Bala shark

Last updated

Bala shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterus - Karlsruhe Zoo 02.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Barbinae
Genus: Balantiocheilos
Species:
B. melanopterus
Binomial name
Balantiocheilos melanopterus
(Bleeker, 1850)
Synonyms
  • Barbus melanopterusBleeker, 1850

The bala shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus) also known as the tricolor shark, tricolor sharkminnow, silver shark, or shark minnow, is a fish of the family Cyprinidae, and is one of the two species in the genus Balantiocheilos . [2] This species is not a true shark, but is commonly so called because of its torpedo-shaped body and large fins.

Contents

Distribution

The bala shark occurs in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. [3] [4] Previous records further north in the Mekong and Chao Phraya River is due to confusion with the recently described and possibly extinct B. ambusticauda (although the presence of any Balantiocheilos in the Mekong is questionable). [4]

Appearance and anatomy

These fish have a silver body with black margins on their dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins. They have big eyes to find and catch their prey. The bala shark will grow to a maximum length of 35 cm (14 in). [3]

Habitat and ecology

Bala sharks are found in midwater depths in large and medium-sized rivers and lakes. They feed on phytoplankton, but mostly on small crustaceans, rotifers, and insects and their larvae. [3]

In the aquarium

Recommended conditions in the aquarium [5]
Tank size500 litres (125 gallons)
Water temperature22–28 °C (71.6-82.4 °F)
Water salinityFreshwater (0 ppt)
Temperament Peaceful, schooling and timid when young, best kept in groups of at least 3
Diet Omnivorous
Water hardness 5–12 °dH
pH 6–8

Large numbers of B. melanopterus are exported for the aquarium trade from Thailand, having been bred in captivity. [6] Bala sharks are misunderstood aquarium fish. [7] These fish are generally peaceful and good companions to many other types of tropical fish. [7] Bala sharks are widely available in most pet stores, but will grow to a size too large for the home aquarium. [7]

They are a hardy fish that will tolerate temperature changes, pH changes, and other factors to which other fish may be sensitive. The water pH should be 6.08.0. The preferable water hardness for this species is soft to medium (5.012.0  dGH). Water temperature should be kept between 2228 °C (7282 °F). [3] The bala shark prefers to be kept in groups of two or more specimens. [3] It requires a covered aquarium as it is a skilled jumper, but may injure itself on the lid of the tank. [7]

5balasharks.jpg

Very young bala sharks are sometimes kept in small aquaria. However, given their adult size, schooling behavior, and swimming speed, the fish quickly grow to need much more room. Hobbyists continue to debate over acceptable minimum tank sizes, but generally recommend at least a 2-meter tank. FishBase lists a minimum of 150 cm (5 ft). [3] Many believe the fish is simply too large and too active to be kept in residential aquaria at all; only enormous, custom-built tanks are acceptable, if any tank at all is. Indoor ponds are also considered feasible housing options and may be better suited to the average aquarist. [8]

Conservation

Balantiocheilo melanopterus is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List. [1] It has become rare or extinct in many river basins of its native range. [3] In Danau Sentarum (Borneo), fishermen already reported in 1993 and 1995 that the populations had decreased dramatically after 1975, for no clear reason. Fishermen mentioned overfishing for the aquarium-fish trade or forest fires in 1975 and the resulting pollution as possible causes. The species is apparently extirpated in the Batang Hari basin (Sumatra) and it seems that all individuals of B. melanopterus exported from Indonesia and Thailand by the aquarium-fish trade are captive bred. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyprinidae</span> Family of freshwater fish

Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family, including the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives the barbs and barbels, among others. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family, and the largest vertebrate animal family overall, with about 3,000 species; only 1,270 of these remain extant, divided into about 200 valid genera. Cyprinids range from about 12 mm (0.5 in) in size to the 3 m (9.8 ft) giant barb. By genus and species count, the family makes up more than two-thirds of the ostariophysian order Cypriniformes. The family name is derived from the Greek word kyprînos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypriniformes</span> Order of fishes

Cypriniformes is an order of ray-finned fish, which includes many families and genera of cyprinid fish, such as barbs, gobies, loaches, botias, and minnows. Cypriniformes is an “order-within-an-order”, placed under the superorder Ostariophysi—which is also made up of cyprinid, ostariophysin fishes. The order contains 11-12 families, over 400 genera, and more than 4,250 named species; new species are regularly described, and new genera are recognized frequently. Cyprinids are most diverse in South and Southeast Asia, but are entirely absent from Australia and South America. At 112 years old, the longest-lived cypriniform fish documented is the bigmouth buffalo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater shark</span> Index of animals with the same common name

Freshwater sharks are sharks able to live in freshwater lakes and rivers, including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinfoil barb</span> Species of fish

The tinfoil barb is a tropical Southeast Asian freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. This species was originally described as Barbus schwanenfeldii by Pieter Bleeker in 1853, and has also been placed in the genera Barbodes and Puntius. The specific epithet is frequently misspelled schwanefeldii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ticto barb</span> Species of fish

