Types of Tin Foil Barbs

Tinfoil Barbs (Black Line)

• Standard tinfoil barbs, sometimes referred to by their scientific name, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii, are found in large rivers and man-made canals with a temperature range between 72 and 77 degrees. They have silver or golden coloration on their scales and can grow to a full size of 14 inches. Two of their most prominent features are their caudal and dorsal fins, which are a bright orange-red color with black lines or markings. These fish have an average lifespan of eight to 10 years, and primarily eat insects, algae, submerged land plants and aquatic macrophytes.

Red-Tail Tinfoil Barbs

• Red-tail tinfoil barbs, also known as Barbonymus altus, are found in the same aquatic environments as their schwanenfeldii cousins. They also have similar schooling, swimming and feeding habits. In fact, these two types of fish are often confused with one another, except that the red-tail tinfoil barb has no red on its dorsal fin, but on its tail, and no black line on its caudal fin. In addition, red-tail tinfoil barbs typically do not grow larger than 8 inches. They are a peaceful species that enjoy aquariums with dense underwater foliage around the edges.

Albino Tinfoil Barbs

• Albino tinfoil barbs are a rarer species which, like their cousins, are very peaceful and commonly swim in large schools. They have a vibrant pinkish-red coloration on their caudal, pelvic and anal fins, while the scales are a shimmering silver color with touches of pink and white. These herbivores can sometimes grow to be 18 inches long and eat three to four times per day on average. They make good aquarium mates with similarly sized freshwater fish, like tiger shovelnose catfish, provided the tank is sufficiently roomy.

Diamond Shark

• The diamond shark is another rare type of tinfoil barb, also referred to as a lemon fin barb, or Hypsibarbus wetmorei. The "lemon fin" description derives from the bright golden coloration found on their dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins. This species can grow to be the largest of all barbs, at more than 2 feet long, often reaching 10 inches by the time they are two years old. They swim in schools of at least three to five and have a diet consisting mostly of plant life, although they will occasionally eat worms, shrimp pellets and even mosquito larvae.

Thai Silver Barb

• The Thai silver barb is also called a Java barb, tawes or common silver barb, and was named for the fact that it is most commonly found in the bottom or middle of freshwater streams and reservoirs throughout Thailand. The rotund body has a silvery sheen, with subdued grayish-yellow caudal and dorsal fins, while the head is small and sports a pointed snout. They swim best in slow-moving waters, and change directions quickly and erratically. This is a popular species for recreational fishing, responding well to dough and maggot bait.