While the tiniest increase (2 ppm) may squeak by, your rainbow sharks will end up prone to disease and stress. You have to watch your nitrites, ammonia, and nitrates like a hawk. They also have zero tolerance for poor water quality. If the water spikes or drops without warning, your rainbows will develop sudden aggression problems without warning. Regular testing needs to see a pH level between 6.5-7.5. Rainbow sharks are extremely sensitive to changes in pH. This reflects the waters of their native region. They prefer softish waters, too – around a hardness level of 5-11 dH. Aim to keep the water temperature steady between 75-81 ☏ (24-27 ☌). Rainbow sharks enjoy their tropical climate. If your filter isn’t doing enough, consider one of these additions to boost movement in the tank: In the wild, rainbows enjoy moderate water flow. You can always remove the cover later on. When first introduced to a tank, rainbow sharks may attempt to jump out. While bottom-dwellers by nature, you DO need to have a sturdy lid for your aquarium. As with any freshwater shark, bigger is always better. If they have plenty of space to swim and patrol, they’ll settle down to exploring the bottom of the tank. The smaller the tank you choose, the more you increase your rainbow’s aggression. That’s why a 47-inch (120 cm), 60-gallon (227 l) aquarium works best. However, they tend to come up short in horizontal space. In theory, a 50-gallon (189 l) tank provides enough water volume. Rainbow sharks are active swimmers – more so than most other bottom-dwellers. They simply allow your MOST aggressive rainbow to diffuse that bullying across multiple targets. Please note: neither option will prevent the semi-aggressive tendencies of these freshwater sharks.
The aggressive tendency develops as the fish ages, though, creating problems down the road. This often encourages aquarists to try to add more than one rainbow shark to their aquarium. Juvenile rainbows start shy, spending the majority of their time hiding in the tank décor. Patrolling along the sandy bottoms of rivers and channels, they’ll chase and bite intruders. Even in the wild, they set up individual territories. Much like the red tail shark, rainbow sharks have solitary natures. A few lucky aquarists have documented lifespans up to 8 years, but they’re few and far between. You can expect to get about 4-6 years from your rainbow – even with exceptional care. Lifespanĭespite the fact most rainbows come from commercial-breeding, they don’t live very long. Very rarely will an aquarist see one of their rainbows grow to 8 inches (20 cm). Adults won’t get much larger than 6 inches (15 cm). Rainbow sharks don’t tip the scales that way. Most freshwater sharks present a housing challenge due to their large adult size. Albino rainbow Size: Sharks on the Small Side Rather than a black body, albinos have light pink, yellow, or white scales with red fins. This includes the popular albino rainbow shark. Good thing the aquarium trade sources their rainbow sharks from commercial fish farms in Thailand (for the most part). As such, numbers in the wild have dropped significantly. However, rivers along the Xe Bangai now sport dams that have restricted the rainbows’ migration patterns from their previous floodplains. These included fast-moving river basins throughout Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Rainbow sharks used to enjoy a wider range through the Chao Phraya, Maeklong, Mekong, and Xe Bangai rivers of the Indochina region.
The Other Red and Black Freshwater Shark.At a Glance Minimum tank size:Ħ0 gallons (227 l) and 47 inches (119 cm) long Though not as aggressive as red tails, they have a bullying streak that makes them grumpy tank mates.īeginning aquarists might want to consider a different option. This colorful pattern earned them the “rainbow” title.Īs with most freshwater sharks, these little bottom-dwellers present challenges for aquarists. They also sport that vibrant red on all of their fins – not just their tails. Instead, you find gradations to a softer purple. Rainbow sharks lack the intense ebony color that makes red tail sharks so popular. Newer aquarists often confuse rainbow sharks (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) for red tail sharks.īoth cyprinids feature black and red colors, a triangular dorsal fin, and a penchant for aggression, but that’s where the similarities end.
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