Urgent Help With Red Tailed Sharks!

[Dan-izzle]

Hiya guys,

About a week ago, I bought a pair of red tailed black sharks form my local fish shop, at first they seemed really happy and were swimming about all over the tank with my other fish (tiger barbs and neons) then, after about a day they went inside my ornament that I have (a statue with space inside) and they dont come out at all.

Is this normal behaviour or is there something wrong???

 

[helterskelter]

what size tank are they in as i hope it's not the one in your avatar as thats far to small

 

[Dan-izzle]

what size tank are they in as i hope it's not the one in your avatar as thats far to small

No, its not, I have bought a new tank about 3 weeks ago, I keep trying to make it my new avatar but the site wont let me...

Its a 40 litre Aquael Tank with all the extras

Here is a picture of it:

 

[Dan-izzle]

Anyone know why?

 

[21rm]

Ive had RTBS before and they like little caves or dark holes to cal their own.
I have a diver helmet oranament in my tank, and my RTBS used to chase out guppies and platys that used to go in there. it was really funny watchin him

 

[Dan-izzle]

So its normal for them to seek out a dark area then, thats ok, for a second I thought that they were getting ill or something!

 

[21rm]

ya it seems normal enough. mine used to really protect his area lol, he was so funny.

Ya said though that you've 2 RTBS. How are they gettin on together?? cos usually they prefer to with with other species besides their own.
I initially got 2, before i knew they were so territorial, and one of them really bullied the other so had to bring him bak the LFS

 

[Davo86]

Firstly the tank is about 5 times too small for one of these sharks, Secondly these sharks should Not be kept together once they mature they Will kill each other,

From the cloudy water i'd guess that this is a fairly new tank that hasn't been cycled and therefore the water stats are going to be very poor and this is going to be the likely cause of them hiding

 

[Dan-izzle]

Firstly the tank is about 5 times too small for one of these sharks, Secondly these sharks should Not be kept together once they mature they Will kill each other,

From the cloudy water i'd guess that this is a fairly new tank that hasn't been cycled and therefore the water stats are going to be very poor and this is going to be the likely cause of them hiding

Firstly, my local shop have had a look at my tank and they said that it is the right size to accomodate two RTBS otherwise I wouldn't have got them (I'm not cruel, I research before I buy)

Secondly, I have already asked this question to a few people whom I know and they have said that they should be ok as long as they have been together since birth basically, which they have so that is also another reason why I see fit to keep them both (so they arent lonely)

Finally the tank has been running for nearly a month so is not as new as you are implying and I have had it all checked before even purchasing fish.....

 

[Davo86]

Firstly the tank is about 5 times too small for one of these sharks, Secondly these sharks should Not be kept together once they mature they Will kill each other,

From the cloudy water i'd guess that this is a fairly new tank that hasn't been cycled and therefore the water stats are going to be very poor and this is going to be the likely cause of them hiding

Firstly, my local shop have had a look at my tank and they said that it is the right size to accomodate two RTBS otherwise I wouldn't have got them (I'm not cruel, I research before I buy)

Secondly, I have already asked this question to a few people whom I know and they have said that they should be ok as long as they have been together since birth basically, which they have so that is also another reason why I see fit to keep them both (so they arent lonely)

Finally the tank has been running for nearly a month so is not as new as you are implying and I have had it all checked before even purchasing fish.....

sorry but your LFS and the people you know obviously know nothing, These sharks require 50G (200L) and Will kill each other if kept together for a period of time,

'Nearly a month' means it is new, It takes longer than a month for a tank to fully cycle so therefore it hasn't even cycled yet, From the picture the cloudiness indicates you currently have what is called 'New tank syndrome' Check your water stats with a decent liquid test kit if you don't believe me, I can guarantee they will be bad.

A 40Litre tank holds 10USGallons of water, none of the fish you own are suitable for a tank that size, ask anyone who knows anything about fish and they will tell you they same

 

[england]

sorry but that tank's not big enough for a rtbs. i have a mature one around 5-6inch and he is a fast boy, in my 5foot tank he will wizz around all day long, he has his hidey hole where he will defend it, they are very terratorial and keeping to in my 5foot would be a bad idea, they will be ok if you keep a group of 10 plus but for that you will need alot of space,
your local fish shop sounds like alot of shops, they will say anything for a sale, ha my lfs trys every time i go in to sell me a 3foot retail catfish which i know is way to big for my tank....but they will try..saying a 5foot is perfect

 

[helterskelter]

what size tank are they in as i hope it's not the one in your avatar as thats far to small

No, its not, I have bought a new tank about 3 weeks ago, I keep trying to make it my new avatar but the site wont let me...

Its a 40 litre Aquael Tank with all the extras

Here is a picture of it:

Again that tank is far to small for adult sharks, yes currently u may be ok for small fish but they will soon out grow that and will start to fight as they mature

Your LFS should know this and should of advised you better on this.

I would return them and get some thing more fitting.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Just to second what other people have said...
The tank you have is too small for one rtbs let alone two.
These fish are extremely territorial, and although they are fine now, they will soon become aggrssive towards each other as they mature.
As well as being constantly stressed due to the fact they dont have the correct sized tank.
These fish are scavengers who like to swim and sift through the substrate. My rtbs spends most of his time patrolling the tank, then sifting through the sand, then chasing other tankmates away from the small plec that he guards constantly.

 

[Dan-izzle]

Ok, thanks for that info guys, it seems that I have been taken in by the same old tricks as it were.

Thats very unfortunate as I such a trusting person and for people to take such advantage of me, I think its outrageous.

Im pleased to let you know that Im taking the sharks back later on today and Im going to just get some neons until I get my new tank set-up and ready.

 

[LiveYourLife]

to be quite honest I wouldnt go with neons either. If you are meaning neon tetra's.
They are sensitive fish and personally I wouldnt add them untill I had a matured tank.