Mekong - Discover fishes living in this basin

It owes its name of "freshwater shark" only to the shape of its dorsal fin. It behavior and it food have nothing comparable. It acclimates easily to the aquarium.

Small barbs located around its mouth enable it to detect food. It is easy to breed in captivity. The species is very prolific, nests often have over 500 juveniles.

It has a brighter color than the female. In breeding season, it builds a bubble nest. After courtship and spawning, it collects and keeps the eggs in the nest until hatching. The males are so aggressive towards one another that in the Far East, fights are organized.

It lips turn into suction organs and it corneas gums allow it to take algae off the rocks. It acclimatized well in aquariums. Unfortunately, because of the demand for the aquarium trade, it is threatened by excessive fishing in its original environment.

It can breathe oxygen from the air, it stays at least half an hour under the surface between two breathes. Its tapered pectoral fins have a tactile and sensory role. Because of its large size, it is not recommended for the aquarium of a specimen.