Violet Blushing Shark (Labeo boga): A Gentle Beauty with Subtle Color Highlights

Caring for the Violet Blushing Shark in a home aquarium is easy. This guide contains specific instructions on their tank setup, feeding, and much more!

Labeo boga move in small groups as active freshwater species

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Introduction

Are you looking for a low-maintenance, moderate-sized, colorful freshwater fish that will fit into a large community aquarium? The Violet Blushing Shark (Labeo boga) is just right for you.

This Labeo boga species profile analyzes its torpedo shape, distinctive coloration, and peaceful nature despite its active swimming behavior, making it the ideal choice for your aquarium.

Let’s start this Violet Blushing Shark overview by diving into its natural habitat. This will help you build the best “out of the wild” aquarium and provide optimal maintenance.

Author’s Note: Check out our post on the 14 Small & Big Freshwater Pet Sharks for more Freshwater Home Aquarium compatibile shark lookalikes.

Natural Range and Behavior in the Wild

Labeo boga is a South Asian freshwater fish typically found in the fast-flowing rivers and streams of Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Because of its origins, the Violet Blushing Shark shows common river fish behavior patterns, such as active swimming habits, mid-to-bottom water column activity, and a generally peaceful temperament.

To stabilize this species in a home aquarium or pond, you must recreate the Labeo boga’s natural habitat using aquarium essentials and specific decor.

Designing the Right Tank Setup for Labeo boga

An adult Labeo boga with pinkish-red blush-highlighted scales swims over a rocky substrate

This section of the guide helps you create an optimal setup for Labeo boga, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced aquarist.

It includes minimum tank size, shape, water flow, layout, and interior design recommendations.

Tank Size

Since the Violet Blushing Shark is a medium-sized species, a tank holding 55 gallons of water or larger is suitable for it.

A 65-gallon long, horizontal tank with colorful interior decor

An active fish aquarium layout needs enough open swimming areas with interactive decor to keep it engaged. Get a long and horizontal tank to support the Violet Blushing Shark’s constant movement.

We’ll get into more details on that soon, but first, let’s set the water parameters.

Water Conditions

First, set the following water parameters

Temperature	72–79°F
pH Level	6.0 – 7.5
Hardness	20 dGH

After setting the water conditions, adjust the flow to a slight current like a river and keep it well-filtered using a Hang-on-Back or single-canister internal filtration system.

Now, let’s focus on the other Violet Blushing Shark tank requirements for an ideal layout.

Aquascape Tips

The goal here is to create open swimming zones and secure hiding places for comfort and safety.

Use smooth rocks and fine sand for the substrate and arrange live plants along the edges for minimal obstructions. Add caves and driftwood as hiding spots for your Violet Blushing Shark.

Before continuing to provide more tips for this species, here’s a brief description to help you choose the right fish in the aquarist trading market.

Identifying Features of the Violet Blushing Shark

Violet Blushing Shark has a reddish-pink coloring on its gill plate hence its common name

Recognizing the Labeo boga’s appearance and personality helps you distinguish it from other species. Like other Labeo species, it has a torpedo-shaped body that stretches up to 10-12 inches in adulthood, but its distinctive coloration sets it apart.

Color Pattern

Labeo boga is a freshwater fish with blush markings on its gill plates that appear reddish or pink depending on the fish. Its streamlined body is a silvery-violet shade that shimmers under LED light, while its sleek fins are an almost translucent silver.

Unique Traits

Another means of identifying Violet Blushing Shark fish, especially around similar-looking species, is its unique traits.

This species is a constant swimmer and peaceful shoaler in youth. So, you’d typically see it moving in a group of 5 to 6. If it’s isolated, that’s most likely an illness sign. You’ll learn more about symptoms of health issues soon, but first, let’s discuss feeding your Violet Blushing Shark.

Feeding Requirements: Balanced and Easy to Satisfy

Algae Wafers are staple food for Violet Blushing Shark fish species

Violet Blushing Sharks are omnivore freshwater fish that thrive on pellets, algae wafers, fresh vegetables, and occasional protein. They need a varied diet to obtain multiple essential nutrients that aid their growth, development, and well-being.

Diet Suggestions

You can diversify your Violet Blushing Shark’s nutrition with Veggie flakes, shrimp pellets as staples, cucumber slices, and brine shrimp as supplementary foods.

