How big does Flying Fox get?

Flying Fox reaches an adult standard length of 12–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Flying Fox need?

23–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 5 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

What is the smallest tank for Flying Fox?

At least 100 L, and no shorter than 80 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Flying Fox like to keep?

Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is omnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".

Can Flying Fox be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Flying Fox and Siamese Algae Eater is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 40Freshwater

Flying Fox飞狐（泰国飞狐）

Epalzeorhynchos kallopterus · Cyprinidae

A small cyprinid with a black stripe edged in gold: juvenile grazer, territorial adult.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 40 · Flying Fox Epalzeorhynchos kallopterus

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 飞狐（泰国飞狐）
Scientific name: Epalzeorhynchos kallopterus
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo)
Adult size: 12–15 cm
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Water level: Middle
Level: Beginner
Min. tank: 100 L
Min. length: 80 cm
Plant safe: Leaves plants alone

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.23–28 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–12 dGH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Territorial and chases similarly shaped algae eaters, so keep only one per tank.
2Juveniles graze algae but adults prefer prepared food and do less against black beard algae than the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus oblongus).
3At 15 cm it needs an 80 cm tank with wood and rock crevices to mark territory.
4It jumps, so keep the tank covered; neutral water at 23-28 °C suits it best.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Flying Fox against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Flying Fox get?: Flying Fox reaches an adult standard length of 12–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Flying Fox need?: 23–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 5 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
What is the smallest tank for Flying Fox?: At least 100 L, and no shorter than 80 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Flying Fox like to keep?: Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is omnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".
Can Flying Fox be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Flying Fox and Siamese Algae Eater is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.