Red-Tailed Shark
Our one red-tailed shark resides in the Asian Community Tank in the Weird and Wild hallway. Despite its name, this fish isn’t actually a shark! It’s a freshwater fish, and its closest relative is the carp. In the wild, red-tailed sharks can be found swimming in the rocky-bottomed rivers and streams of Thailand and Cambodia. They love to hide, and the rocky bottoms provide them with caves, crevices, and nooks for shelter and protection..
Fun Facts
These fish are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants, just like humans! In the wild, their diet includes insects, crustaceans, algae, and various plant matter. These nutrient-rich food sources help them grow up to 6 inches long and allow them to live for 6–10 years.
Breeding red-tailed sharks in captivity is challenging because they prefer not to share a tank with others of their kind.
Conservation
Unfortunately, the IUCN Red List classifies red-tailed sharks as critically endangered. Their populations have declined due to pollution, habitat loss, and dam construction, which have caused their natural waterways to disappear. That’s why captive breeding efforts are so important—reintroducing these fish into the wild helps repopulate their once-thriving habitats.Explore More…
Come visit our Red-Tailed Shark this month and learn more about how conservation efforts are helping protect this incredible species!
