#Chinese neon golden stripe shark

[aquariuminfobureau]

Although the domesticated goldfish and koi are cyprinids of Asian origins, most aquarists attention is focussed on Asian cyprinids from more tropical climates. Which overlooks a number of delightful species suited to unheated aquariums, in a living room with a temperature of about 18 to 22 degrees centigrade.

An example of such a fish might be Sarcocheilichthys parvus, which is traded under the cumbersome label 'Chinese neon golden stripe shark'. Other species in the same subclade of its genus are imported, sometimes in the same shipments, and bearing the same identification - all of them tend to be labelled as S. parvus. So there is a degree of confusion in the aquarium trade but it seems quite irrelevant to their husbandry.

In fact a number of carp species are known as 'sharks', and they do not constitute a clade among that clade. All of them merely evoke in their human observer, thoughts of the marine predators of that name. The cyprinid 'sharks' or 'shark-minnows' possess a high dorsal fin, and often quite a sleek overall form. Cyprinids as a whole are not especially predatory, but 'sharks' tend to swim and feed near the bottom, and possess an underslung mouth

Sarcocheilichthys sp. are zoologically gudgeons, but they share an unusual trait with their distant bitterling kin, which are also carp or cyprinids. Specifically, the females of this genus possess a long ovipositor, and species of this genus are known to deposit their eggs inside live unionid bivalves, in the manner of the bitterlings. Surely this habit has convergently evolved in these two, separate carp lineages.

This is an active, bottom swimming stream fish, native to the subtropical region of southern China, where it is distributed to the south of the Yangtze. There they are found in clear, flowing water, and in these habitats they are sympatric with other fishes such as Microphysogobio, Rhodeus and Rhinogobius. They are normally a little below 6 centimeters, or 2 and a 1/2 inches long, yet can sometimes reach 8 centimeters or a little longer than 3 inches.

In the wild these carp live over mixed substrates of sand, pebbles, and boulders, and they display a preference for environments with clear water. In samples from localities where this fish lives in China, the water pH is 7.5 to 8, and its temperature varies by up to 8 degrees centigrade throughout the year, but averages at about 21 degrees annually. This is similar to a comfortably heated British room temperature.

Feeding the genus Sarcocheilichthys is unproblematic in the aquarium. Their wild diet seemingly includes both animal and vegetable components, and they take to a diet that includes the ubiquitous pellet and flake preparations, as well as defrosted foodstuffs. Because they possess a downturned mouth they are adapted to feed on the bottom, originally on algae and benthic animals.

Although their water must be clear and good quality, it does not need to flow fast. Their decor should both break any severe flow, and provide them with hiding places. They should be kept in a group, among which they might jostle for hierarchy, so about 8 fishes should be the minimum number cohabited, and with good thought put into their aquascape. These are peaceful community fish and certainly 'a bit different' for the unheated freshwater aquarium.