All fish / Cyprinidae

Flying fox

Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus

Also known as flying fox fish, true flying fox, flying fox algae eater, black-banded flying fox, flyingfox, flying fox barb, ปลาน้ำผึ้งเทียม, フライングフォックス, ikan flying fox, 飞狐鱼

This slim, golden-brown fish has a broad black stripe from snout to tail, edged above with a gold line, and red-orange tinted fins with black and white edges. Keepers like it as an active, hardy fish that grazes algae from rocks and wood in planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly, or 5 or more in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: algae, sinking pellets and wafers, blanched vegetables, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo

Breeding

It scatters eggs, but there are no reliable reports of it breeding in home aquariums. Trade fish are wild-caught or bred on farms using hormones.

Good to know

Adults often become territorial towards their own kind and similar-looking fish, so a single fish or a big group in a roomy tank works best. It is often mixed up with the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus) and other false flying foxes, which lack the gold line and coloured fins.