Are hillstream loaches "outgoing" enough to put in my barb tank, with the Tinfoils???

[Colin_T]

Tinfoil barbs get too big to be kept with small fishes like hillstream loaches, whiptails or bristlenose.

You could have adult Plecostomus or Gibbiceps with them but they all need a huge tank. Tinfoils can easily reach 12 inches, common Plecos grow to 18-24 inches, Gibbiceps can reach 18 inches in length.

Tinfoils need to be kept in groups and most people don't have tanks big enough for them. A 20+ foot long swimming pool would be ok for a group of 12 tinfoils and some Plecos.

 

[Magnum Man]

While I'll admit, there are Tin Foil barbs that do get huge, there are also Tin Foil barbs that "only" get 8 inches long... I've not positively identified mine yet, but I think ( & hope ) they are the 8 inch variety... unfortunately if they turn out to be the 14" variety, they are destined for the frying pan... ( yes there are videos of people frying them up & eating them )

 

[Byron]

While I'll admit, there are Tin Foil barbs that do get huge, there are also Tin Foil barbs that "only" get 8 inches long... I've not positively identified mine yet, but I think ( & hope ) they are the 8 inch variety... unfortunately if they turn out to be the 14" variety, they are destined for the frying pan... ( yes there are videos of people frying them up & eating them )

Conditions affect fish growth. That is why i so often write "x will attain "x" inches if healthy" or similar. Your tinfoils are under serious stress from the numbers, this does impact their health, physiology, immune system, and behaviours.

What species do you have? There are several, all may be seen under the common name which obviously does not identify them, and there may b size differences. Generally, one ony sees certain species in the hobby, especially from stores that do not import directly from the habitat country of the species.

 

[Magnum Man]

I had a thread a few weeks ago, asking if anyone could tell the difference between the giant ones & the ones that "only" get 8"... I didn't really get a salifying answer... best I can tell, mine are the 8" variety ( by the lack of markings on the tail )... but I understand they are still juvenal's

... and I understand ( at least as best we could 20 years ago ) that the size of the tank effects how big some fish will grow... I had a 220 gallon tank that allowed my Red Breasted Pacu to get to 18-20" long... in zoo tank, the same fish might have gone 30" in as long as I had him

 

[Byron]

I had a thread a few weeks ago, asking if anyone could tell the difference between the giant ones & the ones that "only" get 8"... I didn't really get a salifying answer... best I can tell, mine are the 8" variety ( by the lack of markings on the tail )... but I understand they are still juvenal's

... and I understand ( at least as best we could 20 years ago ) that the size of the tank effects how big some fish will grow... I had a 220 gallon tank that allowed my Red Breasted Pacu to get to 18-20" long... in zoo tank, the same fish might have gone 30" in as long as I had him

I recall the other thread, and I posted an excerpt from my profile of the two species most often seen. It explained the colour and pattern differences. Barbonymus altus attains 8 inches, and it needs a 5-foot tank around 150 gallons (5X2X2 dimensions) for the necessary group.

 

[Magnum Man]

& I'll be buying a bigger tank as these guys grow into it...

 

[Byron]

Fish growing into a tank has dangers. First, to your comment on the pacu not attaining its normal full size, that was because of the detrimental effects on its development from the tank it was living in (surviving more than living). This results in internal issues and the fish suffers for it. Fish to not grow to the tank size without serious repercusions.

As for the present barbs "growing into" a larger tank...this is something I learned long ago to never do. If I do not have the necessary-sized tank now that a species requires to live a normal life, I will not get it. Circumstances can change. But here too the fish are in an environment that is not conducive to normal development (group size again and tank space) and this is going to negatively impact them.