Red Tail Shark

[vpx]

red tail shark in a 60 litre ?

 

[Kelly-Jo]

No way. In my opinion, there are no sharks that you can keep long-term in a 60 litre.

 

[Ashley1991]

i agree with kelly-jo so many people think oh that is small and get one

then it grows

and grows

and grows

 

[vpx]

it would only be in there for at the most 5 months ?

 

[Alasse]

My redtail is in a 130litre, now its adult i wouldnt go much smaller than that

 

[raptorrex]

red tail shark in a 60 litre ?

I'd recommend a 50ukg tank minimum for an RTBS. i know they only grow to 5 or 6 inches. but the both, like to swim and are aggressive to other fish. the aggression is territorial, hence the need of more space then you may expect.

 

[Marklincs]

Shame was thinking of adding one to my 110 litre tank but sounds just to small

 

[raptorrex]

Shame was thinking of adding one to my 110 litre tank but sounds just to small

yes i know the feeling. i found a 4 foot 50g to be too small. thats why i passed mine on.

 

[OldMan47]

A red tail shark when full grown will need a tank at least 6 feet long just to hold it, not to really give it enough swimming room. These are fish that should only be sold by special order to people who know what they are getting into and have the room to house an adult. They should never be sold in a typical pet shop to unwitting buyers who have only ever seen fry.

 

[raptorrex]

A red tail shark when full grown will need a tank at least 6 feet long just to hold it, not to really give it enough swimming room. These are fish that should only be sold by special order to people who know what they are getting into and have the room to house an adult. They should never be sold in a typical pet shop to unwitting buyers who have only ever seen fry.

indeed, its a sad state of affairs, these are so common in the hobby. yet they are so rare in the wild. and, in my experience, are never sold correctly. its sobering to think, its or hobby that has, most likely, been responsible for this fish being in the RED BOOK as EW (extinct in the wild). along with the Bala shark ED (endangered), another commonly sold, hobby fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

A red tail shark when full grown will need a tank at least 6 feet long just to hold it, not to really give it enough swimming room. These are fish that should only be sold by special order to people who know what they are getting into and have the room to house an adult. They should never be sold in a typical pet shop to unwitting buyers who have only ever seen fry.

Are you sure you're not thinking of red tail catfish, OldMan?! Red tailed black sharks get to 'only' six or seven inches; big enough to need some care given to the right tank, for sure, but it's not that big!

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

A red tail shark when full grown will need a tank at least 6 feet long just to hold it, not to really give it enough swimming room. These are fish that should only be sold by special order to people who know what they are getting into and have the room to house an adult. They should never be sold in a typical pet shop to unwitting buyers who have only ever seen fry.

Are you sure you're not thinking of red tail catfish, OldMan?! Red tailed black sharks get to 'only' six or seven inches; big enough to need some care given to the right tank, for sure, but it's not that big!

I was thinking the same thing fluttermouth, red tailed black and ruby sharks etc will only grow to about six inches, and that will take quite a few years.
We dont want to stunt their growth and so they are not suitable for realy small tanks.
Whilst were on the subject is the red tailed black also known as the red finned shark?

 

[fluttermoth]

Whilst were on the subject is the red tailed black also known as the red finned shark?

No, there are two species; the red tailed black shark Epalzeorhynchos bicolor and the red finned shark, also called rainbow or ruby shark, Epalzeorhynchos frenatum which also comes in an albino form.
As you can see from the genus name, they're very closely related and can be considered identical for general care; they grow to a similar size and have the same temperament and requirements for feeding, tank size etc.

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

Thanks fluttermouth, thats what I already thought they look so similar in shape and size, I used to keep an albino red finned but one day he dissapeared and its been a mystery ever since.

 

[raptorrex]

A red tail shark when full grown will need a tank at least 6 feet long just to hold it, not to really give it enough swimming room. These are fish that should only be sold by special order to people who know what they are getting into and have the room to house an adult. They should never be sold in a typical pet shop to unwitting buyers who have only ever seen fry.

Are you sure you're not thinking of red tail catfish, OldMan?! Red tailed black sharks get to 'only' six or seven inches; big enough to need some care given to the right tank, for sure, but it's not that big!

no he is talking about the RTBS: Red Tailed Black Shark. and there is no doubt that a 50g tank is only good for young. size is not all that dictates tank size.
even 7 inch examples are few and far between, 5-6 is most common.
this is not even new knowledge, it was commonly known over 5 years ago, when i started, what's missing here is people with enough experience to know. and sense to listen.