Rainbow Shark: Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
A dark-bodied cyprinid with red fins that claims a territory on the bottom and defends it. Keep one per tank — two will fight until one gives up.
Also known as: Ruby Shark · Red-Finned Shark · Epalzeorhynchos frenatum · Rainbow Sharkminnow
Rainbow Shark
A dark-bodied cyprinid with red fins that claims a territory on the bottom and defends it. Keep one per tank — two will fight until one gives up.
Natural Habitat & Origin
Rivers and streams of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, where it grazes surfaces over sandy bottoms.
Care Requirements
Keep Rainbow Shark at 24-27°C with a pH of 6.5-7.5. Needs a tank of at least 200 litres with a long footprint, caves and clear territories. Territorial disputes are usually a space problem rather than a temperament one.
Use the Aquarium Tracker to log these parameters against your own readings — it flags a drift before it becomes a problem.
Diet & Feeding
Grazes algae and biofilm but needs a full diet — sinking pellets, vegetables and frozen foods.
Behaviour & Temperament
Peaceful when young, increasingly territorial with maturity. Claims a section of the bottom and defends it against similar-shaped fish.
Tank Mates
Keep one per tank. Avoid other rainbow or red-tailed sharks, and bottom dwellers of similar shape. Fish that occupy the upper levels are usually ignored.
Breeding
Rarely bred in home aquaria; commercial stock is produced with hormone induction.
Common Health Issues
Generally hardy. Most problems trace to inadequate space, which shows as persistent aggression rather than illness.
