tenacity and, simply by virtue of its size and appetite, may swallow its tankmates whole! That being said, it’s also common practice to feed large adult black sharks feeder guppies and minnows, as well as crustaceans such as crayfish and small shrimp. A suitable aquarium setup for the black shark includes large quarters in the hundreds of gallons for a medium-sized adult fish, superior mechanical and biological filtration (I recommend powerheads and large canister filters), and plenty of robust plants and ecorations. Because a large black shark can take some pretty hefty bites out of their leaves, living plants can be hard to maintain in such a tank. Artificial plants and hunks of sunken wood work well, as do acrylic or ceramic hideaways. Unlike most of its smaller cousins, however, the black shark also enjoys large amounts of open water, as well as dense tangles of cover. I recommend that at least half the tank be
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Juvenile black shark Labeo chrysophekadion.
Black Shark
By far the largest of the commonly
available freshwater sharks is the black shark
Labeo chrysophekadion. Measuring in at a
thunderous 36 inches long as an adult, this is
truly a heavyweight species, and the eventual
size of this fish must always be kept in mind
before considering purchase.
Native to the Mekong Basin as well as the
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo,
the black shark is an important species both
as an export for the aquarium hobby and as a
food fish for market trade and consumption
by locals. Unfortunately, the black shark has
a very low fecundity, so it takes a long time
for damaged or depleted wild populations to
regain their numbers.
The head of the black shark is bulky and
solid, and the scales are large. The finnage is
pronounced, and the stocky body morphology
is indicative of a powerful, distance-swimming
fish. This body form works great for swimming
in the lakes, reservoirs, and powerful rivers in
which the shark occurs.
Maintain black sharks in mature aquariums
with stable pH levels from 6.0 to 7. 4, and
ammonia and other nitrogenous waste
levels as close to zero ppm as possible. A
photoperiod of roughly equal durations of
light and dark should be regulated—like the
rainbow shark, this animal’s coloration may
fade to a burnt-charcoal gray when kept in
overly dark conditions, but it will deepen to
a rich and even black when exposed to ample
light conditions.
Oliver Lucanus
The color of black sharks tends to fade to a gray with age.
Young specimens also tend to be richer in
coloration than older adults, which may take
on a perpetual gray or silvery hue that no
longer varies based on lighting conditions.
Indeed, this is a common fate of black sharks.
Purchased when young due to their stark
aesthetic appeal, these fish are often discarded
when, with age, they fade into dull coloration
and sluggish movements (when kept in
cramped conditions and excessively small
aquaria).
A solid captive diet for the black shark
should include equal parts plant and
animal matter: flakes and shrimp pellets
supplemented with algae wafers and prepared
zucchini slices. This shark is perhaps the most
dangerous to house in the company of smaller
fish, as it has a bit of the red-tail shark’s
dedicated to open water and that pockets
or islands of dense plant/wood structure be
situated at intervals throughout the tank. This
shark also seems to enjoy a sandy substrate or
one composed of very fine pebbles.
A Shark for Everyone
At the end of the day, it seems that the
freshwater sharks have something to offer
fishkeepers at virtually all points on the
experience continuum, from the beginner
keeping the hardy, benevolent rainbow shark,
to the seasoned veteran who maintains a large
adult black shark. Of course, the four species
described here are a mere sampling of the
interesting and beautiful species of freshwater
fish called “sharks,” many of which make
good aquarium specimens. D
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www.tfhmagazine.com
October 2010
