Red-tail Tinfoil Barb

About

The red-tail tinfoil barb (Barbonymus altus) is one of two species sold under the 'tinfoil barb' name in the trade, the other being the more commonly recognized B. schwanefeldii. You can tell them apart by the tail: B. altus has broad red margins on each lobe of the caudal fin with no black stripe, while adult fish also develop a warm golden-bronze tone across the body rather than the bright silver seen in its cousin. Red and orange also appear on the pelvic and anal fins, and there is a black blotch at the tip of the dorsal. In the wild this species ranges across the Mekong and Chao Phraya river systems of mainland Southeast Asia, where it moves through mid-water in large rivers, floodplains, and seasonally inundated forests. It is a constant, energetic swimmer that needs to be kept in a group of at least six. Individuals kept in smaller numbers can become skittish or unsettled, and the restless feeding activity of a school can easily stress out slower, more timid tankmates. Robust companions of similar size, large cichlids, catfish, or other substantial cyprinids, are a better fit than anything small or long-finned. Be aware this species is a known jumper, and a tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable. Reaching close to ten inches in adulthood, it is unfortunately one of the most frequently returned fish in the hobby.