New To Freshwater...tank Help

[SilverTipLady]

Hello. I am new to the aquarium hobby. I have a 5o gallon bowfront tank. It was cycled for almost two months. Today I added 6 Tiger Barbs, 2 Columbian Silver Tips, and 2 Red Tail Sharks. And when I got home and researched I found out Silver tips can grow to 2 feet, and that red tails should not be kept in groups of two. But there is enough room for everyone to swim around and get away from one another. Each red tail has its own corner, the silver tips hang out on the bottom, and the barbs swim around in their school. No problems so far! I love my silver tips already, so would not mind purchasing them an even larger aquarium, or indoor pond if they do get that big.

If my red tails start fighting one another, should I incorporate one more?

I want to add some more fish in a month or so. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[arobinson1984]

I'm presuming by red tails you mean a red tailed black shark?

If they start fighting which is pretty much guaranteed as they mature, do not add any more, you will need to remove and rehome one of them. The recommended tank size for a RTBS is 55 us gallons so at 50 gal you should be ok with 1 but having 2 is a recipe for disaster.

The thing about RTBS is not their size as they only grow to around 6" but the prob is their aggressive and territorial nature, one shark will claim large areas of the tank as its own territory and attack any fish that comes near hence the need for a large tank, but with 2 in thier they will end of fighting with each other as well, probablty until one kills the other.

Andy

 

[SilverTipLady]

Andy,

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunatley I figured that would happen. I am thinking of taking one of them back tomorrow.