Red Tailed Black Shark

[Le Sorcier]

I was thinking of getting a RTBS but I'm not sure which fish are suitable to go in the same tank? I was considering some Green Tiger Barbs, Harlequins and some Corys? Would these be ok?

Many thanks

 

[Eyebiter]

Redtails are a very cool fish and I've had one on in different tanks throughout the years. I would say the biggest issue with Redtails is the size of the tank. They need a lot of space and their own structure or cave. They will fight with anything that's territorial so no other 'sharks' - rainbows, blacks, or other redtails. Mine did okay with a Black Lancer Cat (which is territorial too) but I wouldn't push it. I'd recommend Gouramis. It should leave top water fish alone too. But remember...they can become jerks. Oh, yeah, no bettas either.

I want to add the a good specimen looks fantastic - jet black, red/orange tail and those cool white tips. I really do like this fish but can be more trouble then they're worth. Maybe, hopefully, someone has a secret or better info. I'm just going off of my experiences.

 

[Davo86]

Yeah agreed, tank size is very improtant when keeping these sharks, IMO shoals of Danios and Barbs work well with them, as do many of fish from the cyprinid family, However you should keep 1 shark per tank and not keep anything that looks similar, as you will often find that CAE's, Flying Fox and SAE's are often terrorised by the sharks due to thier similarity.
apart from cyprinids, larger three spot gouramis usually do well due to their territorial nature, as do larger tetras, such as buenis aries, blue colombian and red-eyed.

 

[Le Sorcier]

Thanks Guys,

I'm only at the early planning stage so far (haven't even got a tank yet), so I just wanted some ideas what would be the best to go with a RTBS?

The barbs sound good for me so far.......

 

[Le Sorcier]

Will the Harlequins and Corys be ok with one?

 

[Davo86]

again depends on tank size, but should be yes.

 

[Le Sorcier]

No decision on size yet Davo but it will probably be something in the region of 80cm x 40cm x 40cm.

Could I get 1 RTBS in there with a group of Tiger Barbs, Corys and Harlequins?

Thanks

 

[Davo86]

No decision on size yet Davo but it will probably be something in the region of 80cm x 40cm x 40cm.

Could I get 1 RTBS in there with a group of Tiger Barbs, Corys and Harlequins?

Thanks

80cm x 40cm x 40cm would be about 34US gallons, For short term you would be ok, but as the shark matures you'll find he will show more aggresion than if he was in a larger tank.

I would look at a minimum of a 50g for the shark, but in this tank you should be ok with those tankmates. Also if you go for this setup allow everything else to get settled into the tank before you add the shark.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Tokis-Phoenix wrote a useful post on this here

 

[dwarfgourami]

Not speaking from experience here, but I think I would avoid keeping corys with an RTBS in a smallish tank, simply because corys have no understanding of territorial issues- their idea of the good life is a big group hug. They would be constantly bumbling into the RTBS's territory and they do not stand up well against aggression. I would only do this in a much bigger tank.

 

[Characin Jim]

Ditto Dwarfgourami. The "shark" is actually a catfish, and can get large, and over time will not like the corries hanging around the bottom of the tank. In general, you need to *really* like the looks of them because they are not good community tank members.
If yo do go that route, you've gotten good suggestions for tank mates. The more "assertive" tetras (like Red Serpae) should also do OK, at least for a while. Likewise the Tiger Barbs, which are also a very cool-looking fish. The Green variety might be a nice contrast to the red/black shark.

Any thought to a pair of calm cichlids (keyholdes, aequidens curvicepts, maybe kribs) in lieu of the shark?

Good Luck,
CJ

 

[Le Sorcier]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Maybe I should just go for 1RTBS, with the Tiger Barbs, Harlequins and leave out the Corys?

Never thought about Cichlids CJ. Never considered them before.

Certainly didn't know that the RTBS was actually a Catfish?!?!?

 

[Davo86]

Certainly didn't know that the RTBS was actually a Catfish?!?!?

that may be because it isn't really. A RTB shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) is a Cyprinid from Asia, it is a fish that has many characteristics of a loach. (take a look at Chinese Algae Eaters, Siamese Algae Eaters and Flying fox and you will see there are many similarities)

Edit: I would also reccomend a few species of dwarf cichlids with a few large shoals of cyprinids. (my RTB shark is in with a pair of Keyholes, 2 kribs, 5 giant Danios as well as lots of others)

 

[SG-1]

Ive got my red tail shark with some pretty nasty cichlids, auratus, red zebra, and multiple others. He does great with them, in fact they are the only fish he dosent hunt down and kill so Im pretty happy with the set up.

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

dont keep the shark with any fish that look like it or is black. Mine once went in with black mollies and he chased them in about 5 mins of being in the tank. Laying dead on the floor about 3 hours later.