The Chao Phraya giant shark is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It is a popular fish for both the home aquarium and the public aquarium.
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a native of Thailand and is found in the Chao Phraya River. It is a member of the carp family and can grow to be over six feet long and weigh over two hundred pounds.
This fish is a top level predator and is not for the beginner aquarist. This fish requires a very large aquarium, a high level of filtration, and a lot of food.
This fish is not recommended for the home aquarium.
Table of contents
Species overview
The Chao Phraya giant freshwater stingray (Himantura chaophraya) is a species of freshwater stingray native to the Chao Phraya River basin in Thailand.
This species can grow to a length of 3.1 meters (10 feet) and a weight of 230 kilograms (510 pounds). The average size is about 1.8 meters (6 feet).
The Chao Phraya giant freshwater stingray is a threatened species due to overfishing and habitat loss. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.
The Chao Phraya giant freshwater stingray is a popular food fish in Thailand and is also sought after for its fins, which are used in the making of shark fin soup.
Appearance
The Chao Phraya giant shark is an absolutely massive fish that can grow up to 18 feet long and weigh over 2,000 pounds!
Their body is long, thick, and cylindrical with a pointed nose. The majority of their body is a light gray color, but they have a dark stripe that runs along their sides from behind their gills to the base of their tail.
This stripe is usually black or dark gray, but can also be brown, blue, or even green.
They have large fins that help them move through the water easily. The dorsal fin is tall and triangular with a curved leading edge.
The pectoral fins are also large and triangular. Their pelvic fins are much smaller and located on their underside near their tail.
The caudal fin is tall and curved with a rounded leading edge.
The Chao Phraya giant shark has a large mouth that is filled with sharp teeth. They have up to 300 teeth in their upper jaw and up to 400 in their lower jaw!
Lifespan
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a long-lived species with a lifespan in the wild of up to 25 years.
In captivity, their lifespan is shorter due to the stress of being in an unnatural environment and the likelihood of contracting diseases.
With good care, they can still reach 20 years of age in captivity.
Size
The Chao Phraya giant shark is one of the largest freshwater aquarium fish available, and can grow to be up to 6 feet long!
Tank
Tank Size
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a freshwater fish that can grow to be over 3 feet long. Because of this, you’re going to need a tank that can accommodate them. A good starting point is a 180-gallon tank.
If you’re looking to keep more than one of these fish, you’re going to need an even larger tank. We recommend a tank that is at least 300 gallons if you want to keep more than one fish.
Water Parameters
Chao Phraya giant sharks are a bit more sensitive to water parameters than some other freshwater fish. They come from slow-moving rivers and streams in Thailand.
The water is typically on the warm side with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
To keep your Chao Phraya giant shark healthy, you should maintain similar water conditions in the aquarium.
- Water temperature: 74 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH levels: 6.5 to 7.2
- Water hardness: 4 to 12 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 2-8 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is a freshwater fish that is found in the Chao Phraya river in Thailand.
This river is home to a wide variety of fish, but the Chao Phraya giant Shark is the largest fish in the river.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark can grow to be over six feet long and weigh over 200 pounds.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is a predator and will eat just about any fish it can find.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is a bottom feeder and will eat anything it finds on the river bottom.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is not a picky eater and will even eat other sharks.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is not a threat to humans and is actually quite shy.
The Chao Phraya giant Shark is an amazing fish and is a great addition to any freshwater aquarium.
Common Diseases
There are a few diseases that you need to keep an eye out for if you own a Chao Phraya giant shark.
The first one is white spot disease, which is caused by a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. This disease is pretty common in freshwater fish, and it manifests itself as white spots on the body of your fish.
If left untreated, this disease can be fatal. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to treat if you catch it early.
The second disease to watch out for is fungal infections. These are caused by a variety of fungi, and they can affect the skin, fins, and gills of your fish.
The most common symptom of a fungal infection is fuzzy white patches on the affected area. If you notice this, you need to act quickly and treat the infection before it gets out of hand.
Finally, you need to watch out for bacterial infections. These are caused by a wide variety of bacteria, and they can affect any part of your fish’s body.
The most common symptom of a bacterial infection is red or inflamed skin. If you notice this, you need to treat the infection immediately before it gets worse.
Behavior & Temperament
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a gentle giant. It’s a peaceful fish that is known for being one of the best community sharks. With its size, you’d think this fish would be a terror. But, it’s actually quite docile.
Of course, you need to remember that this is still a wild animal. It’s important to give it the respect it deserves. This fish can grow to be over 6 feet long, so it’s not something to be taken lightly.
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a scavenger, so it’s important to give it food that it can find on the bottom of the tank. This fish isn’t known for being a picky eater, so you don’t have to worry too much about what you feed it.
As long as you have a large enough tank and the right food, the Chao Phraya giant shark will be a great addition to your aquarium!
Tank Mates
Chao Phraya giant sharks are not recommended for home aquariums. These fish get big—really big. They can reach up to 6.5 feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds.
In the wild, they’re found in the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. The river is also home to a number of other large fish species, including giant freshwater stingrays and giant catfish.
Aquariums simply aren’t large enough to accommodate a fish of this size. Not to mention, these fish are known to be aggressive. They’re not suitable for community tanks.
Breeding
Chao Phraya giant sharks are one of the most difficult species to breed in captivity. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that they require massive tanks.
These sharks can grow to be over 16 feet long and weigh over a ton. They need a lot of space to move around and stay healthy.
Another obstacle to breeding is that these sharks are very aggressive. They are known to attack and eat other fish, even those of their own species. This makes it difficult to find compatible mates.
If you’re determined to breed Chao Phraya giant sharks, you’ll need to set up a huge tank. We’re talking at least 16 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet tall. This is just for one pair of sharks.
You’ll also need to be very careful when choosing mates. Make sure they are of similar size and temperament. The last thing you want is for one shark to eat the other.
Once you have a compatible pair, you’ll need to monitor them closely. These sharks are known to eat their own young, so you’ll need to remove the babies as soon as they’re born.
Feeding them can be a challenge as well. They need a lot of food, and live prey is usually the best option.
As you can see, breeding Chao Phraya giant sharks is no easy task. It requires a lot of time, money, and effort.
Conclusion
The Chao Phraya giant shark is a fish that is not for the faint of heart. They require a lot of care and attention and are not recommended for beginner fish keepers.
However, if you are up for the challenge, these fish can be very rewarding. They are beautiful and have a very unique look.
If you decide to get one of these fish, make sure you do your research and are prepared to take on the challenge.
