temp is at 73-74, so everyone is in an appropriate range. Eventually I will be getting a larger (100+) tank, so they all have room to grow. The Tinfoils seem extremely hardy, since when I brought them home they had already been at the store for maybe 4-5 hours, and the only means of transportation was in a pot used at my house exclusively for fish purposes (not cooking!=). Anyway, I floated it in my tank and one jumped clear out onto the carpet! I dunked my hands in water, grabbed him, and put him in the tank, and he acted as though he'd lived there his whole life! No harm no foul. Overall, a fantastic fish. If you have the room, get some. Allison 2008-01-22

Back to Cyprinids

Back to Cyprinids

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS