Tim's Tropical Fish






Rainbow Shark


Rainbow Shark, Epalzeorhynchos frenatum

The Rainbow Shark originally came from Thailand and Indonesia.  It is an algae eating minnow.  The body has a greenish hue and the fins are red or orange.  They are also know as red finned sharks.  They are aggressive and intolerant of their own kind unless they are in groups of at least six.  Normally it is best to keep no more than one.  Rainbow Sharks like a sandy substrate and spend most of their time in the lower levels of the tank, but make sure the tank is covered, as they are jumpers.  They like caves and are very territorial, so provide lots of both space and aquarium decoration.  They eat flake foods, vegetable matter, bloodworms and tubifex worms.  Plant matter will enhance their color.  Breeding is very difficult.

Comments from Saduct:

Rainbow sharks are fine with loaches I have three of each in my tank and they do not interact at all. It's like they don't even know each other is there.

Scientific Name: Epalzeorhynchos frenatum
Family: Cyprinid
Temperature: 24 - 28 C; 68 - 78 F
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Size: 15 cm; 6 inches
Life Span: 4 - 10 years
Breeding: Difficult, Egglayer


Barbs, Danios, Gouramis, Rainbows,  a school of Loaches, Plecos