Iridescent Shark
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| Iridescent Shark Conservation status: Secure | ||||||||||||||
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| Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) |
Despite its name, the Iridescent Shark (Pangasius hypophthalmus) is not a shark, but a catfish. They are found in Southeast Asia in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya river, and are heavily cultivated for food there. They have also been introduced into other river basins as a food source and are common in the fish keeping hobby. It is named for its glow or iridescence.
The fish can be found in the world's supermarkets labeled as basa. These fish have caused much debate within the political world, with protectionist legislation passed recently to prevent basa imports from cutting into American farmed catfish sales.
Iridescent Sharks are harmless, schooling fish that prefers to be kept in groups of 5 or more. Adults reach up to 130 cm (4 ft) in length and can weigh up to a maximum of 44.0 kg (97 lbs). They prefer large bodies of water similar to the deep waters of its native Mekong river basin. Iridescent Sharks are a freshwater fish that natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5 - 7.5 pH, a water hardness of 2.0 - 29.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 72 - 79 °F (22 - 26 °C). Their omnivorous diet consists of crustaceans, other fish, and plant matter.
The Iridescent Shark is a migratory fish that moves upstream to spawn during the flood season while the waters are high and returns downstream to seek rearing habitats when the river water levels receed. The dates of the migrations vary depending on the river system. In the Mekong river basin, they migrate upstream in May to July and return downstream during September through December.
They are a popular type of pets for home aquariums. However it is not an easy fish to keep and is not recommended for beginners. It requires a minimum tank size of 150 cm (5 feet).
Iridescent sharks get frightened easily and play dead. They also have bad eyesight so they may swim into the glass of a tank and hurt themselves.
Related links
- More pictures of I-shark (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/pangasii/pangasiu/172_f.php)
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species