Give your pets sinking or mid-floating food to suit their preferred swimming level.

Author’s Note: For more on feeding your aquatic pets check out The Ultimate Guide to Fish Food: Pros and Cons & Best Choices!

Feeding Schedule

Besides eating at mid-level or the bottom of the water, you must consider other Labeo boga feeding habits when creating a schedule. They’re picky eaters, especially when young. So, feed them twice daily in controlled portions to ensure they get the necessary nutrients.

Also, don’t forget to feed them supplementary foods to introduce variation to their diets and encourage them to eat.

Choosing Suitable Tank Companions

A pair of Violet Blushing Sharks shoaling together

Although they’re friendly pets, you must choose only compatible fish for Violet Blushing Shark to maintain harmony within your aquarium community.

Let’s explore some peaceful community fish options for your Violet Blushing Shark.

Compatible Species

Bala Shark is a compatible tank mate for Violet Blushing Shark species

Search for tank mates that are peaceful, moderately sized, and can tolerate active swimmers like your Violet Blushing Shark. Some examples of such tank mates for Labeo boga are Rainbowfish, Bala sharks, and large barbs.

Also, consider keeping your Violet Blushing Shark alone or in groups to reduce territorial behavior. You can create a lonesome vibe by giving them a specific cave to retreat to when they don’t feel like interacting with other species.

Tankmate Species to Avoid

Jack Dempsey species is dangerous to Violet Blushing Shark because of the difference in size and temperament

Avoid fin-nippers or overly aggressive species that will trouble your Violet Blushing Shark. Examples of these kinds of fish include other Labeo genus fish, slow or long-finned species like reedfish and lobe-finned fish, and aggressive cichlids like Oscars, Jack Dempseys, and Convict Cichlids.

Breeding and Reproductive Info in Captivity

If you love this species and want to reproduce it, I must warn you that you’ll face many home aquarium breeding challenges.

Breeding Behavior

There’s limited Labeo boga breeding information on reproduction in home settings because it’s largely unreported.

Captive Reproduction

Most captive reproduction of rare freshwater fish like the Violet Blushing Shark happens in commercial farms after they are sourced from the wild. To achieve success, there’s also a heavy reliance on hormone induction and constant monitoring.

Common Health Concerns and Maintenance Tips

Proper tank and fish maintenance is the best disease prevention for aquarium fish. Failure to adequately care for pets can lead to potential issues like stress from poor water quality, minor injuries from collisions, and occasional infections.

Preventative Measures

Follow the Violet Blushing Shark care tips in this guide strictly to reduce the risk of illness.

Also, make weekly water changes, maintain stable parameters, adopt routine cleaning, and avoid overcrowding your tank with too many decorative items and tank mates.

Scroll up for more details on an ideal tank setup, feeding, and mate compatibility.

Symptoms to Watch

Consistent Labeo boga health maintenance helps you quickly identify poor health. Observe your pet for erratic swimming, gasping, color loss, fin clamping, and other abnormal behaviors.

Immediately separate the affected fish and treat it by improving its living conditions and diet. If symptoms persist, visit a vet for further treatment.

Lifespan and Long-Term Commitment

Proper care practices lead to healthy and long-lasting Labeo boga fish

A Labeo boga’s lifespan can extend between 8–10 years or more with proper care, such as providing a spacious tank, adopting a consistent maintenance routine, and allowing room for long-term tank mate compatibility.

Growth Expectation

Because they can grow up to 12 inches long, Violet Blushing Sharks are aquarium fish for large setups. To comfortably house them, get a minimum tank size of 55 gallons.

Care Consideration

Note that ideal long-term care for active fish includes encouraging their active lifestyle. Provide spacious conditions with enough interactive items in the tank to keep them comfortable and occupied.

Conclusion: A Refined Addition to Spacious Tanks

You’ve reached the end of this review on maintaining Violet Blushing Shark, an aquarium fish with subtle color. This species is a worthy addition to your large aquarium because of its graceful motion, beautiful blush coloration, and manageable temperament.

Although these Labeo boga aquarium tips are easy to follow, I recommend owning this fish only to intermediate and advanced aquarists with adequate space.

We’d love to hear how this Violet Blushing Shark care guide has improved your experience with this beautiful fish. Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.