About Rainbow Sharks

Rainbow sharks are popular aquarium fish that live in freshwater. They are not sharks, as their name suggests, but are territorial minnows native to Thailand with a small, sharklike dorsal fin. Rainbow sharks have mouths that face downward for bottom feeding. The vivid red or orange coloration of their fins makes them an attractive complement to an amateur fish tank. Rainbow sharks are an active fish and require certain tank conditions to flourish.

  1. Diet

    • Rainbow sharks are usually herbivores, but will eat a variety of foods. They do not eat other fish, unlike genuine sharks. Rainbow sharks are bottom feeders, so they will eat almost anything that floats down to the bottom layer of sand. They prefer fish flakes and fish pellets, but will eat small pieces of frozen foods, like brine shrimp. Rainbow sharks also eat algae that grow on tank surfaces, which promotes overall tank health.

    Tank Care

    • Rainbow shark minnows like to spend most of their time in crannies, plants or caves that they claim as their exclusive territory. It is important for the tank owner to provide a number of hiding places that the rainbow shark might use. Maintain a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5 to keep the rainbow shark healthy, depending on the requirements of the other tank inhabitants. Keep the aquarium completely covered; these fish can jump right out of a tank. Rainbow sharks also need a lot of space to move through, so putting them in a tank with more than 40 gallons of water is optimal.

    Appearance

    • The rainbow shark gets its name from its sharklike, sleek body and large, orange or red dorsal fin. The body of the rainbow shark is gray and features a dark stripe that runs from the nose to the gills. All of the rainbow shark's fins are shades of red and orange, making the fish a spectacular sight in a tank. Males have slightly skinnier bodies than females, and they have black coloration around their rear fins.

    Disposition

    • These fish are territorial and aggressive, especially to members of their own kind. Two rainbow sharks in a single tank will fight each other, perhaps to the death, so keeping only one rainbow shark per aquarium is essential. Rainbow sharks will attack other fish that stray too close to their hiding place; because of this, avoid putting small, fragile fish in with a rainbow shark. Rainbow sharks will swim around the tank incessantly when looking for food.