13 Awesome Freshwater Aquarium Sharks to Enhance Your Underwater World

Can you have a shark as a pet? While the ocean-swimming varieties are too large for hobby tanks, there are many types of pet sharks suitable for freshwater aquariums and ponds. We’ve rounded up the most popular species and created this detailed care guide to help you design the best tank for your freshwater aquarium sharks.

Freshwater Sharks You Can Own: 13 Small Sharks for Aquariums

Now that you know how to design the ideal shark tank and the details on their care and feeding, let’s take a look at the best small shark species for freshwater aquariums and ponds! This list of freshwater sharks includes some popular favorites of mine, as well as a few rare and extremely unique fish for advanced aquarists.

1. Rainbow Shark

Check on Amazon

One of the most popular freshwater sharks is the stunning and entertaining bottom dweller known as the Rainbow Shark. With their long bodies and dark grey to black scales, their bright red fins really stand out among the plants and decorations in your tank. You’ll see why they are also known as the Ruby Shark.

Rainbow sharks are semi-aggressive and territorial, and need at least a 50-gallon set-up free from other bottom-dwelling species. They can be shy as juveniles but become more aggressive as they mature. They prefer a densely planted tank with some open areas for swimming, with plenty of rocks or logs to hide among. They are active during the day and always come out for feeding time.

2. Albino Rainbow Shark

Available on Petco

The Albino Rainbow Shark is a rare color morph that’s a pleasure to keep in a large planted tank. They are identical to the regular Rainbow in size and shape, but their bodies are white with pinkish highlights around their gills and abdomens. Their fins are a pinkish-orange color instead of being a vivid red. Their behavior and care requirements are the same as the regular Rainbow Shark, though.

Albinos look amazing as they scavenge through the substrate looking for food and chase other fish from their territories. They usually prefer a soft sandy bottom to prevent injury to their delicate scales, and enjoy swimming in fast currents along the bottom of your tank. If you’d like to keep more than one fish, you’ll need at least a 125-gallon shark tank so they each have room to establish their territory.

3. Bala Shark

Check on Petco

One of my overall favorite aquarium species is the beautiful Bala Shark. Don’t let their impressive black-and-yellow dorsal fin fool you into thinking they are mean! These sharks are peaceful community members as long as they are kept with fish large enough that they can’t be eaten.

Bala Sharks make a great addition to planted community tanks, and can sometimes be kept with other species of sharks as well. They enjoy schooling as a group in the middle of your tank and usually ignore bottom dwellers. They can grow up to a foot in length, however, so each shark needs at least 45 gallons of room. Leave plenty of open areas with a swift current for swimming, and your Bala’s will put on quite a show, especially during mealtimes!

4. Roseline Torpedo Shark

I’ve had Roseline Sharks in my community tanks for years and didn’t even know it. It turns out these sharks are more commonly known as the Denison’s Barb, which is the name I purchased them under. These flashy, active sharks love to school as a group in the middle of your tank, and their black and red stripes and yellow and black caudal and dorsal fins add a lot of color to your tank.

These active swimmers need clean and highly oxygenated water with plenty of open areas to school. They are best kept in groups of 6 or more, and often act out when kept in smaller numbers. They are messy eaters and often uproot plants, so heartier varieties like Anubis and Java Fern are ideal if you opt for a planted shark community.

5. Red-Tailed Black Shark

A distant relative of Rainbow’s is these stunning Red-Tailed Black Sharks. Their overall shape is similar to their cousins, but their scales and fins are a deep black color, which highlights their vivid red caudal fin (tail). These semi-aggressive bottom dwellers defend their territories and usually ignore the rest of the tank.

Red-Tailed Sharks are a little trickier to keep than Rainbows since they are slightly more aggressive towards other fish that enter their territories. But unlike Rainbows, they rarely target fish that stay in the middle of your tank. I’ve kept Red-Tails with Bala Sharks, for instance, but wasn’t able to do the same with Rainbows. You’ll want to be sure they are your only bottom-feeding fish to avoid problems with aggression.

6. Harlequin Shark

Unlike the others I’ve profiled so far, the Harlequin Shark isn’t a peaceful or semi-aggressive species. They are highly aggressive and readily attack other species, even other Harlequin’s. These rare camouflaged bottom dwellers prefer densely planted tanks with few tank mates and a swift current. They are ideal for large single-species set-ups 55 gallons and up.

Harlequin Sharks should only be added to mature planted aquariums because they enjoy feeding on biofilm, which is a type of algae and bacterial mix that only accumulates in older tanks. These African carp live along river bottoms in the wild and thrive in tanks with a silty substrate and plenty of rocks, sticks, and branches to hide among. They resemble some of the showier plecostomus, with their cream-colored base overlaid by patches of dark grey or brown.

