Chinese High-Fin Banded Shark Care Guide

Chinese High-Fin Banded Shark (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) is an advanced-level freshwater fish that needs at least 125 gallons and 60-75°F. A sail-finned juvenile that looks like a small, striped shark but is a cool-water sucker, not a tropical fish or a true shark. It grows from a few inches to two feet or more, loses much of its tall sail as it ages, and does best in cooler, well-oxygenated water, so plan a pond or a very large tank before buying.

Care facts at a glance

Quick tips

• Keep it cooler than a tropical tank; low-70s or below is better.
• Plan for a pond or a tank of several hundred gallons for an adult.
• Provide strong filtration and plenty of oxygen.

San Diego water

Tolerates San Diego's hard, alkaline tap water (pH roughly 7.6-8.6) with slow acclimation and a conditioner that handles chloramine. Learn the numbers in our San Diego tap water guide.

Before you buy

Make sure your tank is cycled (how to cycle a tank), check your numbers with the water testing guide, and use the compatibility guide to check tankmates. These are general ranges; individual fish and local water vary.