TankBud

Blue neon sheatfish

Belodontichthys dinema

Also known as Twisted-jaw sheatfish, Blue neon sheathfish

FreshwaterFish

Blue neon sheatfish (Belodontichthys dinema)
(c) opencage, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
31.5 in
80 cm
Minimum tank
238 gal
900 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Siluridae
Origin
Mekong and Sundaland rivers

Overview

The blue neon sheatfish is a giant, predatory silurid that hunts in open midwater. It is strictly a monster-tank fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The blue neon sheatfish has a lower jaw that juts upward, so its mouth opens toward the sky. It ambushes smaller fish from beneath, striking upward into prey it sees against the bright surface.

Caring for the blue neon sheatfish

Give the blue neon sheatfish a long, deep tank of at least 238 gal (900 L), and realistically far more. It is a fast, nervous swimmer that can injure itself, so cover the tank securely. Leave long open swimming space over a soft floor, and keep the light dim.

It needs little decor, since volume, oxygen and water quality matter most. Keep the water warm, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with gentle to moderate flow. Keep the tank scrupulously clean.

Feed meaty foods such as whole fish substitutes, prawn and large sinking items. Anything it can swallow is prey, so choose large, robust tank mates with no fin nippers among them. Expect losses even then.

Keep the blue neon sheatfish singly. It is aggressive and will not tolerate its own kind in a home-sized tank. No captive breeding has been recorded.

Good to know

Belodontichthys dinema is a silurid, or true sheatfish, and some fish grow larger than the usual adult size. Its body is long and blade-thin, and both jaws carry rows of sharp, arrow-shaped teeth. It is a large, migratory river predator, imported only as a wild-caught fish. It is also called the twisted-jaw sheatfish.

In the wild

The blue neon sheatfish lives in medium to large rivers across Southeast Asia, from the Mekong on the mainland through Sundaland. It hangs from mid-depth up toward the surface in the deeper reaches.

Common questions

What size tank does a blue neon sheatfish need?

A blue neon sheatfish needs at least 238 gal (900 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blue neon sheatfish need?

A blue neon sheatfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a blue neon sheatfish eat?

A blue neon sheatfish eats meaty foods, such as whole fish substitutes, prawn and large sinking items. It is a predator, and anything it can swallow is prey.

How big does a blue neon sheatfish get?

An adult blue neon sheatfish reaches about 31.5 in (80 cm).

Related species