Cichlid with Redtailed Black shark

[leongreenway]

Hi,

I am looking to get a Compatible Cichlid for a 75L tank that will soon contain a small 2inch Redtailed black shark, I want one that will get to about 6 - 8". Can anyone make a recomendation please

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'm afriad that tank will be tad on the small side for any cichlid that size.

the ones that would beable to fit in max out at aorund 4inch and would be keyhole cichlids.

 

[keane]

I'm afriad that tank will be tad on the small side for any cichlid that size.

its too small even for the RTBS isn't it Paul. Don't know much about them but i thought they grow to quite a size??

 

[Discomafia]

Yea, they grow up to 6" I think. And a 30G minimum, but I already posted that in the same thread in the NW Cichlids forum.

 

[Paul_MTS]

In the fish index topic for the shark, the minimum is posted as 20 so having 19 odd gallons you can just about get away with that.

your other options are rams and appistos which have a lot of colour for there size.

 

[bunjiweb]

Time to re-think your stocking I would suggest!

A pair of rams would go nicely, but i would NOT reccomend putting an RTB Shark in a tank that size. I have one in a 57G tank and he swims up and down and scavanges off the rocks and bogwood, I could not imagine him being any where near as happy in a tank the size you are suggesting.

Ben

 

[leongreenway]

Thanks so far guys.

how long will it take for the shark to grow to full size, as i really want one and am willing to get a larger tank nearer the time.

Leon

 

[Paul_MTS]

they get to a descent size fairly quickly and start getitng more agresive but if you want cichlids then they can take care of there selfs mine mine do with the shark.

you could need a bigger tank within say about 6 months providsing you don't heavily stock your 75litre, if you end up heavily stocking it quickly then your reduced to a couple of months.

if you get about a 70gallon then you could then look into larger cichlids, firemouths, blue acaras go well together. or if you still want the much bigger ones you could fit probable 2 in a 75gallon with some other interesting bits.

 

[Katchan]

When i Brought My First Tank secondhand (75L rounded glass all in one) it came with a 4" RTBS who seemed somewhat happy in there, given a place to call his, originally a forked piece of wood pointing up he would swim around or just hang between the prongs and chase off anything that wasnt a catfish that came near then go back to what he was doing. When we modified the scenery for our son and made the tank into a bit of a dinosaur park (dino pic on back, ferny plants, plastic dino's in tank) he moved house to underneath a large plastic triceratops.

After I got my new tank I moved him accross (3ft wide) gave him a hollow log and his still territorial about that little space but he does seem a little happier (but that may just be being moved away from our kids banging at the smaller tank).

The main thing is you can keep them in a 20Gallon/75L or more with a space to eventually call there own (I replaced the large RTBS with a small one who shows no signs of trying to set up is own territory[likes to hang with the guppies], which from what I've read says they are mainly territorial more than just violent)

red tails grow 4-5 inches

rainbow or red fin sharks may grow up to 6 inches

hope this helps
Katchan

 

[leongreenway]

Guys

I was only thinking of having about 3 fish in this tank,

would this still be a problem.

 

[Katchan]

never having kept any cichlid other than angels i cant comment other than say probably not. As I said in my limited experience just give him something to eventually call his own (either in or around).

Katchan

BTW why does everyone HATE/DISLIKE red tails i love em

I by my own inexperience in setting up new tanks have a large and small RTBS in the one tank at the moment no probs! (I know far from reccommended but it was an emergency )

Katchan

 

[leongreenway]

Thanks Katchan, I will bear this in mind.

I think RTB are great looking and really want one.

)

Leon

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/movies/movies.html

red tail shark

 

[Katchan]

A problem the mate, that is not a red tail shark in that vid clip

Red tails are puuuurrrrrrrrfectly named red tail

from what I could see in that clip that was a rainbow shark (aka red fin). It definetly had a red dorsal (as far as could tell, might just be the clip). rainbow have red fins, grow slightly larger and tend to be slightly thiner than red tails, but on the other hand there's the albino rainbow which is white with red fins.

Red Tail
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/cyprinids/r...lack_shark1.jpg

Rainbow
http/www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data...byshark-med.JPG

Albino Rainbow
http/www.aquariacentral.com/pictures/rbshark4.jpg

Katchan