Epalzeorhynchos bicolor - Red tailed black shark

Scientific name: Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
Common name: Red tailed black shark, Red-tailed labeo
Group: Cyprinds
Habitat: Thailand
Size: 18 cm
Biotope: Clear and muddy waterways littered with wood and stones
Social behavior: Can be kept in a community tank. Keep only one specimen to a tank, because this species is very aggressive to their own and other similar looking species. Keep more than one individual in large tanks (i.e. tanks over 50 gallons). The Red-tailed Shark establishes a territory to defend aggressively. Older fish may become aggressive towards all other fish.
Diet: Algae, flakes, tablets, vegetables, lettuce, spinach, live, insect larvae, Tubifex, crustaceans, aquatic insects.
Breeding: Very hard
Tank: Minimum 200 litres
Population: 1 fish for 200 litres
Decoration: Provide multiple hiding places with caves, wood, roots, and rocks. Use a fine gravel or sand substrate for this species will burrow. The tank should be well-planted with robust plants and have dim lighting.
Temperature: 24-28 °C
pH: 6,5- 7,2
Hardness: 2,8-11,2NK°

Description: A Reddish-Orange to Red Caudal fin with the Pectoral fins being the same or sometimes dark. If the fish is in good condition the rest of the body, including the rest of the fins is Velvet or jet Black. There are some color variations but the one described is the one most commonly seen. Specimens that are in poor health or not kept in the proper conditions will appear pale and washed out.

A fish that can be kept easily in the home aquarium for many years. Their water temperature should be kept between 75 and 80 degrees F. The water hardness should be on the soft side and not contain too many dissolved salts. They also benefit from frequent water changes. A larger aquarium is best to house these fish as if you are going to keep more than one as pecking order will be established, with one fish controlling the whole group. You will be able to identify the leader by its intense coloration. Hiding places must be provided. The tank should not be lit to bright as the fish are shy. Decorations should include driftwood and live plants, for more information go to the Biotope page on details on how to set up an Asian water tank. Diet should be balanced with a good flake food, occasional live food and supplemented with some vegetable matter. All in all Epalzeorhynchus Bicolor is a fine and colorful addition to any aquarium.

Reports of hobbyist breeding Epalzeorhynchus Bicolor are very rare. What I have found is that a large well planted tank with a ratio of more females to males is needed. The females are more robust and rounded than the males. A spawning tube will appear weeks before spawning and the male fertilizes the eggs in jerky thrusting motions as the eggs are scattered. It is said that the eggs hatch in a couple of days and the fry are easy to raise. Most breeding is done in open ponds in their native Thailand and exported around the world.