Breeding Red-Tailed Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos Bicolor) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater fish is almost extinct. Before it lived in the fast-flowing rivers, streams, canals in Thailand.

Body description

Colour of the body is graphite-black. The fish has orange-red caudal fin. Its body colour depends on health, mood, water conditions in the aquarium and age of the fish. The tail is forked. The fish has high dorsal fin. Male is more colourful than female, especially when he is a dominant. Females have light under-side and rounded tips of the caudal fin.

Temperament and behaviour

This is bottom feeding species and it mostly swims at the bottom water levels. Temperament of this species depends on fish and it's tank-mates. The fish may be quiet and will mostly swim within its territory or will hide. It may be very aggressive and it will chase and harass other fish all the time. You should keep these fish with species which swim fast at the middle and top water level and without red or flowing fins. If you want to keep bigger group of this fish you need a large aquarium. The tank should be covered because this fish may jump out of the aquarium.

Aquarium decoration

The tank should have dimmed light, soft substrate, fast flow of the water and a lot of hiding-places among roots, rocks, caves, plants. You need an effective filtration system. A partial water changes should be regularly done.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. Reproduce of these fish is not an easy task in the aquarium. It is necessary to use special hormones to stimulate spawning. The spawning is proceeded by courtships. The fish performs strange movements when they swim side by side. Female spreads eggs among a plants (about 30 eggs). The eggs hatch after 2 days.