Sharksucker (Remora)

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Circumglobal MARINE species present in almost all temperate and tropical oceans. Inhabits both coastal coral reefs and open oceanic waters (pelagic), almost always in association with marine megafauna.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Live Sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates). The most common remora. Features an incredibly hydrodynamic and elongated body. Its iconic characteristic is the first dorsal fin modified into a large oval sucker disk on the head, equipped with transverse lamellae.

Social Behavior: Commensal symbiont. Spends its life attaching itself via the cranial disk to sharks, rays, turtles, or boats. In the absence of a host in the tank, it swims tirelessly looking for a hold (often the glass or filter pipes).

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Longitudinal striped livery: dark gray/black on the back, a marked lateral black band bordered with pure white crossing the eye, and a white belly. Dark fins with white margins. Sexually monomorphic.

Aquarium Setup: Requires immense aquariums or public tanks (minimum 3000-5000 liters / 800-1300 gallons) as it reaches one meter (39 inches) in length. The aquarium must have huge open spaces for free swimming and total absence of sharp obstacles.

Diet and Feeding: Opportunistic carnivore. In nature, it feeds on the leftovers of the host shark's meals and skin parasites. In the aquarium, it is a voracious and undemanding eater: devours squid, shrimp, pieces of fish, and krill without any difficulty.

Water Quality: Tolerant of slight variations, but requires excellent filtration to manage the organic load. Standard marine water (Salinity 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4). Strong oxygenation is vital.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Not an aggressive fish, but will attach its sucker to any fish large enough (e.g. large Groupers or benthic sharks), causing them very strong chronic stress and skin abrasions. Totally unsuitable for standard home keeping.

Aquarium Reproduction: No information on captive reproduction. They are pelagic spawners in the open sea.

Risks and Diseases: Stress caused by the lack of a large host to attach to leads them to swim compulsively against the glass, causing rostral trauma. Capture at sea with fishing lines often leaves severe damage to the mouth.