The joy of going to an aquarium knows no bounds, for adults and children alike. The feeling of being amidst the numerous fishes and organisms. It leaves one in awe, marvelling at the beauty of the aquatic ecosystem. Experiencing a small part of the ocean, one may say. So much of the ocean’s expanse still remains a mystery to us, from the blobfish to sea horses, one unique from the other. The ocean, after all, is a huge swimming space housing all these amazing creatures. Not just the ocean but freshwater too is home to various fishes and organisms. One such special fish is the Apollo Shark (Luciosoma spilopleura). When one thinks of a shark, we associate the fish with a ravenous jaw, sharp teeth, beady eyes, and a slight grump. Ironically, the Apollo shark breaks that stereotype with its mere size of 9.8 inches.
It’s interesting to note that even though these fishes are called sharks, they are not real sharks. They earn the title for their shark-like appearance and being comparatively larger than most freshwater fishes. Let’s find out some other fascinating facts about these fishes.
What do Apollo sharks look like?
- Short whiskers and a pointy snout make the Apollo shark stand out from the other sharks in the family. They’re mostly olive green or silver in colour.
- There is a distinct dark line from their snout to tail.
Where does an Apollo shark live?
- Apollo sharks usually reside in rivers and other freshwater bodies. But they’re also housed in aquariums.
- They don’t like clutter along their swimming area, so decorations are kept to a minimum with driftwood here and there.
- Apollo sharks residing in aquariums are usually caught from the wild, there are no cases of this fish being bred in the aquarium environment.
How many Apollo sharks are there in the world?
- There have been no variations of Apollo sharks discovered yet.
- However, they have look-alike species, such as Luciosoma pellegrini and Luciosoma setigerum to name a few.
- Apollo sharks are Southeast Asian (Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, etc.) in origin.
How do Apollo sharks communicate?
- Known for being energetic swimmers and expert jumpers Apollo sharks are known to thrive with more tank mates.
What do Apollo sharks eat?
- Apollo sharks are not a picky bunch, they can be fed on all kinds of fishes, preferably smaller than them.
- They can also be fed on blood worms, mosquito larvae, frozen fishes, etc.
- Larger species can survive on krill, cockles, chopped prawns, etc.
Who do Apollo sharks live with?
- Apollo sharks are said to flourish in large community tanks with lots of tank mates
- Peaceful and active apollo sharks get along well with fishes like Bala sharks and Tinfoil barbs
- It is suggested to not house smaller fishes or fishes that might be similar in appearance to an Apollo shark as there could be a tussle that might lead to death at times.