I read somewhere that the red-tail TF barb grew to a smaller size (about 8") than the regular TF barbs (10" to 14"). Anyone know if this is true?
Tinfoil vs. RED TAIL tinfoil???
- Thread starter bluegryffin
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as far as i know, regular tinfoil barbs ARE the ones with the red tails. unless your source is actually talking about two different species of barb, all color variations of the tinfoil will grow the same size.
This may be a matter of opinion (and ethics, maybe?) among aquarists, but will they "grow to the size of their tank" or just grow however big they want?
they will grow as large as they can (up to their maximum possible size) depending upon water cleanliness and quality, food quality and amount, and overall health. a stunted fish (one kept in very bad conditions or kept in a tank too small) will not grow as large as a fish kept properly, but at the cost of the fish's color, activity level, immune system, and lifespan. a stunted fish will be more prone to disease and early death, not to mention one effect of stunting is that the outside of the fish will cease to grow, while the organs will continue to grow. organ failure leads to early death.
please never buy a fish with the intention of trying to stunt it.
please never buy a fish with the intention of trying to stunt it.
That's why I ask 
. I bought 3 tinfoils today as tankmates for a green terror in a 55 gallon tank. I guess I'll either return them or re-home them once they start to get big. Do they grow pretty fast?
. I bought 3 tinfoils today as tankmates for a green terror in a 55 gallon tank. I guess I'll either return them or re-home them once they start to get big. Do they grow pretty fast?
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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I was under the impression the "red-tailed tinfoil barb" was another name for the S. prochilodus or flagtail characin in short. They are very different from the tinfoil barbs growing to 14 inches and are characins, not cyprinids. They were mistaken as another version of the tinfoil barbs before as explained by a friend.
Yes, there are 2 types of Tinfoils. Most people do not realize this. The one's you buy at Petsmart are generally the red tailed at least at the one's around me.The red tailed is Barbonymus Altus and the true TB is Barbonymus Schwanenfeldii. The red tailed is suppose to be smaller from all the reading I have done also. You can tell the difference because the true TB has a black line in their tail fin and then the red, the red tailed only has red. Hopes this helps a little.