Labeo Bicolor

This streamlined fish has an elongated body. Its lower lip has a sucker with horny plates, which allows it to scrape algae and organic growth from tank décor. The main feature is the black body contrasting with a bright red tail fin. In females, colour intensity is usually less pronounced. There are also man-made colour variants.

Labeo Bicolor is endemic to Thailand. Historical records exist from the Meklong, Chao Phraya, and Bangpakong rivers in the central and western parts of the country. Its natural habitat consists of vegetated flowing waters, usually less than a metre deep. During the rainy season, the fish migrate into flooded forests and river floodplains, where spawning apparently occurs. Human activity has disrupted their migration routes, which has negatively affected populations.

This fish is solitary by nature. As it matures, territorial behaviour develops, expressed as aggression toward other species. It is especially aggressive to its own kind and similar-looking fish—gyrinocheilus, garras, and algae eaters—pursuing them constantly, so only one specimen should be kept per tank. Loaches usually coexist peacefully with it.

Labeo Bicolor has no special demands on water chemistry, but cleanliness and quality must be maintained at a high level. It is recommended to change at least a quarter of the water weekly, combined with substrate siphoning to remove organic waste such as uneaten food particles and faeces. Essential equipment includes a powerful filter, heater, air pump, and lighting. The décor may include gravel and pebbles as substrate, a few large boulders, and shelters made of driftwood, roots, and branches; algae will grow on these under sufficient light and serve as an additional food source. Any rooted plants are suitable for planting.

Labeo Bicolor prefers a varied diet of live food supplemented with plant matter. Offer daphnia, bloodworm, and brine shrimp, combined with high-quality dry foods such as flakes or pellets. Plant foods—cucumber slices, peas, peeled courgette or spinach, and chopped fruit—make good supplements. Secure plant matter to the tank bottom with a string or elastic band, and replace it every 2–3 days to prevent decay.

In the hobby, breeding usually occurs commercially using hormonal injections. In home aquariums, breeding is practically impossible.

Under favourable keeping conditions, health problems rarely occur in Labeo Bicolor. Disease usually develops when conditions deteriorate, feeding is insufficient or unbalanced, or when contact occurs with infected fish. Additionally, certain man-made colour forms, such as albino Labeo Bicolor, may carry certain hereditary diseases.

When buying, choose active fish with clean fins and no visible damage. Avoid fish with a sunken belly or signs of unnatural emaciation, which may indicate chronic disease or poor conditions in the shop. Given the territorial nature of the species, it is better to buy juveniles, as adults are harder to acclimate to a new tank and may show pronounced aggression to tank mates from day one. Before purchase, observe the fish in the shop tank: a healthy specimen should be curious and move actively, exploring the substrate and décor. If the fish stays apart, hides constantly, or shows signs of being bullied by tank mates, do not buy it. Also pay attention to conditions in the trade tank—clean water and the absence of dead or diseased fish in neighbouring compartments are important indicators of overall system health.