Breeding Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos Frenatum) In The Aquarium

Location

This fish lives in shallow, sandy streams with strong currents, creeks or rivers in Thailand and Indonesia.

Body description

Body of the fish is elongated. Colour of the body is gray with dark green tone. There is a black stripe intersecting the eye. Almost all fins are orange-red. The anal and pelvic fins may be almost black or with black border. The dorsal fin looks like shark's dorsal fin. The fish has 2 pairs of barbels. Female is thicker and darker than male.

Temperament and behaviour

This fish is very active. It swims everywhere n the aquarium. This species is very territorial and aggressive towards each other, other species of the family and other similar fish e.g. with red fins. This is shoal fish so you need at least 5 of them in large tank. Even in large tank strongest male may harass and annoy smaller and weaker males.

Aquarium decoration

This species prefers a spacious tanks which are longer than higher. This aquarium should include dimmed light, soft substrate, a lot of plants and hiding-places among caves, pots, roots coconut shells. This species feeds on algae and prefers to swim at the bottom water level. Water should be clean and rich in oxygen. A partial water exchange should be done regularly.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. Female lays eggs in previously prepared hideout. Breed these fish is very difficult and does not happen often in aquarium.