Labeo chrysophekadion
| Common Names: | Black Labeo Black Shark Black Sharkminnow |
| Synonyms: | Morulius chrysophekadion Rohita chrysophekadion |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Category: | Cyprinids |
| Distribution: | Asia; South East Asia. |
| Main Ecosystem: | Flooding; Flooding |
| Temperament: | Territorial; Very territorial. Becomes more aggressive towards other Black Sharks with age. Large adult Black Sharks are best kept as the centrepiece of a large aquarium. |
| Diet: | Ominvore; This species is a gluttonous feeder (and large specimens can consume astonishing quantities of food), which will eat a vast range of aquarium foods. Juveniles can be fed upon bloodworms, flake foods, assorted fresh vegetables prepared in an appropriate manner (here I emphasise FRESH vegetables, as tinned vegetables contain food additives that may prove deleterious to the fish's health) and freeze-dried Tubifex. Standard aquarium flake foods become impractical quickly as the fish grows, however, and large specimens will need something more akin to Koi pellets instead of flakes. The fish consumes a fair proportion of vegetable matter in the wild, so vegetable foodstuffs should form a good proportion of the diet - celery tops, fresh shelled peas and similar items are welcomed. Large adults will also feed readily upon earthworms, beef heart (scraped to remove excess animal fat which the fish cannot digest) and suitably prepared crustacean or fish flesh. Take great care not to let the fish gorge when feeding, as this results in partially digested food being expelled in the faeces, which adds to the already large loading that this fish will place upon the biofilter. A big adult specimen is, in effect, a garbage compactor with fins, and the two major problems the aquarist will face with this species are finding practical food items in sufficient quantity, and curbing its colossal appetite so as to ease nitrogen cycle management in its aquarium. |
| Care: | Feed flake foods, peas and frozen blood worms. Hiding places and distinct territories are recommended. The Black Shark, being a territorial bottom dweller, should be provided with aquarium furnishings that include an abundance of cave type structures (be they formed using smooth rocks or bogwood roots), so that the fish has a choice of caves to select as its 'home'. Given the size that an adult fish is capable of reaching, a 300 gallon aquarium should be considered a MINIMUM size for long term maintenance, and ideally, the aquarium should be even larger - an 80 cm fish that is, moreover, chunky and muscular in build will require an aquarium that is over a metre wide simply to be able to turn around comfortably, and thus this fish easily fits into the category of "tank buster" - the aquarist should NOT acquire this fish without being prepared to provide a very large aquarium (and for optimum maintenance, make that a colossal aquarium!). |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 80cm (31.5") Female: 80cm (31.5") |
| Water Region: | Middle, Bottom; Middle-Bottom |
| Activity: | Diurnal; Diurnal |
| Gender: | Not possible to determine by external features. |
| Breeding: | Has not been successfully bred in an aquarium. |
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| Comments: | Buying a Black Shark is a major commitment as they become very large, aggressive, and eat alot of food. The Black Shark is one of the only sharks that should not be kept in a planted aquarium because plants are a large part of its diet. A hood on the aquarium is also recommended, as the Black Shark is an accomplished jumper. |
| Main Colours: | Black, Brown |
| Markings: | No Markings |
| Mouth: | Downturned |
| Tail: | Forked |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | © FishProfiles.com |
| Submitted By: | Adam |
| Contributors: | gnr4ever8794, Calilasseia |
| History: | View changes to this profile |
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