The iridescent shark is one of the most impressive freshwater fish in the aquarium trade, but did you know these brilliant kids can grow from 3 inches to over 4 feet long at maturity? Don’t make the mistake of getting a young fish that will outgrow your tank; Here’s everything you need to know to own a giant shark!
WHAT KIND OF FISH ARE IRIDESCENT SHARKS?
Despite their shark-like appearance and massive size, iridescent sharks (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) are actually a species of scaleless freshwater catfish in the family Pangasiidae. So why are these shy and somewhat skittish fish only recommended for advanced or experienced aquarists?
Iridescent sharks are difficult to keep in an aquarium due to their large size, high activity level, and some behavioral quirks that they exhibit in captivity. The truth is that they are a better option for heated ponds than for aquariums, and few hobbyists have tanks suitable for a single adult shark, let alone a group:
- While you can raise juvenile sharks in a 100-gallon aquarium, they will grow to over a foot in length during their first year and will quickly need a larger home.
- They are very active diurnal swimmers; You will need at least 300 gallons of capacity for an adult and 150 gallons for each additional shark.
- Iridescent sharks are easily startled and can be injured by running headlong into the aquarium. Your tanks are best approached slowly and should be located in quiet, low-traffic areas.
While the iridescent may not be the ideal freshwater shark for most of us, they are fascinating to watch and definitely worth aiming for, so let’s take a deeper look at these large and interesting catfish!
NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITAT
The iridescent catfish is one of about 30 species of pangasius sharks found in the waterways of South and Southeast Asia. Originating from the deep waters of the Mekong River and the Chao Phraya River system in Thailand, these sharks are also raised in commercial fish ponds in Vietnam and sold as a cheap source of protein:
- Iridescent sharks inhabit deep rivers with a moderate current and mostly swim in the middle of the water column in search of food.
- These sharks are omnivores, but prefer different foods depending on their stage of development.Juvenile sharks feed largely on protein-rich, fleshy crustaceans, worms, insects, and larvae/eggs, while adults prefer to eat more plant materials and algae, along with smaller animals.
- Iridescents have poor eyesight and live in murky rivers or ponds. They rely on the sensitive bars around their snout to help them find scraps and live food.
As an aquarium export and valuable food source, iridescents have acquired quite a few nicknames, and you may see them for sale in various parts of the world as freshwater blue sharks or blue catfish , Siamese sharks, Sutchi catfish, and emperor sharks. while its meat is sold in Vietnam under the name » swai «.
IRIDESCENT SHARKS: SIZE, APPEARANCE AND GROWTH RATES
In reality, we don’t know much about shark growth rates or how quickly they mature when kept in aquariums. Iridescent sharks are often started in tanks that are too small and don’t thrive, or need to be relocated when they get too big, so there aren’t many examples to follow:
- Juvenile fish are typically 2.5 to 4 inches long at the time of sale, and with a spacious starter tank and a meaty diet, they should reach about a foot in length in a year.
- We’re also not sure how long it takes for these fish to reach their adult size, as fish raised in aquariums tend to be smaller than those raised in ponds, usually maxing out at around 3 feet, rather than reaching the maximum of 4.3 feet seen in wild adults.
Juveniles look different than adult sharks
The iridescent catfish has a small head and a wide mouth, with teeth attached to the jaw and other facial structures. They have large eyes, two pairs of weights, a 6-ray “shark-like” dorsal fin, a prominent pointed anal fin, and a forked caudal fin. One really interesting thing about these scaleless catfish is that they look different as juveniles, especially the colors of their skin:
- The young fish have an iridescent blue tint that really catches the eye (and gives them the name iridescent), and they look amazing in groups as they run around.
- Young sharks also have two black lines along their sides; one above his lateral line and one just below it.
- Adult iridescents lose their black lines and brighter colors (and many of their teeth) and mature to a silvery-gray hue, sometimes with a greenish tint, with dark-colored fins.
- There is also an albino iridescent shark morph; they look pinkish as juveniles and lack the black stripes, but mature into a beautiful white adult shark!
LIFETIME OF THE IRIDESCENT SHARK
Iridescent sharks can live 15 to 20 years in captivity, but the sad truth is that most young fish only survive a few years due to unsuitable conditions. Overcrowded aquariums, aggressive tank mates, dirty water, and poor diets take a toll on these sensitive catfish and shorten their lifespans.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT
Iridescent sharks are shy and quite self-conscious, their behaviors changing as they mature. Young sharks prefer to live in groups and often go to school together for safety, which is just a beautiful sight. Once they reach adulthood, they become slightly less social and more independent.
As strong, active swimmers, sharks need plenty of open space in the middle of the tank, and will also swim to the top or scavenge their substrate for food. They are generally calm, but have an impressive startle response that can cause them to stagger towards your tank or team, so always approach slowly.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR IRIDESCENT SHARK TANK
The good news is that it’s not hard to keep iridescent sharks; the challenging parts are setting up a tank or pond big enough to hold them for 20 years and keeping up with weekly water changes.
