flying fox fish: Care, Food, Size & Algae Eating and more

The Incredible World of Flying Fox fish

Flying fox fish are also known as Epalzeirhynchus. Due to its different types it is sometimes confused. Its classification indicates that it comes from the order Cypriniformes, the family Cyprinidae and the subfamily Garrinae. Its biotope focuses on waters with high amounts of oxygen, streams of fast courses and areas where vegetation is abundant.

General characteristics of flying fox fish

They can be found most often in Asia, specifically in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Its morphology denotes a fusiform body that exhibits a ventrally more flattened appearance, even some of its types are usually more cylindrical. Its mouth can be seen in a more forward position even made to be accompanied by a pair of Babylons. Its dorsal fin is usually high, and that characteristic is what helps it to be very territorial. Their eyes are located on the sides.

As for its coloration, it can be said that they have a gray brown background, above it passes a horizontal band that crosses its entire body until it reaches the final part of the flow of its rear fin. It also has whitish, golden contours that change when you suffer from a disease.

Behaviors and types

They are somewhat violent fish with the rest of the species, especially when they are in small spaces. Females in mating season can even come to confront males, this fact is notorious since she are larger.

Their life expectancy under normal conditions ranges from 4 to 6 years. If they do not get sick they can last even longer, there is still no proven data of a specific average.

Feeding them is not a problem since they are omnivores, despite them most experts recommend that the diet be the basis of living beings such as larvae and algae. They feed twice a day at most.

When buying a flying fox fish in a store you should be careful not to be confused with another of its three variations since the only difference is the dark brown line that runs through its entire body. Point of utmost importance to know how to take care of them and add them to other species.

Aquariums for flying fox fish

In general flying fox fish are very active, this helps them to their optimal condition and are an attraction in any aquarium. So that they can be in the best conditions, components are required in the fish tank that we reveal below.

Aquarium suitable for flying fox

There are several types of aquariums, but the best will always be the one with more dimensions, in fact, flying fox fish are very resistant to all kinds of components, but one of the characteristics that makes them sick is the lack of space. The aquarium has to be, preferably, made of resistant glass and with a soft bottom full of components.

The ideal size for an aquarium for this type of fish does not really exist. Its dimensions are in relation to the number of fish you want to have and if they will coexist with other fish that are territorial. However, it is recommended that a minimum of 70 cms long be used.

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Once the dimensions and material have been chosen, great care must be taken with the type of water and its temperature. The temperature should be between 20 and 27 °C. The hardness of the water can be between the ranges of 5 and 12° GH.

When the fish has left the store, and you are about to enter it into its new home, make sure that you enter with a closed bag and leave it there for about 20 minutes. This process will help it accommodate the new temperature.

Decoration for the aquarium

These are fish that have a somewhat aggressive behavior, which is why the aquarium should be decorated with algae and corners where they can spend time. Natural stones come in handy since they like to mark territory and in general when they find them they are a distraction for them.

The aquarium must have two heating rods that serve to measure the temperature and that must maintain a relationship during all seasons of the year. Remember that for the winter months the temperature should increase. With these tips, the health and sociability of flying fox fish should not have any problems.

Diseases of flying fox fish

Flying fox fish are not prone to disease as often as other similar species. However, if you stay in inadequate conditions you may present some signs that demonstrate inconvenience and medium term cause a physiological alteration in your body.

What diseases the flying fox suffers from

It has been observed that when flying fox fish get stressed they get sick. Stress in them occurs due to overpopulation in the aquarium, not having a partner to procreate, inadequate feeding or lack of space.

Most of the conditions that occur in a flying fox fish are due to the latter, due to the lack of space. Because they are very active they require a space where they can navigate. Being restricted, stress begins to accumulate to the point of getting sick.

When they are already affected they begin to show a light black band color and therefore the entire black stripe becomes pale. To notice it, it must be taken into account that in general the normal color is a combination between the light brown tone on its dorsal and in the ventral area in white tone.

The color can also change when they are frightened, the reasons can be when they are changed from aquarium or when new fish are incorporated into their environment. Therefore it should not be more worrying to see them in this tone when the two previous cases occur.

Tips to take care of your health

The advantage of flying fox fish is that they are very resistant, most of the signals are for normal changes in their environment and that only require a gradual observation.

To prevent them from getting sick it is recommended that the temperature of the aquarium is maintained between 24 ° and 26 ° C, they can resist more degrees but in times of reproduction this factor harms them. The PH should also be the ideal (6.5) more of it can reduce your appetite and therefore your defenses go down.

The behavior is also another factor to take into account, generally the flying fox fish is very active and remains in the lower area of the fish tank. When you are seen shy or very hidden, it can be a sign of exhaustion and you will have to evaluate all the components of your environment to discover if you are suffering from any condition.

