Photo: MerlinSenger at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rainbow shark
Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
15 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
1
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Epalzeorhynchos
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- solitary
In the wild
Overview
This green shark with red fins, a cousin of the red-tailed black shark, is often sold young as an “algae eater”, with no mention of its temperament, its size or its lifespan, which can exceed 15 years. It grazes algae, but far less effectively than Crossocheilus.
- Scientific name
- Epalzeorhynchos frenatum (Fowler, 1934)
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Cyprinidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Thailand (Mae Klong, Chao Phraya, Mekong), Laos and Cambodia
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It grazes the sandy or rocky bottoms of streams and rivers and moves into flooded plains and forests in the rainy season; these migrations have been disrupted by human works.
Behaviour
Young fish hide a lot, but the adult becomes territorial and sometimes very aggressive towards species that look like it: one fish per tank, with carefully chosen companions. An aufwuchs grazer, it needs live or frozen prey, dry food and fresh vegetables.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth