This article will despite its name not really be about freshwater sharks like the bull shark that often can be found in freshwater but rather be about the group of fish that commonly is referred to as freshwater sharks, but in fact are different types of minnows.
The most common type of freshwater shark can without be found in one of the following genus, Balantiocheilos, Epalzeorhyncho and Labeo even if there are fish from other genus being called sharks from time to time.
The genus Balantiocheilos contains one single type of freshwater shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus. This species is better known as Bala sharks and might be the most common type of freshwater shark of them all. They originate in Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia and can grow to a size of 36cm / 14 inches. This type of freshwater shark is hardy and will accept most types of food. They are very adaptive in regards to water condition but prefer pH 6-8 and a water temperature of 22-28C / 72- 82F. This species is often sold to as fry to unsuspecting aquarist how plans to keep them in their “small” community aquariums but they should only be bought if you have room for a school of these fish and can house them as they grow larger. An interesting fact with the Bala shark is that they just like all other types if so called freshwater sharks lacks teeth.
The genus Balantiocheilos contains five types of freshwater sharks of whom the most widely know and most popular are the red tailed shark (earlier Labeo) the rainbow shark. The species in this group is found in Far East Asia. The Types of freshwater sharks in this group can all be cared for in a similar way. They can all be kept in water with a neutral ph level and a water temperature of 24-26C /75-79F. Some species are hardier and can accept larger differences in regards to pH and temperature. Find out more about the particular type of freshwater shark you are looking at before buying it. It is very important to have a well covered aquarium when dealing with these sharks since they are excellent jumpers.
Bala Shark - A type of freshwater sharks. Copyright
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The genus Labeo contains a total of 103 species of which only one (or perhaps two) species are common in the aquarium trade and known as types of freshwater sharks. The most common one is the black shark (Labeo chrysophekadion). This beautiful night black “freshwater shark” grows largest of all the different types of freshwater sharks that are normally kept in aquariums. They grow to 82cm / 32 inches which in reality only makes them suitable for public aquariums and a relatively small percentage of the hobby aquarists that are able to house fish of this size. Black sharks can be very aggressive towards other fish within its species and are best kept without other Black sharks present unless that aquarium is large enough for several territories to be established. This freshwater shark prefers an aquarium with a number of suitable hiding places just like all types of freshwater sharks in the Balantiocheilos genus. They prefer a temperature of 24-27c / 75-81F and pH 6.5-7.5.
A Black Shark – labeo Chrysophekadion - A type of freshwater shark. Copyright
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There are a number of other fish that from time to time is referred to as freshwater sharks and thereby could be considered “types of freshwater sharks” but these species are either not to usual in the trade or is more commonly know under names that don’t falsely brands them as sharks. You can rest assured that anything you might find in your aquarium that is labelled as an freshwater shark isn’t rally an freshwater shark even if there exist true sharks that live in freshwater for all or large parts of their life.
