Sharksucker

About

The sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) is one of the ocean's most recognizable specialists. A long, slender, grey-brown fish whose dorsal fin has evolved over millions of years into a ribbed suction disc on top of its head. That disc is the whole story. In the wild, sharksuckers latch onto sharks, rays, sea turtles, billfish, and even whales, riding along for free transport while feeding on scraps from the host's meals, loose parasites, and whatever else drifts by. They're found throughout tropical and warm-temperate seas worldwide, turning up in open water, around reefs, and occasionally in coastal shallows. Divers encounter them regularly and quickly learn that a curious sharksucker will happily attempt to attach itself to a wetsuit or bare leg. Harmless, but startling. In an aquarium context, sharksuckers present an enormous challenge. They grow large, need truly massive tanks, and require appropriately sized tank mates to serve as surrogate hosts, since a sharksucker denied something to attach to will often become stressed or erratic. This is firmly a species for public aquariums and a small number of highly experienced private keepers with the infrastructure to match. The casual hobbyist should admire them through glass, not a purchase order.