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 Black Shark Fact Sheet
The Black
Shark, Labeo
chrysophekadion, is a large, moderately aggressive aquarium
fish. In the wild this fish can reach 4
feet.
Other names
for this fish include the Black Labeo, Black Shark Minnow and Black Beauty.
This
impressive fish comes from South East Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. They are threatened in the wild although quite
common in the aquarium trade.
Water Conditions
The Black
Shark prefers water between 23 and 28 degrees C (74 and 82 degrees F) and
moderate hardness and a pH between 6 and 8.
This is a big fish and should
only be kept in a big aquarium
although when they are young, they can be kept for a while in a smaller one.
This fish is
fairly flexible in its water requirements.
Food
Black Sharks
are omnivores, and will eat most normal aquarium foods including flakes, frozen
Blood Worms, Frozen Brine Shrimp, Fresh or frozen beef heart, pellets and live
food like Daphnia and mosquito larvae.
The Black
Shark will eat plants. You will need to either
accept that the plants you put in are part of your fish’s diet, or not put plants
into the aquarium.
Companions
Although I
have referred to this fish as being moderately aggressive, in fact their
temperament varies enormously from fish to fish. Some people have found their Black Shark to
be very docile and timid although coming up to be hand fed. Other Black Sharks will kill the other fish
in the tank.
Generally,
similar sized fish should be chosen.
Although they have been recorded up to 4 feet long in the wild, even in
a huge public aquarium, they will not grow this big. Usually they will only grow to less than a
foot long.
Fish that can
be kept with them include Silver Sharks, larger Gouramis like blue and Gold
Gouramis, the mere peaceful cichlids like Electric yellows and the largest
types of tetras like Emperor and Congo Tetras.
Some people have also has success keeping the larger Danios with Black
Sharks.
Breeding
I have been
unable to find any account of Black Sharks being bred in Aquariums. This is understandable considering the size
of this fish.
But they are
bred in some countries as a food fish.
Pest Fish
Do not release
any pet into an environment that it is not native to. Although the Black Shark is not common in the
wild anymore, they could do considerable damage to tropical ecosystems of other
continents.
Sources
>http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_morulius.php
http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=blackshark
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+1911+1953&aid=2600
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/sharkfish/typesoffreshwatersharks.php
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