Red-tailed Shark

[Davy]

Does anyone know how mean these guys accually are? I just got a 29g that is cycling and am looking for a bottom feeder. I like the way that RTS look but I have heard that they harass other fish smaller than them. I have also heard that they will only harass fish that look like them (same colors). Which is it? I don't want a bottom feeder (they are bottom feeders right?) in my tank that will kill all it's tank mates so if they are aggresive I'll just go with cories. Anyone have any experience with them? Thanks.

 

[colesea]

what is your tank size?

Red-tailed sharks (and their cousins the rainbow sharks) are extreamly territorial. The smaller the tank, the crankier the shark because it has decided the whole tank is its territory and will harass any fish within reach. That means bloodshed for any tank size smaller than 30 gallons.

But a bounus is that these fish tend to like caves and dark hidy-nooks which they will not stray very far from. Set up one corner of the tank to one side with a cavern, and find your shark happily claying claim to the cave, while your fish can swim in peace elsewhere in the tank.

I have found that my own rainbow shark will share his hidy-nook with cories and the plecos, but is particularly mean to the red-finned tiger barbs and bloodfin tetras. He leaves my black skirt tetras alone.

~~Colesea

 

[Twinbot]

I have two. One (the female) became extremely belligerent over the years, killing several mollies. I had to move it to a large tank at my office where it controls the bottom ... completely.

The other (a male) does very well with all the new mollies, barbs, tetras and gouramies. I had them together until they reached just over two inches, which at that time the female almost killed the male. He went into a ten gallon tank and did very well for two years until the female had reached four inches in a thirty and became a real bitch! He took her place in the thirty, quite proudly moving into her old home.

I wouldn't suggest these fish. They're very unpredictable, and obviously more likely to be violent. Cories have always been my favourite bottom feeding fish.

 

[Davy]

My tank is a 29g. I was thinking that if I did get one, I could make a cave out of PVC pipe. Cover the pipe with gravel but leave the ends open. Then put plants and wood around it to shade it. Would that help? I plan to have 1 angelfish and a school of tetras. Thanks for the great info.

 

[Davy]

I'm also thinking about getting a blue gourami too. Anyone know if my idea will work?

 

[SomethingFishy]

I, unlike the previous posts, would definately suggest this fish for a 29 (I have one in my 29). You must understand though (as you indicated) that these fish CAN be territorial and each one is different based on a variety of factors.

If the shark was the first fish in the tank he/she will have established its territory . . . subsequent additions may be seen as intruders. A shark added to an established tank . . . he now has to play second string to fish who have already staked out territory.

Having a well planted tank with plenty of hiding structures will also help keep the fighting to a minimum.

I have found that the sharks will only be aggressive towards other sharks and those fish that are similar color and shape. Mine does not bother my Pearl Gouramis, Cories or PLatys but will occasionally harrass the Glass Bloodfins.

As far as the Red Tail Balck Shark being a bottom feeder . . . while they are primarily a bottom feeder as evidenced by the position of their mouth . . . they will come to the top to feed occasionally and will often feed at the mid level of the tank. But when not actively feeding this fish will generally spend its time cruising the bottom and playfully chasing others and darting around the tank.

Good luck with your Red tail.

*celebrate

 

[Cichlid-Man]

They chase all of my brothers fish around the tank......Zebras, 1 large Angel, platies.....everything.

You need a good bit of room to stop this or cut down on it.

 

[Davy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still unsure if I will get one or not. I guess I'll just thing about where I want to chance it or not.

 

[thoughtprocess]

I've had a RTS in two of my tanks so far with no problem. Every other fish in the tank moves out of his way as he swims by, even my angel with attitude. But I've no problems with them yet.

 

[Davy]

Do you have lots of hiding places or what? Does he stay near the bottom of the tank? I think I might get cories but I'm not sure. It's almost done cycling!

 

[TaffyFish]

I have a small RTBS in a 10 gallon with 3 peppered cories, 2 panda cories and a shoal of WCM minnows. There's a planted log in there and sand substrate, the RTBS has plenty of places to hide and is, so far, relatively peaceful. He will occasionally chase one of the peppered cories but never harasses the pandas or the minnows. The cories will drop their dorsal fin and swim away but they're not being stressed by it.

He loves to graze algae off the leaves and glass, even grazes the sinking pellets.

Once you get one of these washed out, grey looking fish home, they colour up beautifully. I think their characters are pretty individual actually though getting the right environment will help to keep agression down. I fully expect to have to get rid of mine once it outgrows the 10gal - I don't think he will fancy life with some Tanganyikan cichlids!!

 

[DOTO]

I have had a few RTS over the last 14-15 years and have found that they shouldn't be stereotyped. I think each has a distinct personality and you won't know what you are getting until they mature beyond 2.5"
At the moment I have a 4" red tail which lives in my 65 gallon with 7 leopard danio's, 5 neon tetra's, 3 turquoise rainbows, 3 Schwartzi cories, 5 tiger barbs, a 6" Royal Pleco, and a 9" 6 bar dichodus. This particular RTS harrasses the tiger barbs off and on every couple of days. He pays no interest to the other fish nor do they pay him any attention.

In the past I have had RTS (most 5-6") housed with many community fish, swords platies mollies bettas, angels, other tiger barbs, african cichlid community tanks, and had no problems.
I have found them to be hardy no matter what water conditions I have kept them in (as long as the water is CLEAN), and the striking contrast of the red and black on a nice specimen draws rave reviews.

If you are prepared to take a chance on the personality a RTS is a great fish.

 

[Sandie]

I agree with DOTO, you can't stereotype these fish, I have one that is about 5", he's a beautiful fish. I have neons, barbs, raspboras and dwarf gourami's in the tank with him, other than chasing the odd gourami for the hell of it, he's very well behaved. He's never nipped at a fish that I have seen, and generally spends most of his time in his cave. They are an extremely strong looking fish, my husband calls him Brutus. lol