how many rainbow sharks in a tank

[Torrean]

Wall-mart says that you have to put them in groups of five, while the place that I bought them from sells them in sets of three. I have four, two of them bicker from time to time so I am thinking about getting a fifth. But my tank is already full of fish so if i can avoid getting a fifth i would like too. If anyone knows howmany rainbow sharks need to be in a tank for them to get along then please let me know

 

[nightlife20]

iv always been told to have them on there on... they can become very aggressive as they grow.....


id get a second opinion though



also what size tank have u got?

 

[Torrean]

Yeah I've heard that one too. I've also heard numbers from 3 to 6 (or more)
when I had 3 they got along fine. I added one more and they started picking at each other. I'm starting to think that it may be odd numbers. Or maybe a certain ratio between males and females.

 

[digital_run]

1 per tank....Unless you can devote a large tank to a group of 6 or more...perferably 8 or more and even still you might see some aggrression from the dominant one. RTB's are quite territorial and will defend/fight anything that they feel is a threat. Also similar body shaped fish will usually be picked on. I've seen a display tank with 8 of them in it and they looked great swimming together...but in the small community 1 is the only way to go. HIH

 

[Torrean]

thanks, but that really sucks. I have four and quite a few other fish in a 29 gallon. It should be illegal for pet stores to mislead their patrons. It frustrates the customers and endangers the fish. Isn't that animal cruelty or something. Sorry but what is an rtb i'm new at this

 

[sylvia]

I agree with digital run though RTBSs are a little more aggressive than rainbows. Don't add just one more though. If you are going to add more, add at least 2 at once. Otherwise, the new one would get picked on and then they'll all start re-assessing their hierarchy and the new fish would probably be the victim.

 

[Torrean]

okay sylvia your talking like it isn't necessary to add more is that what your trying to tell me because that's what i want to hear

 

[gadazobe]

Don't add any more - your tank isn't big enough to take more than one rainbow shark. Don't worry, he'll be perfectly happy on his own.

 

[Torrean]

gadazobe, I already have 4

 

[gadazobe]

Can you return 3 ?

 

[Torrean]

No it's too late. Unless they would just take them back. The store has a three day return policy and i am well beyond that.

 

[gadazobe]

Then you're just have to wait and see what happens. Are they juvies? if so they'll be ok while they're young. It's the adults that tend to turn on each other - they're very territorial and in a small tank there isn't enough room for each to find it's own territory. Hopefully, by the time they grow, you'll have another few tanks and you'll be able to seperate them

 

[sylvia]

Well kind of . What I'm saying is that you probably don't have room for more than 1 more and 1 more only wouldn't help so either leave things as they are and hope for the best and watch them closely in case of serious trouble or get rid of 3 of those sharks.

 

[sylvia]

Oh my... lol... I flicked over to another site for like 2 seconds and I'm back to click 'reply' and send my post and there's 5-6 other posts before mine Sorry lol... but you got your answer (twice ).

 

[Torrean]

I don't suppose a ten gallon would be suitable for any of them?

Edit: yes there all juvies, only about 2 inches each

Another edit: Are rainbow sharks scavengers because one of them keeps running his mouth over everything in the tank. Is he diseased or just hungry. He's acting like a pleco