Flying Fox

Scientific Name: Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus Other Names: Flying fox, Origin: Indonesia & Thailand Adult Size: 6 inches in captivity Social: Peaceful community fish Lifespan: 8-10 years Tank Level: Bottom dweller Minimum Tank Size: 30-40 Gallons Diet: Flakes, wafers, tablets, Planaria & tubifex worms Care: Easy pH: 6 - 7.5 Breeding: No known way to breed in captivity Hardness: Soft Temperature: 74-82 F (23-27 C)

The flying fox (Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus) is a popular freshwater community-aquarium fish that's part of the Cyprinidae family. It is known to eat green algae, because of this it's gained the repreatison of being known as kuonobarbi in the aquarium trade, and is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Siamese Algae Eater.

The flying fox fish has a typical long body with a flat abdominal area. Its dorsal area has a coloration ranging from olive to dark brown. The lower half of its body has a yellowish white hue. A brownish-black line is apparent from its mouth, eye and the caudal fins. On top of this brownish-black line is a gold-coloured stripe. The eyes of a flying fox may have a reddish iris. Its dorsal, anal and ventral finnage comprise of a black band and a white edge.

The flying fox is a bottom-dweller that thrives in fast-flowing foothill rivers and streams of Borneo, Java and Sumatra in Indonesia of Southeast Asia. They are also less commonly found in Thailand.

The flying fox is a bottom-dweller that thrives in fast-flowing foothill rivers and streams of Borneo, Java and Sumatra in Indonesia of Southeast Asia. They are also less commonly found in Thailand. A 30 to 40 gallon tank lined with fine gravel substrate is suitable for an average-sized flying fox fish. Being bottom-dwellers, the aquarium for flying foxes require broad-leaved plants, rocks, and driftwood to serve as hiding places. Because the flying fox is a known algae-eater, the tank is normally provided with adequate lighting. Flying foxes survive in aquarium water that has a 6 to 7.5 pH reading, a water hardness ranging from 2 to 12 dH, and temperatures maintained at (23 to 27°C) 73 to 81°F.

Being a community-tank fish, flying foxes are compatible with acaras, angelfish, barbs, danios, eartheaters, gouramis, knifefish, loaches, tetras and rasboras. Aquarium fish keepers may also keep flying fox fish as a lone tank fish or in schools. Small schools of flying fox fish may, however, exhibit territorial behaviour. Lone foxes often challenge other species for dominance, particularly paradise fish males, of which they will chase and be chased, as well and swim in a tight circle with, though usually neither is injured, and usually the paradise fish wins.

In the aquarium, flying foxes may live from 8 to 10 years. Although an algae eater, flying foxes are also known to consume food in the form of flakes, wafers and tablets. Being omnivorous, vegetables such as spinach, zucchini and lettuce, as well as live Planaria, tubifex worms, crustaceans and other aquatic insects are normally offered to flying foxes. Oatmeal is also served to flying foxes. It does not consume red algae. Gender among flying foxes is difficult to determine. Flying foxes are not known to reproduce in the aquarium. The flying fox is similar to the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siemensis), Otocinclus affinis, and the Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)

For information on tropical fish Click Flying Fox