All fish / Cyprinidae

Black Shark

Labeo chrysophekadion

Also known as black labeo, black shark minnow, black sharkminnow, black fringelip labeo, black labeo shark, black sharkfish, ปลากาดำ, ปลาเพี้ย, kawan, ikan kelemak, ブラックシャーク, ikan lelan

A large, deep black cyprinid with a high dorsal fin and fleshy, fringed lips used for grazing on surfaces. Juveniles are sold as velvety black 'sharks' and are kept for their striking solid colour and active, purposeful swimming.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; adults are intolerant of their own kind

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong, Chao Phraya and Malay Peninsula basins; Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia

Breeding

In the wild it migrates onto flooded plains to spawn during the monsoon. It is not bred in home aquariums, and trade fish are produced by hormone-induced spawning on farms.

Good to know

Sold small but grows to around 50 cm or more and becomes very territorial, so it needs a huge tank or a heated pond. Do not confuse with the much smaller red-tailed black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor).