Luciosoma spilopleura

Alternative names

 * Apollo Sharkminnow,

Sexing

 * Mature females will be thicker and rounder in the body than males. Can be tricky to sex.

Tank compatibility

 * A large and active fish that may bully one another of their own kind if not kept in large enough surroundings. Should only be kept with robust similar sized fish as smaller fish may be viewed as food, such as Tinfoil Barbs and Bala Sharks.

Diet

 * Is naturally a predator, and will eat live fish smaller than itself. They do accept frozen and dry foods and can be kept on a diet excluding live fish. Most food that reaches the tank floor may be ignored by the Apollo Shark.

Feeding regime

 * Either feed once a day with a larger amount of food or twice daily with less food. If being fed with messy foods (frozen fish, beefheart etc.), feed only every 2 to 3 days.

Environment Specifics

 * The tank itself should be rather long and wide as to provide as much swimming room as possible for the active fish. The tank décor doesn't really matter as far as these fish are concerned; the only thing to take into consideration is that these fish need space, and decorations should not clutter the upper tank layers. Provide some form of water flow from either a powerhead or a power filter.

Behaviour

 * A fast and active fish that should only be kept in groups in larger tanks. Specimens being housed together in smaller tanks may pick on each other to the point where the smaller/weaker ones may starve.
 * Will eat smaller fish if given the chance, and may harass other fish of the upper tank layers.
 * Will normally cruise the tanks upper and middle levels, and may occasionally swim near the bottom, should there be food there or if they are stressed.

Identification

 * Has a long, cylindrical body with a pointed snout. The dorsal fin is set far back and the caudal fin is forked. Healthy specimens may display a greenish colour.
 * Has a very different shape to other Cyprinids, but is very similar to other Luciosoma spp. However, this is the most commonly occurring species in the hobby, so differentiation methods won't be necessary.