Hi Fin Banded Shark

Hi Fin Banded Shark, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, is a peaceful, colorful fish that is not only bears no relation to the saltwater predator shark, its mouth actually has no teeth. Its only teeth are arranged like a comb located in the throat (pharynx.) Also know as the Asian Sucker, its common name “shark” comes from the exaggerated dorsal fin that, along with its attractive coloration, is one of its most notable features. As a juvenile, it is a brown-pink color with three black, swathing bands running vertically along the body beginning at the snout. The stripes and body colors do blend with age. A true bottom dweller, the Hi Fin Banded Shark tends to be a herbivore, but is considered an omnivore as it may eat smaller snails and crustaceans found in and on the aquarium substrate. Because this fish can easily tolerate temperature ranges from 50º F to 85º F, it can be successfully used in ponds as an effective, attractive cleaner. Growing to two feet or more in the wild, its captive size is typically limited from 1 to 1.5 feet. This fish is a long-lived, slow-growing fish that grows maybe an inch or so annually. Because of this, it will not soon become overgrown, but does require good water circulation and plenty of space for best health.

Approximate arrival size for Hi Fin Banded Shark: Small: 1-2"; Medium: 3-5"

Detailed Information about this animal.