Albino Rainbow Shark

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

White Rainbow Shark; Albino Ruby Shark; Red-Finned Shark

Synonyms

Labeo frenatus; Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

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

Habitat

Fast-flowing lowland rivers and streams over sand and rock substrates, moving into flooded plains and forested margins during the wet season.

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Adult size

2 – 6 in (5.1 – 15 cm)

Lifespan

5 – 8 yrs

Min tank

55 gal (208 L)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Bottom

Water

Temperature

72 – 79 °F (22 – 26 °C)

pH

6.5 – 7.5

GH

4 – 15 dGH

dKH

2 – 10 dKH

Flow

Moderate

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Solitary

Aggression to own kind

High

Active

Dawn & dusk

Plant safe

Yes

Shrimp safe

With caution

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Pellets, Wafers, Frozen, Live, Vegetables, Algae, Flakes

Breeding type

Egg scatterer

Breeding difficulty

Difficult

Sexing

Difficult to sex, especially as juveniles. Mature males may show a slim body with a dark line along the anal fin edge, while females tend to have a thicker, rounder body.

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Care guide

Overview

Produced on commercial breeding farms rather than found in the wild, this albino form carries a milky-white body with pink-red fins and pale pink eyes in place of the wild grey-and-orange coloring. It stays solitary and territorial, claiming a rocky or driftwood-furnished stretch of the tank floor as its own. A secure lid is a must given its jumping tendency, and tankmates should avoid similarly shaped bottom dwellers.

Care

This albino form is an easy-going eater and generally hardy once established, but it needs a spacious tank with plenty of rockwork, driftwood, and caves to claim as its own territory. A tight-fitting lid is essential since the species is a persistent jumper, especially when startled or when searching for a new territory. Moderate to strong water flow and good oxygenation help replicate the flowing rivers it comes from, and stable water quality with low nitrates keeps it in good condition long term.

Feeding

Offer a sinking pellet or wafer as a daily staple, rounded out with occasional frozen bloodworm or brine shrimp and fresh vegetables like blanched zucchini or spinach. It will also graze algae and biofilm off rocks and driftwood throughout the day. Feed once daily in a quantity consumed within a couple of minutes to avoid excess waste on the substrate.

Tank mates

Best kept as the only individual of its kind in the tank, since it is intolerant of conspecifics and similarly shaped or colored bottom dwellers. Fast mid-water schooling fish, peaceful barbs, and larger gouramis generally coexist well since they occupy different zones of the aquarium. Avoid other "shark" type cyprinids, Chinese/Siamese algae eaters, and slow, timid bottom dwellers that might be bullied into hiding.

Breeding

Spawning in home aquariums is rarely documented and considered very difficult to reproduce reliably. Most albino specimens sold in the trade come from commercial breeding farms rather than hobbyist pairings. Establishing a compatible male-female pair is complicated by the fish's strong aggression toward its own species, and successful attempts generally require very large, heavily decorated systems.

Health

Generally a hardy fish when kept in clean, well-oxygenated water, though it can be susceptible to ich and other common freshwater ailments during stressful periods such as shipping or overcrowding. Watch for stress-related territorial injuries such as torn fins from conflicts with tankmates. Raising temperature slightly and treating promptly with a standard ich medication typically resolves outbreaks within a week or two.

Sources

1. Albino Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) Care Guide — Shoal & Stem
2. Albino Rainbow Shark - Epalzeorhynchos Frenatum - Tropical Fish Site
3. Epalzeorhynchos frenatum – Rainbow Shark — Seriously Fish
4. Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) Care Sheet

Varieties in the catalog

GloFish Cosmic Blue SharkGloFish Electric Green SharkGloFish Galactic Purple SharkGloFish Sunburst Orange SharkRainbow Shark