Chinese Freshwater Emperor Bat Fish
Good for Keeping an Aquarium Clean and Free of Algae
The scientific name for the Chinese Freshwater Emperor Bat Fish is Myxocyprinus Asiaticus and it belongs to the Catostomidae family. This fish is also commonly known as the Chinese High Fin Banded Shark but it is not related to the shark family. Other names for the Chinese Emperor Bat Fish include the Chinese High Fin Sucker Fish, Wimple Carp or Wimple Freshwater Bat Fish, Hilsa Herring, Rough fish, Chinese or Asian Zebra High Fin Shark or the Entsuyui.
The natural habitat of the Chinese Emperor Bat fish is in the upper and middle Yangtze River in China and in small freshwater streams in the surrounding area. In the wild, these fish are found in large schools and they migrate up the Yangtze River during spawning season. Just like the Chinese Paddlefish, the Chinese High Fin Banded Shark is endangered because the dams built in the Yangtze River have blocked their migration route.
Although there have been failed attempts to re-establish these fish in other locations in the wild, the Chinese Emperor Bat Fish has been successfully bred commercially in farms. Breeding of these fish is extremely difficult, mainly due to the need of large breeding areas for mature fish to spawn. It is next to impossible for these fish to breed in an aquarium.
Characteristics of the Chinese Freshwater Emperor Bat Fish
In the wild, Bat Fish can grow up to three feet in length and weigh 80 pounds. They grow slowly, about two inches per year, so a 10-inch fish would be about five years old. Chinese High Fin Banded sharks have a long life span and can live as long as 25 years.
The Chinese Bat Fish has a high and triangular dorsal fin that extends to the rear of the anal fin. The tip of the dorsal fin can reach over two feet in height and makes the fish appear to be out of proportion or top-heavy.
Young Chinese Emperor Bat Fish have brown bodies bearing three dark-colored slanting bands. The adult males are distinguished from adult females by their red coloration. Adult females are dark purple in color with a broad and vertical reddish area along the body. When these fish reach adult age, they lose the characteristic vertical stripes and dark colors and become a peachy flesh color with faint horizontal stripes.
Bat Fish have thick lips but don’t have barbells, which are feelers that look like whiskers on catfish. They don’t have teeth but do have a pharyngeal arch in the throat with a comb-like surface.
Keeping Chinese Freshwater Emperor Bat Fish in an Aquarium
For the Chinese Bat Fish, the water hardness should range from 18 to 20 DH and the PH should be around 7. The water temperature can be between 60 and 84 degrees F.
In the aquarium, Bat Fish eat algae from the rocks and driftwood and also sift through the substrate sucking the food that gets mixed in with other debris on the bottom of the tank. Their diet can be supplemented with flake foods, krill, blood worms and brine shrimp.
Chinese High Fin Sharks are very active during the day or when the aquarium is lit. The minute the light is turned off, they instantly become inactive.
The ideal aquarium environment should include rockery and driftwood in order to promote algae growth and to provide hiding places. Plants can be added because a light film of algae will form on the leaves and this gives the Chinese Bat Fish another place to graze for food.
Chinese Emperor Bat Fish are usually available in stores and are sold when they are young and small. Considering they grow two inches a year, a 33-gallon aquarium will be adequate for the first year or two. After that, a larger tank is required.
Just like the Plecostomus Catfish, the Chinese High Fin Banded Shark is a welcome addition to any aquarium because it helps keep the tank clean and free of algae.
Bat Fish and Catfish can Keep an Aquarium Clean
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