The ticto barb or twospot barb is a species of subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It is a native of the upper Mekong, Salwen, Irrawaddy, Meklong and upper Charo Phraya basins in the countries of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. It has frequently been confused with the Odessa barb in the aquarium trade, but in that species the male is reddish-orange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iridescent shark</span> Species of fish

The iridescent shark,iridescent shark catfish is a species of shark catfish native to the rivers of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is not a shark. It is found in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya River, and is heavily cultivated for food there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clown loach</span> Species of fish

The clown loach, or tiger botia, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the botiid loach family. It is the sole member of the genus Chromobotia. It originates in inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. In Sentarum, West Borneo that fish named: ulanguli. It is a popular fish in the freshwater aquarium trade and is sold worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congo tetra</span> Species of fish

The Congo tetra is a species of fish in the African tetra family, found in the central Congo River Basin in Africa. It is commonly kept in aquaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-tailed black shark</span> Species of fish

The red-tailed black shark, also known as the redtail shark and redtail sharkminnow, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. Despite its name, it is more closely related to carp. It is endemic to Thailand and currently critically endangered, but common in aquaria, where it is prized for its deep black body and vivid red or vivid orange tail. The red-tailed black sharks seen in the aquarium trade today are all captive bred.

Community aquaria are tanks that are designed to contain more than one species of fish. Most commonly they include a variety of species that do not normally occur together in nature, for example angelfish from Brazil, swordtails from Mexico, and gouramis from South East Asia. The aim of such communities is to bring together fish that are compatible in temperament and water requirements, while using their different colours and behaviors to add interest and entertainment value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishkeeping</span> Practice of containing fish

Fishkeeping is a popular hobby, practiced by aquarists, concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a piscicultural fishkeeping industry, serving as a branch of agriculture.

<i>Balantiocheilos</i> Genus of fishes

Balantiocheilos is a small genus of cyprinid fish from southeast Asia. It includes two species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siamese algae-eater</span> Species of fish

The Siamese algae-eater is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. This bottom-dwelling tropical fish is found in mainland Southeast Asia, including the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins as well as the Malay Peninsula. Its natural habitats are streams and rivers as well as flooded forests during the rainy season. The Siamese algae-eater should not be confused with the flying fox or the false siamensis , lacking the distinctive black bands of the former.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow shark</span> Species of fish

The rainbow shark is a species of Southeast Asian freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae. It is also known as the ruby shark, red-fin shark, red-finned shark, rainbow sharkminnow, green fringelip labeo, whitefin shark and whitetail sharkminnow. It is a popular, semi-aggressive aquarium fish. Unlike true sharks, which belong to the Chondrichthyes lineage, the rainbow shark is an actinopterygiian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying fox (fish)</span> Species of fish

The flying fox is a Southeast Asian species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is commonly kept in the aquarium trade. Among other foods, it is known to eat green algae. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Siamese algae eater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquarium</span> Transparent tank of water for fish and water-dwelling species

An aquarium is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquatic reptiles, such as turtles, and aquatic plants. The term aquarium, coined by English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse, combines the Latin root aqua, meaning 'water', with the suffix -arium, meaning 'a place for relating to'.

<i>Epalzeorhynchos</i> Genus of fishes

Epalzeorhynchos is a small ray-finned fish genus of the family Cyprinidae. Its members are – like some other cyprinids – known as "freshwater sharks" or simply "sharks". They are, however, freshwater members of the Osteichthyes lineage which is distinct from the Chondrichthyes lineage of sharks. The description of these animals as "shark" is most likely a reference to the shark-like shape of these popular cyprinids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black sharkminnow</span> Species of fish

The black sharkminnow, also known as the black shark or black labeo, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family. It is found in the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. It can reach a length of 90 cm (3 ft) and a weight of 7 kg (15 lb). It is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade, but is generally unsuitable for home aquaria due to its large adult size and territorial, aggressive behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnt-tailed barb</span> Species of fish

The burnt-tailed barb, also known as Siamese bala-shark, is a possibly extinct freshwater fish species from the family Cyprinidae. It is or was endemic to the Mae Klong and Chao Phraya River basins in Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant gourami</span> Species of fish

The giant gourami is a species of large gourami native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia. It has also been introduced elsewhere. The species is commercially important as a food fish and is also farmed. It can be found in the aquarium trade, as well. The species has been used for weed control on highly invasive aquatic plants like Salvinia molesta, as the giant gourami can be a voracious herbivore.

References

  1. 1 2 Lumbantobing, D. (2020). "Balantiocheilos melanopterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T149451010A90331546. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T149451010A90331546.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. INFOFISH International. University of California. 2007. p. 70.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Balantiocheilos melanopterus" in FishBase . Apr 2007 version.
  4. 1 2 3 Ng, Heok Hee; Kottelat, Maurice (2007). "Balantiocheilos ambusticauda, a new and possibly extinct species of cyprinid fish from Indochina (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1463: 13–20. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1463.1.2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27.
  5. "aquarium". aquariumsource. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  6. Vidthayanon, C. (2011). "Balantiocheilos ambusticauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T180665A7649599. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T180665A7649599.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.; Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN   0-87666-543-1.
  8. "Bala Shark Care Guide". Tankquarium. 5 March 2021.