7. Siamese Algae Eater (SAE)

If you’d like an easy shark that makes a great addition to any peaceful aquarium community, then consider the Siamese Algae Eater (SAE). Not only do they resemble small sharks, with their long bodies and large upright dorsal fins, they are also one of the best algae eaters around. They are one of the few fish that will eat the dreaded black hair algae!

It’s not ideal to keep SAEs with long-finned or slow-swimming fish, such as Angelfish or Bettas, since they enjoy nipping at their fins. SAEs are a great option for active community tanks with a mix of planted and open areas, however, and are one of the few freshwater sharks that can live in a 20-gallon nano tank!

8. Black Sharkminnow

Another option for experienced aquarists with very large tanks is the amazing 2 to 3-foot-long Black Sharkminnow. These freshwater black sharks are highly aggressive and don’t do well in mixed or community tanks. They’ll quickly outgrow nearly every other fish in the community and would just end up eating them.

What type of tank do you need to raise these big black sharks? Like the Harlequin, they need a mature planted environment with swift currents and plenty of open areas to swim. Juveniles can be started in a roomy 125-gallon set-up but need at least a 200-gallon tank or heated pond when mature. A large tank with one of these monsters could be an impressive conversation piece in your home.

9. Iridescent Shark Catfish

If you’d like a big domesticated shark for a tank that’s at least 300 gallons, then check out the lovely and peaceful Iridescent Shark Catfish. Also known as the Siamese Shark, these silver-colored fish have prominent barbels or whiskers around their mouths and can grow up to 4 feet in length!

The Iridescent is a difficult and challenging shark to keep in an aquarium long-term due to its size and activity and might do better in a heated outdoor pond. They can be reactive to the noise around their tanks and often panic and hurt themselves bashing into the glass. They are best kept with other similar-sized Iridescents or large community fish that prefer a sandy substrate and fast-flowing current.

10. Silver Apollo Shark

The Silver Apollo Shark is a rare fish that is often confused with its larger relative, the Long-Finned Apollo Shark (Luciosoma spilopleura). These peaceful fish have a pointed snout, unlike most freshwater sharks, and very short barbels or whiskers around their mouth. They prefer to swim in the middle and feed at the top of your tank.

You’ll need a large tank with a rapid surface current to raise these sharks, and they do best in groups of 3 to 12. You can keep Silver Apollo’s in a school with Bala Sharks if you’d like, which makes for a stunning display. Just be sure your tank has a tight lid because these sharks can easily jump out if there are any gaps.

11. Violet Blushing Shark

If you’d like a shark that looks different from the rest, these beautiful Violet Blushing Sharks could be the bottom feeder you’ve been looking for. Their transparent albino scales allow you to see their gills through the clear gill cover, which is why they are also called the Violet or Red Gilled Shark.

The Blushing Shark is a peaceful fish that doesn’t usually cause problems in your tank. They can get very large, almost a foot in length, so they are ideal for aquariums 125 gallons and up. You can keep a single shark, or raise a group of at least 5 in a larger tank. They don’t do well in smaller groups, but make a great solo or group addition to Rainbowfish and Loach tanks!

---

12. Columbian Shark

One of the coolest sharks for freshwater aquariums isn’t a freshwater fish at all. The Columbian Shark is a type of ocean catfish. They live in freshwater streams when young and migrate to the ocean when they mature. They need increasingly brackish water conditions as they grow, so you’ll have to add aquarium salt and manage your tank’s salinity levels.

They are best kept in groups with other Columbian sharks rather than as members of a brackish community since they prefer a higher salinity level once they reach maturity. These shifting water parameters make them one of the hardest aquarium fish to keep.

13. Chinese High-Finned Banded Shark

Our final shark is the rare and stunning Chinese High-Finned Banded Shark, also known as the Chinese Sailfin Sucker or Banded Loach. These peaceful and active fish can reach over 4 feet in the wild, but most aquarium fish stop growing at around 30 inches in length.

Unlike the other sharks on my list, the Chinese Banded is a coldwater species and is well suited to life in a pond. In fact, it’s better to transfer them to a pond as they mature, since they usually outgrow aquariums anyway. You can add these friendly fish to a koi or goldfish pond and they’ll help keep the algae under control too!

Guide to Freshwater Sharks for Fish Tanks

If you’re a fan of Shark Week, then you should consider getting pet sharks for your home aquarium. These predatory fish are fascinating to watch and make for an active and lively aquatic display. How are pet mini sharks different from the large saltwater varieties, and what kind of tank and care do they require?

What is a Freshwater Aquarium Shark?

Domesticated sharks are not true sharks, but rather fish that look like sharks. There’s a wide variety of sharky-appearing fish that make great aquarium pets, and some are even ideal for community tanks! These small freshwater shark species share some similarities with each other:

• Mini sharks have long, torpedo-shaped bodies and prominent, upright dorsal fins. It’s common to see deeply forked caudal fins (tails) on freshwater sharks as well.
• They are usually members of the catfish or carp families and act as omnivorous scavengers, eating plant materials like algae and other animals.
• Sharks are typically active and entertaining pets that enjoy swimming in strong currents, and many species will school together if kept in a group.

