Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos Frenatum)
Rainbow sharks are some of the most attractive aquarium fish. However, despite their beauty, the Rainbow Shark has some behavioural issues such as dominance and aggression; this is because they are territorial.
This usually happens as they mature, as juveniles, they are timid and will spend extended periods of their time concealing themselves.
These sharks are active swimmers and tend to spend most of their time dwelling at the bottom of the tank.
The Rainbow Shark is a dark grey fish with vibrant orange-red fins,
They are torpedo-shaped, have a flat stomach with a pointed snout and an upward dorsal fin that may consist of branched rays, along with a forked tail fin like a shark.
Another popular type of the Rainbow Shark is the Albino Rainbow Shark.
Whilst the Albino Rainbow Shark has the orange-red fins, its body is a creamy-white colour.
Photos
Rainbow Shark Variants
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epalzeorhynchos Frenatum |
| Other Names | Red-Finned Shark, Ruby Shark, Green Fringelip Labeo, Whitefin Shark, Whitetail Shark. |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Epalzeorhynchos |
| Origins | Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand |
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Loners |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 5-8 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 10-16 |
| KH | 1-10 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 73 - 79℉ 22.8 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Rainbow Shark will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
1 interesting tank mate ideas for the Rainbow Shark could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It is relatively easy to distinguish a male from a female Rainbow Shark
Males tend to have brighter red or orange fins than females, and males will also have thin grey lines on their tail fins, while females will not have any lines.
Females also tend to have more rounded bellies and are thicker.
These become obvious as the fish matures as there is no difference between juvenile male and female Rainbow Sharks.