Small Shark For Fish Tank

The curiosity in freshwater aquarium sharks has been rising quickly lately. Individuals can’t get sufficient of them!

There’s one thing so neat about proudly owning a shark, it doesn’t matter what species it’s. These iconic fish have been a staple of our relationship with the water for tons of of years.

Reading: Small shark for fish tank

Watching a freshwater shark swim round in your fish tank by no means will get outdated.

So right here’s what we did:

We put collectively an entire checklist of the perfect freshwater sharks to maintain in your aquarium. Some are massive, some are small, however all of them are wonderful!

Table of Contents

1. Bala Shark

Regardless of their considerably intimidating seems, Bala Sharks are thought-about to be light giants. They’re comparatively peaceable and get alongside properly with a variety of fish. Whereas they will begin to view smaller critters as meals once they get larger, they are typically respectful in direction of most fish.

Bala Sharks are very energetic swimmers. They are going to spend hours swimming across the surroundings. When saved in teams, the fish will exhibit education habits as properly.

From an look standpoint, these freshwater aquarium sharks are gorgeous. Sometimes, the first shade of the shark goes to be grey. Some shade variations do exist, however most are going to look pretty related.

The grey shade is complemented by impactful yellow and vibrant stripes. The stripes are discovered on their forked tail and fins. Like most shark-like species, the dorsal fin of the Bala Shark may be very distinguished. Because of its putting coloration, the dorsal fin stands out when it’s perked up at consideration.

Bala Sharks aren’t too troublesome to care for. Although, they do require some stringent water situations and food regimen to remain wholesome. The sharks choose temperatures round 77 levels always. The pH stability ought to be between 6.5 and eight.

These sharks are omnivores. Nevertheless, they like protein-based snacks like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and extra. They’ve massive appetites and ought to be fed 3 times a day to assist their progress.

Dimension: 10 to 13 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 120 gallons

2. Crimson Tail Shark

Crimson Tail Sharks have been a preferred fish species within the aquarist neighborhood for fairly a while. There have been initially present in freshwater lakes and swamps all through Thailand. Nevertheless, they’re now thought-about to be critically endangered within the wild.

To make issues worse, breeding these fish in captivity isn’t any straightforward process. It’s doable and is completed by some bigger skilled breeding services. Nevertheless, no established at-home breeding method has been discovered.

It’s not onerous to see why these fish are so revered. The Crimson Tail Shark is aptly named for its putting pink tail. It’s a stark distinction to the remainder of the shark’s physique, which is darkish black. In fact, this species additionally has that iconic shark profile that so many fish-keepers are after.

The excellent news is that these fish are very hardy. They’ll adapt properly to many environments. Most popular temperatures vary from 72 levels as much as 79 levels. A regular pH stability between 6.5 and seven.5 is nice, too.

Aggressive habits is frequent. The Crimson Tail Shark is extremely territorial and can lash out at any creature that crosses into its area. To attenuate preventing, the Crimson Tail Shark wants loads of house to name its personal.

Dimension: 6 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 55 gallons

3. Rainbow Shark

Typically known as Ruby Sharks or Crimson-Finned Sharks, these creatures provide a pleasant pop of shade to any freshwater tank. Just like the Crimson Tail Shark, the Rainbow Sharks have a fiery pink tail that stands out in opposition to a pure backdrop. Nevertheless, these fish even have vibrant pink fins.

The fins are semi-transparent, permitting you to see delicate rays. Each single fin is coloured pink. Pair that shade with the darkish black shade of their physique and you’ve got a really intimidating-looking fish.

Rainbow Sharks usually aren’t really useful for starting aquarists. The rationale for that’s aggression. These are very territorial fish which can be identified to assault different creatures within the tank. It’s an fascinating behavioral trait that’s not often discovered within the wild.

Even with their aggressive habits, Rainbow Sharks may be saved with different fish. They’re bottom-dwellers, so you possibly can hold them with fish species that stick in direction of the highest of the water column. Aggression remains to be doable, so you must all the time train warning.

Rainbow Sharks are pure omnivores. All through the day, they’ll chow down on algae they discover all through the fish tank. Although, this ought to be supplemented with sinking fish meals, blanched greens, and a few high-quality stay meals.

Dimension: 6 inches
Problem: Newbie-Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 55 gallons

4. Iridescent Shark

Native to Southeast Asia, Iridescent Sharks are a giant dedication. Not solely do they get massive, however these fish are identified to stay 20 years or extra! Consequently, they’re thought to be species that solely seasoned aquarists ought to hold.

If you happen to ever see considered one of these fish in particular person, you is likely to be confused as to how they get their identify! Grownup Iridescent sharks are often strong darkish grey in shade. Reality is, that muted tone is one thing that types slowly because the fish will get older. As juveniles, the Iridescent Shark is roofed in darkish shiny pores and skin that shines within the mild.

