Tank mates for tinfoil barbs

We checked tinfoil barbs against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for tinfoil barbs include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, angelfish, common pleco, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. Avoid cherry shrimp, guppy and neon tetra: tinfoil barb eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Tinfoil barbs: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 30 cm (11.8 in), minimum tank 200 gallons (757 L). Full tinfoil barb care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (44)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (33)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.
  • Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat bronze corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Common goldfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat dwarf gouramis, especially young or small ones.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Oscar · 75+ gal
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase tinfoil barbs, which use the same area.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat tiger barbs, especially young or small ones.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase tinfoil barbs, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Tinfoil barb may eat hillstream loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Tinfoil barb may eat Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat buenos Aires tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat bumblebee catfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat cockatoo cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Tinfoil barb may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Glass catfish · 29+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may eat glass catfish, especially young or small ones.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Tinfoil barb may eat gold barbs, especially young or small ones.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase tinfoil barbs, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Tinfoil barb hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).

Avoid Bad tank mates (72)

  • Cherry shrimp: Tinfoil barb eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Guppy: Tinfoil barb can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Neon tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: Tinfoil barb can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra danio: Tinfoil barb can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Tinfoil barb can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Black skirt tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat black skirt tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cardinal tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Tinfoil barb can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry barb: Tinfoil barb can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Tinfoil barb can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Tinfoil barb 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish: Tinfoil barb can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Tinfoil barb 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F). Tinfoil barb can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Tinfoil barb can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Honey gourami: Tinfoil barb can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Julii corydoras: Tinfoil barb can eat julii corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Otocinclus: Tinfoil barb can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: Tinfoil barb can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Platy: Tinfoil barb can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Tinfoil barb can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: Tinfoil barb can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • X-ray tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black neon tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black phantom tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Tinfoil barb can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Tinfoil barb eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Diamond tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf chain loach: Tinfoil barb can eat dwarf chain loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Emperor tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Endler's livebearer: Tinfoil barb can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Tinfoil barb can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Gardneri killifish: Tinfoil barb can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Tinfoil barb can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Tinfoil barb can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lemon tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Tinfoil barb can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Odessa barb: Tinfoil barb can eat odessa barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Peacock gudgeon: Tinfoil barb can eat peacock gudgeons: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Penguin tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy loach: Tinfoil barb can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Tinfoil barb can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Tinfoil barb can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Tinfoil barbs don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Tinfoil barb can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Tinfoil barb can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black ruby barb: Tinfoil barb can eat black ruby barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Checkerboard barb: Tinfoil barb can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Tinfoil barb can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Tinfoil barb can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Tinfoil barb can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pearl danio: Tinfoil barb can eat pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silvertip tetra: Tinfoil barb can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Variatus platy: Tinfoil barb can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with tinfoil barbs?

Good tank mates for tinfoil barbs include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, angelfish, common pleco, assassin snail and ramshorn snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat tinfoil barbs.

Can tinfoil barbs live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can tinfoil barbs live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Tinfoil barb may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.

Can tinfoil barbs live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can tinfoil barbs live with bronze corydoras?

Sometimes, with care. Tinfoil barb may eat bronze corydoras, especially young or small ones.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.