Albino Rainbow Shark Epalzeorhynchos Frenatum 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Albino Rainbow Shark is a pale cream form of the Rainbow Shark, a torpedo-shaped bottom-dwelling cyprinid with bright red fins and red eyes. It patrols the lower tank grazing rocks and wood, becoming bolder and more territorial as it matures. Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, it suits a roomy, robust community with some experience behind it.
- Adult Size: Around 13–15 cm (5–6 in)
- Lifespan: 8–10 years, potentially over 15
Origin
- Native to: Thailand, Laos and Cambodia; Mekong, Chao Phraya, Mae Klong basins
- Habitat: Sandy or rocky river beds; seasonally flooded plains
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous grazer
- Preferred Foods: Algae wafers, sinking pellets, bloodworm, daphnia, blanched courgette, spirulina flake
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; include vegetable matter most days
Tank Mates
- Best with: Robust mid-water cyprinids: larger barbs, danios, rainbowfish
- Avoid: Other sharks, flying foxes, loaches, plecos and similar bottom-dwellers
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive; peaceful when young, assertive as an adult
- Territoriality: Strongly territorial; keep one per tank
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Aggression towards look-alikes and bottom-dwellers; needs space and cover
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, neutral, moderately hard tolerated
- Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
- pH: 6.5–8.0
- Hardness: 2–15 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres with a 120 cm base for a single adult
Final Notes
This fish grows quickly and turns from a timid juvenile into a confident boss of the lower tank, so plan the community around it from the start. Provide caves, wood and rock so it can claim a territory, and a tight lid because it will jump. Mature females are noticeably thicker-bodied; males show a dark edge to the anal fin. Aquarium breeding is virtually unknown. Given room, it is a long-lived and characterful centrepiece.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.