07/18/2025
It’s Friday, so it’s time for another Fish Facts! Today, we’re looking at the Roseline Shark:
1. Averaging about 5.5 inches as an adult size, the Roseline Shark (Sahyadria denisonii) is a larger, community-based fish fit for a tank of 50 gallons or more. They’re constantly active, so a larger tank is necessary to accommodate for their swimming as well as their need for a school of 6 or more. With fewer Roseline Sharks, more aggressive behaviors may show up due to worry about predators.
2. Roseline Sharks are found naturally in southern India’s flowing rivers and lakes. They love having driftwood and rock to both swim around and form a hiding spot should they feel threatened! Live plants tend to work well with them, though sometimes thinner-leaf plants like Rotala can be uprooted by Roseline’s pecking at stems for algae. Anubias, vallisneria, and sword plants are a good fit for them!
3. As omnivores, the Roseline Shark eats most foods presented to them. Meat-based pellets and veggie-based flakes are great options, and a supplemented live or frozen food will be readily accepted! Options include bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Even blanched veggies will be snacked on by these guys!
4. Roseline Shark is just one of many common names used for this species. Other common names include Denison Barb, Redline Torpedo Barb, and Denison’s Flying Fox. Despite the word ‘shark’ appearing, this species is indeed in the Barb family, just taking a longer form with the classic barbels on the sides of their mouth!
5. Unfortunately, this species was put on the Endangered List after its popularity explosion in the aquarium trade. Collection periods and commercial breeding have been set in place to help counteract the population loss. Breeding in captivity has been successful at a small level, so maybe you could be the next person to help bring the species’ population back up?
