Flying fox | Facts & Information

(Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus)

The Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus) is a popular aquarium fish that belongs to the family Cyrinidae. It is known for eating green algae, often confused with Siamese fish which also consume green algae.

The Flying Fox lives and can be found in waters near Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. More recently individuals have also been seen west of Kalimantan.

In its natural habitat it spends much of its time "grazing" green algae on rocks and sandy areas in local waters and rivers. In the rainy season it prefers forest areas and with more dense vegetation.

In the wild the number of individuals is no longer decreasing so much because they are no longer captured for sale and multiplied with hormones. That's not saving the species from decline, habitat destruction is affecting the species slowly but surely.

Feeding The Flying Fox

The Flying Fox feeds mainly on algae, small crustaceans, insect larvae, etc.to develop properly it is good that the food varies and contains small and regular pores.

Frozen food is recommended, as well as the famous Daphnia, Artemia, or various flakes and fresh plants.

Besides the purchased food you can offer them from time to time peeled peas, cucumber, zucchini, spinach, certain fruits, etc.Once they learn to come to a place for food, they will definitely wait to be fed in that one.

Some aquarists prefer food in a circle, others spread it throughout the aquarium. The advantage to that in the whole aquarium is that everyone will eat quietly, but the disadvantage is that you have to clean the edge of the windows much more often.

Features and description Flying Fox

Although it looks like a catfish because it has whiskers it is a fish much more active than him. He spends much of his time at the bottom of the aquarium. In the international literature it is called "bottom dweller", so the substrate is very important. You can see them resting on plants.

It's a normal thing for them. Although abundant light facilitates the growth of their plants it harms them. To avoid this you can vary the light intensity and add dark shelters. They are a little uncomfortable because we don't see the fish all the time but what to do to them, this is a normal aquarium.

Think of what it would be like to have cameras everywhere in the house, even in the bathroom. If you make a big-brother aquarium your fish will suffer from discomfort.

For beginners or passionate aquarists with less knowledge it is good to say that the aquarium must have a dense area with algae where the fish can hide and a free area where it can move.

To be able to copy the conditions of the natural environment is recommended a rectangular Aquarium in which water flows just like a river. The substrate and decoration can be of variable size rocks, gravel, boulders, etc.

It is recommended not to have stones with corners or edges that the fish can hit or sting. The substrate can be hardened with roots from aquatic plants. Lighting will facilitate the growth of algae. The oxygen level should be quite high and the water flow moderate.

Aquarium "partners" should be chosen carefully. Smaller fish will seek to hide because the Flying Fox is a territorial fish that expands its territory as it grows and if it thinks it is due more becomes aggressive.

It would be said that these individuals (we refer to the flying fox) make "churches" according to their level of intelligence, some consider themselves smarter than others.

It is assumed that these fish lead a solitary life in the wild and interact almost only with their peers. That is why as they get older experienced breeders recommend individual isolation.

If the aquarium is large enough you can add more algae and hiding places to have less tension in the aquarium, without affecting the movement space.

Despite its popularity it is a fairly rare species.

Breeding The Flying Fox

Sexual dimorphism is somewhat evident in the flying fox, less so in juveniles where it is almost impossible to tell.

They do not breed in captivity.

In good conditions they can live even 15 years.