Aggressive Red Tailed Black Shark

[KieranP]

Hey Everyone
I need a little bit of advice on what to do with my VERY agressive red tailed black shark

I have him in a 60ltr 2foot tank (i know its a tad small) when i got him i was told he would only chase fish but do no harm!

Hes now about 2-3 inches and has started attacking my balloon mollys that are in the tank with him
I found one laying on the bottom with red patches and a scale missing aswell as top fin being split (now recovering).
I have since noticed my guppy with fin nips.
do you think it would be wise for me to return him to my lfs?

Thanks

 

[stang1]

I would definitely rehome him before he does any more harm.
I'm afraid he won't calm doen any as he matures and 60ltr isn't big enough for him to create his own territory.

 

[KieranP]

Yer thats what iv been thinking.
Hes a beautiful fish but im sure a couple of Dwarf Cichlids would be much more suited (apistos)

Ill See if anyone on the Buy, Sell Swap is interested

 

[star4]

My red tail went the same way killed lots of my fish, he is now living with my missippi map turtle very happy!!! I wish I was closer I would take it off you to go in my 4ft x 2 x 2 tank with my plecs, he wouldnt bother them.

 

[Athena]

Yes, my RTBS had to go back to LFS for same reason. He was docile until he reached 4" and then all hell broke loose! He was constantly terrorising all the other fish and making some of them ill.

So as much as I loved him, he had to go (didn't have another suitable tank for him to join and no room for a new tank).

Athena

 

[GSD]

I also rehomed my RTBS after he terrorised my angels, he got very agressive after about a month of owning him.

 

[KieranP]

Yeah im tryna rehome him, still no takers though!

I dont know if my lfs will take him back, iv had him about a month or so now! nightmare!

Anyone on here want him?
Im located in Cambridgeshire

 

[Athena]

Try speaking to someone at your LFS - explain the situation and that really they should not have sold you a RTBS for a 2ft community tank (but stay polite and calm)! Besides, providing he's still in good health they can sell him on to someone else (you may not get a refund or fish in lieu of the return though).

My LFS took my RTBS back after almost a year!! He was just a tiny little two-incher when I got him and was fine the whole time, until he reached 4" then his personality changed completely.

I just rang them up, explained what was happening and they said no prob, bring him in LOL! So worth a try with yours (or even others in your area, not necessarily where you bought him from)...


Athena

 

[KieranP]

Ok thanks very much
Ill ring around at the weekend and see what they say, fingers crossed!!

 

[holidayinn]

i have a rainbow shark, similar to RTBS, meant to be less aggressive...but was responsible for chasing and ultimately leading to the death of many of my 1" clown loaches

 

[dave_oddballs]

i fail to understand why you would buy a rtbs knowing it would chase your fish? any amount of chasing in the confined space of an aquarium is ultimately going to lead to stress, which is not nice at the best of times.

 

[KieranP]

I was not informed of it chasing other fish and so didnt know!
I know stress isnt good for fish and that is the point of this entire thread to see what to do!
Thanks for your oh so helpful input!