Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Albino Tinfoil Barb is a large, fast-growing Barbonymus schwanefeldii colour form for very spacious covered community aquariums.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Barbonymus schwanefeldii
Albino Tinfoil Barb are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Albino Tinfoil Barb is a large, fast-growing Barbonymus schwanefeldii colour form for very spacious covered community aquariums.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Albino Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanefeldii) is a large, fast-swimming colour form of the Red Tail Tinfoil Barb. It is sometimes labelled in the trade as Barbonymus schwanenfeldii or older Barbus supplier wording, but the listing uses Barbonymus schwanefeldii for cleaner scientific framing and keeps the common trade names natural for shoppers.
This is not a small beginner barb. Young fish are attractive and manageable, but the species grows into a powerful open-water shoaler that needs a very large aquarium, strong filtration and a sensible group. In the right setup it becomes a spectacular display fish with pale gold body colour, reflective scales and orange-red fins.
| Scientific name | Barbonymus schwanefeldii |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Albino Tinfoil Barb, Red Tail Tinfoil Barb, Tinfoil Barb |
| Adult size | 30-35 cm in suitable conditions |
| Minimum aquarium | 600 litres or larger for adults; length matters |
| Temperature | 22-26 C |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 preferred, stable clean water is most important |
| Temperament | Peaceful but large, boisterous and very active |
| Diet | Omnivore with strong vegetable intake |
Plan this fish around adult size rather than shop size. Tinfoil barbs need open swimming room, high oxygen, reliable filtration and regular water changes. Use robust decor, smooth wood and tough plants only if you do not mind some grazing. They are energetic shoaling fish, so a narrow or heavily cluttered aquarium will not show their natural behaviour.
A tight lid is useful because large barbs can jump when startled. Keep flow moderate to strong, but leave open areas where the group can cruise without constantly fighting the current. They suit big display aquariums, public-style community tanks and experienced keepers who already understand large cyprinid waste output.
Their broad body shape and reflective scales make them highly visible in open water, so they work best as a planned feature group rather than a background fish. Leave enough clear length for the group to move naturally.
Offer a varied omnivore diet. A quality large tropical pellet can be the base, supported with vegetable flakes, blanched greens, spirulina foods, soft aquatic plants, frozen foods and occasional live foods. Too much rich meaty food can lead to poor condition, so balance protein with plant material. They feed with enthusiasm, so make sure quieter tank mates still get food.
Albino Tinfoil Barbs are usually peaceful, but their size and speed rule out delicate community setups. Choose tank mates that are robust, too large to swallow and comfortable with active midwater fish. Suitable companions can include other large barbs, larger rainbowfish, peaceful large catfish, robust loaches and similar-sized community fish. Avoid tiny tetras, small rasboras, fry, small shrimp, timid slow feeders and long-finned fish that may be stressed by constant movement.
Keep a group where aquarium space allows. A single fish may become nervous, while a group spreads energy and shows better shoaling behaviour. This Shopify product carries several size variants, so choose the in-stock size that fits your aquarium plan. Smaller sizes still need a clear upgrade path; larger sizes need mature filtration immediately.
The biggest mistake is buying this fish for a normal community aquarium and hoping it will stay small. It will not. A group of adult tinfoil barbs needs space in the same way large silver dollars or large rainbowfish need space: the aquarium must let them turn, accelerate and feed without constantly crashing through decor. If the tank is too small, they may become skittish, damage fins or stress quieter fish.
The second mistake is treating the albino form as a different, smaller species. The colour form changes the look, not the adult behaviour. The same large-tank rules apply. A third mistake is underfeeding vegetable matter. They are eager omnivores, but long-term condition is better when plant-based food is a regular part of the diet.
Healthy Albino Tinfoil Barbs should swim strongly, hold a level posture, react quickly to food and keep clean fins. Because they are active shoalers, short bursts of speed are normal, but repeated panic dashing, surface gasping or clamped fins should prompt a water-quality check. Watch nitrate, oxygen and filtration closely; a large group produces far more waste than small community fish.
This is a strong choice for keepers building a large, bright, high-movement freshwater display. It is less suitable for aquascapes with delicate stems, nano fish collections or quiet biotope tanks. Choose it when you want a bold shoaling fish and you already have the aquarium volume, filtration and maintenance routine to support adults, not just juveniles.
Older aquarium books, supplier feeds and shop labels may not agree on the spelling of this species. Customers may see Red Tail Tinfoil Barb, Albino Tinfoil Barb, Tinfoil Barb, old Barbus genus wording, or the longer spelling Barbonymus schwanenfeldii. Those names point to the same large tinfoil-barb type in ordinary aquarium trade use. For this product, the important buying decision is not the spelling variant; it is whether the aquarium is genuinely large enough for an active adult shoal.
When an in-stock variant is available, livestock is packed for temperature stability and sent with a licensed live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, and eligible first-time customers can use WELCOME10 at checkout. After arrival, keep lights low, give the group swimming room and feed lightly once they are settled.
No. It grows too large and active for small community tanks. Plan for a very large aquarium before buying.
It is generally peaceful with similar-sized robust fish, but it is too large and boisterous for delicate or tiny tank mates.
It may graze soft plants. Use tough plants, accept some damage or design the aquarium around open swimming space instead.
Older trade and supplier data may use Barbus or the spelling schwanenfeldii. This listing uses Barbonymus schwanefeldii as the cleaned scientific anchor and keeps other names as trade/search context.
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