Red Tail Black Shark + Friends?

[Daxster]

Recently, our Red tail black shark has started killing his tank mates. I was thinking of moving him from our 29g tank to our new 125g tank, but someone said he would just continue because they are semi-aggressive(something our lfs didn't tell us newbies a year ago when we got him).

So then I was thinking of starting a cichlid tank in the 29g but it looks like the shark wouldn't be compatible with the cichlids. The fish that have been suggested by two websites include fish he has already killed.

"The Red Tailed Shark should be kept in groups of a maximum of 1 and is compatible with the Bala Shark, Betta (Siamese Fighting), Bosemani Rainbow, Cherry Barb, Clown Loach, Croaking Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbow, GloFish, Kissing Gourami, Kribensis, Otto Catfish, Pearl Gourami, Penguin Tetra, Pleco (Common), Rosy Barb, Sparkling Gourami, Three Spot Gourami, Tiger Barb, Tinfoil Barb, Zebra Danio" Tim's Tropical Fish and Aquariums - species profiles, facts, pictures and compatibility.

"Angel fish, barbs, corys, danio, gourami, loaches, mollies, rasbora, tetras" Petco.com

Are there any fish he will get along with? Was my thought on the cichlids way off base? *twirlysmi

 

[misterking]

Those websites are way off themselves.. They've listed a bunch of slow, long-finned fish the redtail would just rip to shreds! Out of interest, what's it already killed?

If it's a rogue already, I doubt it'll mellow out at all to new fish. I had to rehome my red tail black shark years ago for these exact reasons. It wouldn't work with african cichlids because of different water needs.

 

[Purple]

Some fish as individuals are just bad tempered, there are no guarantees they will behave as the book says they should. Sometimes this behavious is triggered by having too small a tank, but the odds are your shark is just "wired that way".

Ermmmm - 29 gal Cichlid tank ? - be carefull what you put in there (for the same reasons)

 

[Fishman1995]

My aunt kept hers with a couple african cichlids. You could try that, or a large South American cichlid, or if you dont got the room for a big fish, get a Jewel cichlid to go with him. The fact of the matter is, you need something strong enough to hold the shark off but not kill it.

 

[Daxster]

He's eaten a guppy, four danio and three neon tetra.

We decided to do a semi-agressive tank(instead of cichlids) and a community tank. Unfortunately, I screwed up and reversed them. I put the semi-agressive in the 29g and the community in the 125g.

At the time it just seemed like there are so many more community fish that we like. Now I'm realizing that the semi-aggressive fish are bigger. :-(

 

[aakaakaak]

Standard fish rule: If it fits in its mouth it will be eaten. For a partially grown RTBS they all look like epic mealtime.

*Poor quality guppies and neons are frequently used as feeder fish.

 

[Denn]

I actually had the same bad experience keeping red-tailed black shark with small fish like neon tetra until I have to moved them to their own 30 gallon tank. Trust me, they are better off living on their own isolated place.

 

[nanu156]

I mean, if you have access to Africans that are locally bread and are not real picky (like kenyi, zebras, bumble bees) you could probably make something work with him.... The thing is you really have to pick things that swim fast and are hearty, as well as things that are the same size.

If you are going to get real fancy with your tank and keep harder more expensive Africans then I would say forget it. I realize that Africans prefer a higher PH but I keep mine around neutral and everyone is still kicking.

Although honestly he is going to keep growing and getting meaner so I would probably just suggest returning him.

 

[ValRasbora]

Also make sure to put lots of plants and decorations in so whatever you add can hide.