TANK CONFIGURATION AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
The ideal setting for an Iridescent adult is not an aquarium, but a huge heated pond. However, since most of us cannot afford to put a 10,000+ gallon pond, let’s talk about how to set up a large shark tank inside your home.
Ideal aquarium size for sharks
If you are starting a group of young sharks, it is best to get 5 similar sized fish and start them in a tank of at least 100 gallons, or larger if you want to keep them with tank mates. Young fish are active schoolers and will dominate the environment, and crowded conditions will increase their stress.
Once your fish is about a year old or approaches 1 foot long, it’s time to upgrade. The ideal size will depend on the number of adults you have.Allow 300 gallons of capacity for the first adult and 150 more for each additional shark. For a tank with 5 iridescent sharks you will need a 900 to 1000 gallon aquarium!
THE LOCATION OF THE AQUARIUM IS FUNDAMENTAL!
Since sharks have poor eyesight and are easily startled, you’ll want to locate your tank in a quiet part of your home, away from noisy equipment and high-traffic areas. A shark tank is not a good fit for a family room or active kitchen. Always approach the tank slowly and let the fish know you are there so you don’t startle them.
Substrate and lighting
It’s best to mimic the shark’s natural environment when setting up their tank, as that will reduce their potential for injury and help them feel at home. Opt for soft aquatic soil instead of aquarium sand or gravel, as this is similar to a muddy river or pond. They don’t mind really bright lights, so you can also use floating plants to shade parts of your tank.
Water and temperature parameters
Iridescent catfish prefer stable, warm conditions and don’t like it when their water parameters suddenly change. Sharks are easily spooked and can panic and damage submersible heaters and other internal equipment, so it’s best to use an in-line or external heater. His preferred water conditions are:
- Temperature 72 to 79°F
- pH 6.5 to 7.5
- It is not particularly sensitive to water hardness; 2 to 20 dGH
Filtration and aeration
As scaleless catfish, sharks are very sensitive to water quality, preferring to swim in moderate currents. They produce a lot of waste and can quickly overwhelm an aquarium with inadequate filtration. It is best to aim for robust mechanical, chemical and biological filtration by using several systems together:
- You will need at least 1 (and possibly more) powered canister or external pond filtration systems that can hold various types of filter media, and should be able to change or filter at least twice the capacity of your tank every hour.
- A sump filter is especially beneficial for shark aquariums as they will help regulate your tank’s nitrogen cycle and break down some of its waste products into a safer form.
- You’ll want to keep your water’s oxygen levels high with multiple air stones or bubblers, so get an air pump that can power multiple air bubblers at once.
Plants and Hardscape (Decoration)
Active fish like iridescents need lots of open areas to swim and forage, and they are so big and strong that they can cause decorations to fly around the tank if loosely placed or stacked. It’s best to limit your landscaping and plants to the edges and corners of your shark tank, and leave the central areas open:
- Natural hardscapes such as rocks, boulders, and driftwood should be permanently secured to your tank with silicone sealant or fasteners while you install. Lots of unsecured rocks and branches could break your aquarium glass if knocked over by a shark!
- These omnivorous fish can eat your plants when they are young and WILL EAT when they are adults, so you may want to replant fast-growing types like motherwort as shark snacks.
Shark Tank Maintenance
Emperor sharks are very dirty fish and with their huge appetite they produce a lot of waste. They are also very sensitive to ammonia and other toxins, as they are scaleless catfish. It’s best to do weekly 25% water changes in shark tanks, even if you have a premium filtration system.
Since you will be switching from 75 to 250 gallons per week (for 300 to 1000 gallon setups), you probably want to invest in an electric water pump and vacuum system, like those used for saltwater or reef aquariums. instead of using the classic hose and bucket method.
FEEDING YOUR SHARKS
Iridescent sharks are omnivores and have large appetites, but prefer different foods depending on their stage of maturity. You will want to feed your sharks multiple meals a day and as much food as they can consume in 3-5 minutes. During the first year, offer your juvenile sharks meaty foods and high-protein treats:
- Use premium floating catfish pellets or flakes as their main diet.
- Supplement with daily treats of live/frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms , grubs , and insects like flies and small crickets.
As your shark matures into adult size (and loses teeth), switch to offering more vegetables and plant foods:
- Rotate between omnivorous catfish flakes and plant – based algae wafers or flakes, spirulina granules, live plants, and fresh blanched vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, carrots, and peas.
- Supplement with larger meaty treats several times a week. You can offer brine shrimp and bloodworms, but also consider earthworms , mealworms, and waxworms.
- You can also offer live fish and shrimp, but it’s best to quarantine them first to reduce the chances of introducing aquatic diseases or parasites to your tank.