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Other than their shade, these are very fascinating wanting freshwater sharks for your fish tank. They’ve that acquainted catfish-like head full with barbels. Nevertheless, their our bodies are fairly bulbous. The fins are fairly massive and fan-like as properly, giving the fish a novel profile.

Total, Iridescent Sharks usually are not too fussy about their environments. They like temperatures between 72 and 79 levels, normal pH ranges between 6.5 and seven.5, and pure decor. That stated, feeding generally is a little bit of a problem.

These sharks want a variety of meals. Not solely that, however there must be some selection to make sure that they’re getting all their vitamins. The fish are omnivores that can eat just about something, so ensure that to combine issues up.

Dimension: 3-4 ft
Problem: Knowledgeable
Minimal Tank Dimension: 300 gallons

5. Violet Blushing Shark

Not like different freshwater aquarium sharks, the Violet Blushing Shark is kind of passive. It doesn’t exhibit territorial habits such as you would see with different species. Consequently, they do properly in neighborhood tanks.

That stated, you must nonetheless keep away from protecting these fish with smaller creatures that they will view as meals. They do greatest when saved with medium-sized fish.

Violet Blushing Sharks get their identify from their distinctive look. The fish are lined in a silvery-white shade. You possibly can see some sheen on their our bodies, however provided that they’re below some highly effective lights.

The our bodies are clear, permitting you to see particular person organs. Probably the most distinguished characteristic of the shark’s physique is the gills. The gills are seen by means of the physique, making it seem like fish is blushing!

Retaining a well-maintained tank is essential for these fish. They want steady temperatures between 68 and 78 levels to remain wholesome. That’s not all. The Violet Blushing Shark must have a variety of swimming house, too.

The largest mistake newer aquarists make with this species is filling the tank with too many decorations. Vegetation, driftwood, and rocks are all necessary for making the fish really feel snug. However so is loads of open swimming house! You’ll want to search out the suitable stability to maintain the Violet Blushing Shark in good condition.

Dimension: 12 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 125 gallons

6. Columbian Shark

Right here’s a species that may be a giant problem to care for. The Columbian Shark has some strict care necessities. Sadly, there’s a variety of misinformation floating round on the market.

Opposite to fashionable perception, these aren’t fully freshwater sharks. As juveniles, they require brackish water to remain wholesome. If you’re organising their fish tank, you’ll want so as to add some marine salt to make sure that the particular gravity is between 1.005 and 1.010.

Columbian Sharks additionally are typically problematic when saved with different fish. These are predatory creatures that can hunt out smaller fish species. So, you’ll must keep away from smaller passive fish.

One other approach that you could stave off predatory habits is to maintain the fish well-fed. The Columbian Shark thrives on a high-protein food regimen of stay and frozen meals. They do properly on pellets and industrial dry meals, too. Nevertheless, they like stay meals that they will seek out.

From an look standpoint, these fish are one of the shark-like species you will get for your aquarium. They’ve a big sail-like dorsal fin. Their our bodies are usually lined in shades of black, grey, and silver.

On the heads of the fish, you’ll discover that they’ve a number of pairs of lengthy barbels. These barbels are used to navigate their surroundings and seek out meals.

Dimension: 10 inches
Problem: Newbie-Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 70 gallons

7. Black Shark

The Black Shark is a big fish species with a semi-aggressive nature. Initially discovered all through Malaysia, these fish are very talked-about due to their forboding seems.

Lined in all black, the Black Shark has that acquainted profile that many freshwater sharks share. This features a huge dorsal fin. When the fish is swimming, the dorsal fin will often lay comparatively flat in opposition to their rounded physique. Nevertheless, it should additionally stand tall every now and then because the fish exhibits off.

The Black Shark can get very aggressive and predatory. They shouldn’t be saved with small fish species. Most aquarists will home them alongside different aggressive species that may deal with the bullying nature of the Black Shark. This contains some Cichlid species.

Curiously sufficient, these fish don’t must have a food regimen constructed on pure protein. Some protein is nice, however they’re omnivores that can eat absolutely anything. They’ve a penchant for plant-based meals. In truth, these fish are infamous for consuming crops.

Thus, the Black Shark is really useful for tanks which can be sparse within the plant division. They do greatest with a variety of open swimming house. Loads of caves are really useful as properly in order that they’ve locations to relaxation.

Dimension: 24 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 125 gallons

8. Roseline Shark

These eye-catching fish are absolute stunners! The Roseline Shark is roofed in a number of vibrant colours that look nice in opposition to a pure backdrop. You’ll see stripes of pink, black, and gold. Patches of inexperienced and yellow are fairly frequent, too.