Types of flying fox fish

This is one of the cases that generates more confusion since when buying in the store a flying fox fish in general is usually confused with a false fox, Siamensis or Claws. All three belong to the same genre, but with different characteristics that at first glance may seem the same.

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Differences in the types of flying fox fish

It eats Siamese algae: this is also known as Crossocheilus siamensis, it is called so since it has the peculiarity of eating algae and little of other foods, it is even able to ingest filamentous and red bearded algae. This fish can live alone or with another type of species that is peaceful in behavior. When it grows, it widens to the height of the fin that it does at the same time.

Siamese flying fox: it can be noticed since it is not very fine to the consumption of algae, especially the bearded red and filamentous ones. Another of its characteristics is that among the other types this is the least sociable and likes to swim only at the bottom of the aquariums. It is worth mentioning that it is also the most aggressive, so it is considered extremely territorial.

False Flying Fox: this is also known as claw, eats algae but less red ones. His character changes over the years, the more he grows, the more aggressive he becomes. With its species it is even aggressive and only with females is it peaceful when the mating season arrives. If you are not careful at the moment to buy it and let yourself live with one of the other two types the end could be fatal, this because the three are aggressive and territorial, so they will confront each other until they die.

Main differences

Eats Siamese algae: it has a black color in the longitudinal band, this reaches the flow of the fin. As it enters this fin, its thickness decreases and a spearhead is figured.

Siamese flying fox: its longitudinal band is black and also reaches the end of the tail, but this does not decrease its thickness.

False Flying Fox: it is easy to discover because it is the only one that lacks a longitudinal band on its fin.

Feeding the flying fox fish

Flying fox fish are in the category of omnivores, what does this mean? Well, they can eat almost everything from plants, vegetables and processed meats. Despite this, it is recommended to carry out some processes of selection and application of diet to keep them healthy.

What does flying fox fish eat?

Being omnivores they can eat several foods but it is recommended that their diet is more oriented to vegetation. Most aquariums recommend that you give algae, insect larvae, small crustaceans, among others.

For the development of their colors and their condition to be optimal, it is recommended to give meals of live food that have been in freezing. The options that apply to this advice are dapahnia, Artemia and the worm. The diet is improved if small amounts of dry flakes, dry plant material and some granules are added.

There are more options such as peeled pea, spinach that has been bleached, cucumber and chopped fruit. It is important to define a menu that can be given to them every day, in this way infections are avoided since they are usually sensitive.

How to feed them

Established the menu of its feeding in the daily diet,it should be thrown into the fish tank, in general the fish will rise to an average height to eat it. Because when they eat they are usually more aggressive to take care of their food, it is recommended to water the food throughout the possible area.

Worms are ideal in times of mating since like all omnivorous fish, the flying fox fish likes to catch them on its own, although it never despises a processed food. The worm should be given once a day until the process has been completed, after which progressively decrease to avoid getting sick.

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Life expectancy is also related to the diet you are being given. It has been proven that when they consume more plants and vegetables they can live 6 years, with the rest of the diets they do not have accurate knowledge. It is worth mentioning that when the conditions of the aquarium are not suitable, they usually decrease their consumption of food and therefore tend to get sick more often.

Care of flying fox fish

The flying fox fish or Epalzeorhynchus, as it is scientifically known, is a species that on several occasions is confused with other fish of the same family, this point must be clarified since otherwise the care can be given in the wrong way

Basic care

Flying fox fish come from a moderately temperate habitat so the temperature they should be at is in a range of 24° to 26 °C maximum. Its species is a bit shy, so you should be very careful with the other fish you want to add to the aquarium.

How to care for the flying fox fish

Water: in this specific case you should try to keep them in soft water with a GH of 5°d and with a PH that does not exceed the range 5.6, you can even tolerate a few more values, but it is preferable not to do it if you want to have offspring.

Fish tank: it should be in one that has a soft bottom, even better if you have dense vegetation. The space can be large or small, but it is recommended that the capacity is about 80 liters, all with the presence of algae. It should be taken into account that they usually make jumps, so covering the fish tank is a good idea.

Food: its species is omnivorous, so it can consume almost everything. Even so, it is recommended that most of your diet is concentrated in algae, since these generate more energy and your average lifesaver increases.

Know their behavior: flying fox fish are very active and fast, they can even become aggressive with other fish if they approach their navigation area. To avoid these shocks, and, you can add several components to the fish tank that help protect the other species.

As for their reproduction, not much data is known, the truth is that females in their adulthood are larger and wider. After this there is no known major difference in terms of their sexual morphology. The exact conditions of its maintenance are not known for sure.