Albino Ruby Shark Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Albino Ruby Shark is a pale, selectively bred form of the Rainbow Shark, with a creamy to pinkish body, vivid red fins and the same distinctive streamlined profile as its wild-coloured relative. Its red eyes and lack of dark body pigment give it a striking appearance under aquarium lighting.

Despite the common name, this fish is not a true shark. It is a member of the carp family and has the elongated body, forked tail and active swimming style associated with small riverine cyprinids. It spends much of its time close to the bottom, exploring surfaces and defending preferred resting places.

Rainbow Sharks are known for territorial behaviour, especially as they mature. An individual may patrol a cave, piece of wood or section of the substrate and drive away similar-looking fish, although behaviour varies between specimens and aquariums.

In nature, the species inhabits flowing and seasonally variable waters, including tributaries, floodplain channels and areas with submerged vegetation. It is adapted to a varied diet that includes algae, plant material and small aquatic organisms, and its vivid fins make it a popular ornamental fish.

The Albino Ruby Shark is a cultivated colour form of the Rainbow Shark, Epalzeorhynchos frenatum. The wild species originates in mainland Southeast Asia, particularly the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

A single Albino Ruby Shark should have an aquarium of at least 200 litres, with a footprint around 120 cm long by 40 cm wide; a larger aquarium is preferable for robust adults or community groups. Use smooth sand or fine rounded gravel, and provide driftwood, rocks, caves and dense planting arranged to create separate territories while leaving open swimming space. Strong filtration, good oxygenation and some water movement suit its riverine background, while a secure lid is sensible because active individuals can jump.

Up to about 15 cm (6 in) in total length. Females are usually slightly larger and noticeably deeper-bodied than males.

Offer a varied omnivorous diet of quality sinking pellets or wafers, algae-based foods and occasional blanched vegetables such as courgette, spinach or shelled peas. Supplement meals with frozen or live foods, including bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia. Regular vegetable matter is valuable, but algae growth alone is not a complete diet for this active fish.

Albino Ruby Sharks can live with peaceful, similarly sized fish that occupy the middle and upper levels, including larger tetras, rasboras, danios, barbs, rainbowfish, gouramis and peaceful South American cichlids. Avoid housing them with other Rainbow or Ruby Sharks, Red-Tailed Black Sharks, aggressive bottom dwellers or timid fish that may be harassed. They may also become territorial toward loaches, larger catfish and other fish with a similar body shape, particularly in cramped aquariums.

Albino Ruby Sharks are egg scatterers, but successful home breeding is uncommon because mature fish can be territorial and spawning is rarely triggered naturally in aquariums. In commercial facilities, breeding is usually encouraged with very large breeding systems and hormone-assisted spawning. A mature pair may scatter adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, after which the adults should be removed because they may eat the eggs. The eggs hatch in roughly two days, and the fry require very small foods until they can accept finely crushed meals.

Females generally grow a little larger and have a fuller, rounder abdomen, particularly when mature. Males are usually slimmer, and their fins may show stronger red colouration; reliable sexing of young fish is difficult.