Colombian shark catfish

The Colombian shark catfish is a member of the family Ariidae from the Pacific coast of Central and northern South America. It has a sleek silver body, a shark-like profile with tall dorsal and pectoral fins, and long barbels around the mouth. This is an active, schooling catfish that is peaceful when young but will eat any fish small enough to swallow as it grows large. It is best kept in a small group with similarly sized, robust companions. A key requirement is water salinity: juveniles tolerate fresh to brackish water, but adults need increasingly brackish or nearly marine conditions to thrive long-term. It needs a large tank with open swimming space and strong filtration. An omnivore, it readily takes sinking pellets, shrimp, and other meaty foods. It is not bred in home aquaria.