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No federal permit to keepGoldfin tinfoil barb
Hypsibarbus malcolmi
Fishes › Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches (Cypriniformes) › Cyprinidae (Carps and barbs)
Goldfin tinfoil barb (Hypsibarbus malcolmi) is a species of cyprinid fish that is found in Southeast Asia.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 96 in long and 39 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 19.7 in / 50 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–79 °F, pH 6–8, 2–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Choice of décor is not as critical as water quality and the amount of open swimming-space provided.”
- Diet: “Wild fish are known to feed on organic detritus and aquatic macroinvertebrates, suggesting a somewhat opportunistic foraging behaviour.”
- Tankmates: “Not aggressive but may eat small fishes and molest slow-moving or timid fishes with its constant activity and vigorous feeding behaviour.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Carps and barbs
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed barbs and freshwater sharks occupy Asian streams, rivers and floodplain waters, with bala sharks also using natural lakes. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Tiger barbs need a base at least 80 × 30 cm (about 31 × 12 inches), with vegetation and driftwood cover.
- Adult bala shark groups need a base at least 240 × 60 cm (about 96 × 24 inches), ample open swimming space and a heavy, tight lid.
- Red-tailed black sharks need a base at least 120 × 45 cm (about 48 × 18 inches), with rocky refuges.
- Use efficient filtration, water movement and high oxygenation for riverine bala and red-tailed sharks.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 68–78.8°F |
Diet
- Quality flakes or granules containing plant material.
- Live or frozen Daphnia, Artemia and bloodworms.
- For larger bala sharks: chopped earthworms, prawns or mussels.
- For bala sharks: shelled peas, blanched courgette or spinach.
Social life
- Keep tiger barbs in at least 8–10 and bala sharks in at least five. Avoid timid or long-finned companions for tiger barbs. Red-tailed black sharks become territorial toward similar-looking fishes.
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is native to the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand where it is used as a food fish and in the aquarium trade. malcolmi is named in honour of Malcolm Arthur Smith, an English herpetologist who studied reptiles and amphibians in Thailand.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Goldfin tinfoil barb” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in midwater to bottom depths in large and medium-sized rivers. Found in large rivers in the dry season and moves to medium-sized rivers in the wet season. Usually found over coarse substrate. Has not persisted in any impoundments. Its gut is usually full of fine matter with occasional insect exoskeleton. Breeds at the end of the rainy season, as the water levels fall, young of the year 2 cm length appear in February to March. Marketed fresh and also seen in the aquarium trade. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 97°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 62°F (down to 57°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 71–76% on average (driest month about 62%) |
| Rainfall | about 1663 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 31 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Goldfin tinfoil barb (Hypsibarbus malcolmi) is a species of cyprinid fish that is found in Southeast Asia. It is native to the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand where it is used as a food fish and in the aquarium trade. malcolmi is named in honour of Malcolm Arthur Smith, an English herpetologist who studied reptiles and amphibians in Thailand. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in midwater to bottom depths in large and medium-sized rivers. Found in large rivers in the dry season and moves to medium-sized rivers in the wet season. Usually found over coarse substrate. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — Puntigrus tetrazona Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Balantiocheilos melanopterus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Epalzeorhynchos bicolor Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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