All fish / Cyprinidae

Red-finned shark

Epalzeorhynchos munense

Also known as red fin shark, rainbow shark, ruby shark, mun river shark, ปลาทรงเครื่อง, レインボーシャーク, 彩虹鲨

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A slim, dark grey to black labeonine with bright red fins and a downturned sucker mouth, very like the more familiar rainbow shark. It is kept as an active, eye-catching bottom dweller that grazes algae and biofilm.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, or as a group of 5 or more in a large tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia)

Breeding

It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums. Fish in the trade are produced on commercial farms in Asia, often using hormones.

Good to know

It is territorial towards its own kind and similar-looking bottom fish, so give plenty of cover and space. Many fish sold under this name are actually Epalzeorhynchos frenatum, which is closely related and cared for in the same way.