There are a lot of so called freshwater sharks available for the home aquarium. Most (read all) of them are however not really sharks but rather a type of minnows. Most so called freshwater sharks originates from Asia and it is hard to se why they have been branded as sharks since the fact is that they aren’t predators and doesn’t even have teeth. This doesn’t make them any less interesting as pets but you shouldn’t think that the freshwater shark that is swimming around I your home aquarium really is a shark.
There are a number of true sharks that lives in freshwater for example in Australia and Nicaragua but these aren’t really suitable as home aquariums. This is partly due to the fact that these sharks grow large and secondly because many of these species are critically endangered. There are also species that wanders between fresh and marine water. One example on such a shark is the bull shark. Bull sharks are not suitable for home aquariums due to their size.
The truth is that if you are looking for suitable home aquarium freshwater sharks you will have to consider keeping the fish that are commonly known as freshwater shark rather than actual sharks. Your alternatives are more numerous if you have kept tropical fish for a while and would consider a marine aquarium since there are marine sharks that successfully can be kept in home aquariums.
I you want to keep “freshwater sharks” in your aquarium you will have to choose species after your aquarium size since many of the species grows too large for most home aquariums and are primarily suitable for public aquariums. Examples of this are the black shark and Bala sharks which both are popular freshwater sharks that are kept by many in their home aquariums. What most people doesn’t know or understand when buying these fish is how large they really grow and that they don’t have the possibility to care for this freshwater sharks in the long term in their home aquariums since they simply are to small. The black sharks that often are sold as 5 cm/ 2inch long fry will for example grow to a size of 82 cm/ 32 inch. A fish of this size is larger than what most aquarists can provide room for in their home aquariums. The Bala shark is small in comparison and only grows to be 36cm / 14 inches but this size is still more larger than what many aquarists can house in their aquariums and the Bala shark is to makes things worse a schooling fish that always should be kept in groups of at least 6 specimens or more. Don’t get me wrong both species are fascinating and suitable for aquariums if you can meat their needs, the problem is that so many people buy these freshwater harks for their home aquarium with any possibility of given them a good home once they become adults. This is the reason why it is so important to find a suitable species of freshwater shark for you home aquarium before buying one and to never by a freshwater shark on impulse. (something that is true for all fishes)
Bala Shark are suitable for home aquariums. Copyright www.jjphoto.dk
Go to our species guides and take a look at the Balantiocheilos and Epalzeorhyncho species and you will find info on the 6 most commonly available freshwater sharks and se if any of them would be suitable for your community aquarium. The genus Labeo is also generally known as freshwater sharks but only a few of the 103 species are readily available in fish stores.
Red tailed sharks are another freshwater shark suitable for home aquariums. Copyright www.jjphoto.dk
Didn't find the info you were looking for? Register for free and ask your question in our Aquarium forum !
Our knowledgeable staff usually responds to any question within 24 hours
Related Articles:
Bala shark - Information about Bala Sharks
Blue shark - Information about Blue shark
Bronze Whaler Shark - Information about Bronze Whaler Sharks
Bull shark - Information about Bull shark
Freshwater sharks - Information about Freshwater sharks
Goblin Shark - Information about Goblin Shark
Great white shark - Information about Great white shark - Carcharodon carcharias
Hammerhead shark - Information about Hammerhead shark
Mako shark - Information about Mako shark
Nurse Shark - Information about Nurse Shark
Pet Sharks - Information about Pet Sharks
Reef sharks - Information about Reef sharks
Sand Sharks - An introduction to the species of sharks know as sand sharks.
Tiger Shark - Information about Tiger Shark
Types of freshwater sharks - Information about Types of freshwater sharks
