Tropical Fish

Common names/s: Red-finned Shark, Rainbow Shark, Ruby Shark tropical fish.

Scientific name: Epalzeorhynchus frenatus.

Family: Cyprinidae.

Origin: S.E. Asia (Thailand)

Maximum size: 6" (15cm)

Care: Planted tank with plenty of rocks, wood and caves. At least 36" in length. Keep the water clean, well filtrated and airated.

Feeding: Omnivorous, some vegetable matter is required in their diet as well as more meatier foods like bloodworms. They will except most foods ranging from commercailly prepared flakes to live foods. Sometimes they will also graze on algae.

Sexing and Breeding: Males can sometimes be distinguished by a slimmer body and black lines/markings on the anal fin. Breeding has occasionally happened in the aquaria but it is rare and hard due to their aggression towards their own species.

This is a relatively small and attractive tropical fish. However, although less of a nuisance than E.bicolor they can still show aggression towards tropical fish of a similar shape and size so they do not make good community tropical fish in all cases. Do not keep more than one of this genus to a tank. Captive breeding has now produced an albino form but it is still a equally aggressive tropical fish.