Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Their temperament shifts from relatively peaceful juveniles to distinctly territorial and aggressive adults. They fiercely defend their chosen resting spots from any intruders, especially other bottom-feeders. A spacious tank with numerous visual barriers is crucial for maintaining overall peace.

Diet

Omnivore

They are enthusiastic omnivores that spend their days grazing on various types of algae and periphyton. Their diet should be supplemented with sinking algae wafers, spirulina flakes, and fresh vegetables. They also eagerly consume live or frozen foods like daphnia and bloodworms.

Sex ratio

Solitary

It is generally advised to keep only a single specimen per tank to avoid severe intraspecific aggression. If keeping a group, a very large tank is required with a ratio of one male to several females. However, solitary keeping remains the safest and most common practice.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

It is best to feed them small amounts once or twice daily. Make sure to only provide what they can completely finish in about three minutes. Supplementing their diet is crucial if the tank lacks sufficient natural algae growth.

Bioload

The Flying fox produces a moderate bioload that is easily managed in a well-maintained setup. Reliable mechanical and biological filtration are necessary to keep the water pristine. Weekly water changes of around twenty to thirty percent are highly recommended.

Flow

Stagnant

They originate from fast-flowing streams and naturally prefer highly oxygenated water with strong currents. Utilizing a powerhead or a strong canister filter return will simulate their natural environment perfectly. This strong flow also helps keep the substrate clean and algae-free.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Captive breeding of the Flying fox in standard home aquariums is virtually undocumented. Commercial fish farms breed them on a large scale using specialized hormonal injections. They are egg-layers, but their strong territorial nature makes natural aquarium spawning nearly impossible.

Compatibility & tankmates

They are generally peaceful when young but can become increasingly territorial and aggressive as they age. They often harass similar-looking species like Siamese algae eaters or other bottom-dwellers. They do best with robust, fast-moving mid-to-top dwelling tank mates.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They are primarily bottom to lower-middle level dwellers that constantly rest on broad leaves or driftwood. You will often see them perching on flat surfaces using their specialized pectoral fins. Providing plenty of broad-leaved plants and smooth rocks is highly beneficial.