Black Shark

Black Shark

The Black Shark, Labeo chrysophekadion, is a large, moderately aggressive aquarium fish. In the wild this fish can reach 4 feet, 120cm.

Other names for this fish include the Black Labeo, Black Shark Minnow and Black Beauty.

This impressive fish comes from Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. They are quite common in the aquarium trade, and classed by the IUCN as a species of least concern.

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, their temperament varies enormously from fish to fish. Some people have found their Black Shark to be very docile and timid, 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, they will not grow this big even in a huge public aquarium. Usually, they will only grow to less than a foot long, but I have heard of two instances where this fish has reached 2 feet (60 cm) long in very large aquariums.

Fish that can be kept with them include Silver Sharks, larger Gouramis like blue and Gold Gouramis, the more 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.

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. The Black Shark is not as common in the wild as they used to be but they could do considerable damage to tropical ecosystems of other continents.

Sources

>http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_morulius.php

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/sharkfish/typesoffreshwatersharks.php