Like all freshwater sharks, these fish have a pronounced dorsal fin. Within the case of Roseline Sharks, the dorsal fin is accented with a vibrant fiery pink stripe.

Roseline Sharks are literally a part of the barb household and are a number of the smallest freshwater aquarium sharks you will get. Nevertheless, this generally is a good factor in the case of temperament.

9. Harlequin Shark

Scientifically often known as Labeo cyclorhynchus, Harlequin Sharks are an fascinating addition to freshwater tanks. They’re fairly lovely. Nevertheless, the fish is understood to stay a really solitary life.

They don’t wish to be round different fish. In truth, they’re identified to be very territorial in opposition to similar-looking species. Meaning you possibly can’t hold them in teams or with different freshwater sharks.

You possibly can, nevertheless, home them with some fish you probably have sufficient room. The Harlequin Shark is a bottom-dwelling fish that can spend most of its time in hiding. Thus, they are often saved with bigger species that keep in direction of the highest of the water column.

Within the wild, these fish are discovered all through the Congo River Basin. Their pure habitat is densely planted forest streams. To really thrive, Harlequin Sharks want a variety of hiding locations. Hardy crops and a sequence of hiding nooks crafted out of driftwood or rocks is a should.

Feeding Harlequin Sharks isn’t too dangerous. They’re algae-eaters that can spend their time feeding on something they will discover on the backside of the tank. This contains algae, microscopic animals, and plant detritus.

You could additionally complement their snacking. The fish do greatest when saved on a variable food regimen consisting of sinking pellets, blanched greens, and stay or frozen meals.

Dimension: 6 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 40 gallons

10. Chinese language Excessive-Fin Banded Shark

Chinese language Excessive-Fin Banded Sharks are a species that’s solely viable for extraordinarily massive fish tanks or public aquarium installations. They’re docile creatures that just do fantastic with others. They are often saved with all kinds of fish with out having to fret about aggressive habits.

One requirement, nevertheless, is that they should be saved in massive teams. These are education fish that choose to remain inside the firm of their very own form. Many aquarists have skilled points protecting these fish alone. Some have even died when saved in solitude!

The Chinese language Excessive-Fin Banded Shark has a really iconic look. However, that look solely applies to youthful juvenile fish. When they’re younger, these sharks are brown with three vertical stripes.

As you might need guessed by their identify, the dorsal fin can also be very distinguished. The principle portion of the dorsal fin stands very tall. After the sail-like form, the fin tapers all the way down to a extra modest measurement.

The fascinating factor concerning the Chinese language Excessive-Fin Banded Shark is that these defining options fade as soon as the fish will get larger. The coloration begins to uninteresting out a bit. Some specimens change into solid-colored. The dorsal fin doesn’t develop with the fish both, making it look smaller into maturity.

Dimension: 4 ft
Problem: Knowledgeable (really useful for public installations solely)
Minimal Tank Dimension: 800+ gallons

11. Silver Apollo Shark

Whereas most freshwater aquarium sharks are bottom-dwellers, the Silver Apollo Shark likes to stay to the floor. It’s a extremely energetic fish that can spend its time skimming the highest of the waterline seeking meals. They will even enterprise to the underside to search out prey.

Talking of which, the Silver Apollo Shark may be fairly aggressive. It’s a predatory fish that can hunt down smaller prey any probability it will get! As such, they should be saved in tanks with bigger semi-aggressive species.

Silver Apollo Sharks are additionally shoaling fish. They do greatest when saved in massive teams. The fish will swim collectively and keep protected in opposition to different aggressive species within the tank.

Free swimming-space is a should for Silver Apollo Sharks. They stay in fast-moving streams within the wild, so they’re highly effective swimmers. They’ll typically be seen darting throughout the tank for hours on finish.

The fish are constructed for swimming. They’re sporting a torpedo-shaped physique that’s often olive inexperienced in shade. A darkish horizontal line runs the size of the fish as properly. The snout of the fish is pointed and has some brief whiskers.

The dorsal fin is kind of massive like different freshwater aquarium sharks. Nevertheless, it’s set far again on the physique, placing it a lot nearer to the tail.

Dimension: 7 inches
Problem: Intermediate
Minimal Tank Dimension: 120 gallons

Wrapping Up

Now that you just’ve seen the complete checklist of fashionable freshwater aquarium sharks, it’s time to choose those you’re most excited by.

Whereas a few of them is likely to be too massive to think about for your setup at house, lots of the smaller sharks on this checklist are completely viable.

It doesn’t matter what your degree of expertise is (or the period of time you want to spend), there ought to be a species for you!

When you have any questions on a species on this checklist, we’re more than pleased that will help you out. Freshwater sharks are a few of our favourite fish!

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