What Size Are Freshwater Sharks?

Pet sharks for home aquariums are usually sold as juveniles when they are a few inches in length, and may take several years to reach their full size. It’s easy to underestimate how much they might grow, so always take into account their maximum adult size range when designing your shark tank.

The smallest aquarium sharks reach about a half-foot in length as adults, while the larger varieties can hit 3 to 4 feet depending on their habitat and diet. Aquarium sharks rarely reach their maximum size if kept in cramped conditions and fed a poor-quality diet.

How to Set Up a Shark Aquarium

There’s a lot of questions that come up when you’re looking to set up a shark tank. How big of a tank do you need for a shark, and what kind of filtration system do they prefer? Here are the key requirements for designing a stellar freshwater shark aquarium!

Tank Size and Environment

Most freshwater sharks are native to fast-flowing streams and rivers and need plenty of space for swimming. They usually do best in long-style tanks rather than cubes or portrait shapes. Bottom-dwelling sharks also like to have rocks, caves and plants to explore, while mid-level and surface sharks prefer open tanks with fewer decorations.

In terms of capacity, the ideal freshwater shark tank is at least 100 gallons:

• There are few shark species that can thrive in 20 to 55-gallon tanks as long as there aren’t too many fish; the ideal numbers vary depending on the species.
• While you can temporarily raise juveniles in smaller set-ups, there aren’t any varieties of sharks small enough for 10-gallon tanks as adults.
• A few types of freshwater sharks are more suited to pond life than an aquarium at maturity, unless you have a tank that’s 300 to 500 gallons.

Filtration and Water Requirements

One thing all freshwater shark species have in common is a sensitivity to their water conditions. It’s important to do regular weekly water changes and vacuum the gravel well to remove decaying materials. If you want to have healthy predatory fish:

• Sharks need very fresh, filtered water free from any detectable ammonia or nitrates.
• Weekly water changes and regular filter maintenance and media replacement are needed to keep the tank clear of decaying materials that can cause nitrogen spikes.
• They also need stable water parameters, so you’ll have to maintain a steady water temperature and test the pH regularly to avoid problems.

You should definitely invest in a top-notch aquarium filter that can handle a high flow rate. Sharks enjoy swimming in strong currents and prefer highly oxygenated water. For most shark tanks, a canister filtration system is an ideal choice, since it’s easier to direct the outflow to generate strong currents than with a HOB-style filter.

In terms of temperature, the majority of freshwater sharks are tropical fish that need their water maintained in the 70 to 80°F range. You’ll need a heater for most shark tanks, although there are a few coldwater sharks that don’t need supplemental heat and do well in pond environments.

Substrate

It’s usually best to choose a substrate that matches the natural environment of your freshwater shark species. Many of these fish are bottom dwellers in the catfish family, and have delicate barbels or whiskers that could be injured on sharp rocks or gravel. Soft sand is ideal for most shark tanks, but some species do well with gravel too.

How and What to Feed Your Freshwater Shark

Unlike their big carnivorous cousins in the ocean, freshwater sharks are omnivorous scavengers who’ll eat anything they can fit into their mouths. They are usually not picky about their diets, either. Your sharks will eat smaller fish and invertebrates like shrimp just as readily as they’ll eat commercial diets and algae.

How Often Should You Feed Your Shark?

With their voracious appetites, it’s best to feed your sharks 2 to 3 times a day as juveniles and at least once a day as adults. The exact amounts will vary, of course, but you should limit it to what they can consume in about 2 to 3 minutes and promptly remove any leftovers.

What’s the Best Diet For Freshwater Sharks?

The best commercial diets for sharks are usually the high-protein omnivorous diets made for catfish, goldfish and koi.

• For bottom-feeding shark species, sinking pellets or wafers are ideal since they naturally fall to the bottom of the tank where your shark hangs out.
• Formid-level and surface-feeding sharks, floating flake or pellet diets are perfect since they remain in the water column for a while.

The best treats depend on your species of shark, but should include a mix of high-protein live/frozen foods and vegetable products. Some options include:

• Brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, krill, and other crustaceans.
• Bloodworms, tubifex worms, and earthworms.
• Insects, larvae and eggs, such as mosquito larvae andDaphniaeggs or fry.
• Algae wafers, spirulina granules and sinking veggie pellets.
• Fresh blanched green veggies such as spinach, cucumber, zucchini and peas.

Conclusion

As you can see, when it comes to sharks you can own, you’ve got a lot of options no matter your tank size or aquatic experience. Freshwater sharks make great pets and add a lot of color and activity to your fish tank. Tell us about your Shark Tank! Drop a note in the comments or join the fun on our social media sites.

Check out our infographic and don’t forget to share!