IRIDESCENT SHARK TANK MATES
The best tank mates for these large, peaceful fish are other iridescent sharks, and the juveniles in particular prefer to be in a group of 3 to 5. Adult sharks are less social and do not go to school together, but still enjoy each other’s company. It can be tricky to match these sharks with the right friends, as they will outmatch most other fish.
Avoid keeping sharks with smaller fish like tetras and barbs, or edible snails and shrimp. Large, aggressive fish like cichlids may peck at your sharks, but they are among the best options. You will need to keep an eye on the situation and remove or relocate any problem fish.Some of the best tank mates include:
- Large plecostomus like the Common and Rubber (but not the smaller Bristlenose or Rubber Lipped plecos)
- Catfish Synodontis
- Cichlids such as Pantano, Oscar, Texas or Salvin’s
- Silver Dollars and Pacu
- kissing gourami
- imperial flower loach (Leptobotia elongata)
- Bichir or reedfish
- fire eels
BREEDING
Iridescent sharks do not breed in captivity, so commercial breeders in Asia inject hormones into the fish to induce egg production and spawning in industrial ponds.Migration and seasonal changes probably play a role in the reproduction of wild sharks, but we don’t really know what triggers them to spawn naturally.
HEALTH CONCERNS
Sharks are very sensitive fish and are easily stressed, and stress can weaken their immune systems and predispose them to disease. Maintaining good water quality is important, as they cannot tolerate detectable levels of ammonia or nitrates, but that’s not the only thing to watch for:
- Avoid startling your fish, as this causes a surge in adrenaline and a release of stress hormones, not to mention they can hurt themselves in panic. Even a dog or small child running past your tank several times a day or the sound of your thermostat turning on could be a problem for these skittish catfish!
- Make sure your sharks are not harassed or intimidated by aggressive tank mates and remove problem fish immediately.
- Sharks are facultative air breathers and can “gulp air” at the surface if the oxygen in the water is too low. But they will also display this behavior when they are not feeling well, so consider it a warning sign.
The other downside to keeping iridescent catfish scaleless is that they are more susceptible to aquatic diseases and parasites, especially skin fungi and the protozoan that causes ich. To reduce the chance of outbreaks in your tank:
- Quarantine new plants and animals in another aquarium for a couple of weeks, especially animals that often carry disease like feeder fish.
- Use UV sanitizers to reduce pathogens floating in your water column.
IRIDESCENT SHARK TANK: BASIC EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY LIST
Here is a list of the basic supplies and equipment you will need to maintain a group of five adult iridescents and their tank mates. Consider installing a permanent backdrop and remember to secure the hardliner to the tank with silicone sealant or fasteners.
For setup, you will need to purchase:
- 1000+ Gallon Aquarium with Stand, Hood or Cover and LED Lights
- Appropriate canister filters or external pond filtration system
- Sump filter and powerhead or pump for water return
- Various temperature gauges
- In-line or external heater(s)
- Aquatic soil or other soft substrate
- Air stones and bubblers with an air pump and plastic tubing
- Hardscapes like rocks, boulders, driftwood, and branches
- Variety of live plants
- filter medium
- UV Sanitizer(s)
- water conditioner
- Water analysis kit (pH, ammonia / nitrates)
- Hoses, buckets and ideally an electric water pump for water changes.
To feed your sharks, you will need:
- Pellets or flakes of omnivorous catfish
- Algae, spirulina and freshly blanched vegetables
- Variety of live/frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, insects and feeder fish
| Common name (species) |
| Iridescent shark, blue catfish, Siamese shark, Sutchi catfish, emperor shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) |
| Family |
| Pangasiidae |
| Source |
| Thailand |
| Diet |
| Omnivore; preferred diet changes in maturity |
| Feeding |
| Primary diet of omnivorous catfish flakes supplemented with plant materials, algae and spirulina. Offer treats of live/frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, bugs, earthworms, and feeder fish or shrimp |
| level of care |
| Advanced |
| Exercise |
| Very active and powerful swimmer |
| Temper |
| Peaceful, shy and shy |
| tank level |
| Medium, but uses the whole tank |
| Minimum tank size |
| 300 gallons for 1 shark; allow 150 gallons for each additional |
| Temperature range |
| 72 to 79°F |
| Hardness of water |
| 2 to 20 dGH |
| pH range |
| 6.5 to 7.5 |
| Filtration / Flow Rate |
| Moderate current through the middle of the water column. |
| Breeding |
| Does not breed naturally in captivity. |
| Compatibility |
| Best with other iridescents, but often well suited to large fish such as plecos, cichlids, and other catfish if aggression is closely controlled. Avoid smaller fish and crustaceans |
| Is it ok for planted tanks? |
| Yes, but they will eat the plants, so opt for fast-growing species like Hornwort and replant often. |
CONCLUSION
Iridescent sharks are an expensive and challenging fish best left to advanced fish keepers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream of setting up an amazing giant shark tank with your lottery winnings! Share your shark aspirations in the comments below, or join our online aquatic community!
