Whats The Best Community For A Redtailed Shark ?

[Tropicaltone1980]

Hi all,

I am looking at buying a Jewel Rio 300 and I really would like to keep a Redtailed shark however I have had two young Redtailed sharks previously (not at same time) in my Rekord 96. Unfortunately they always used to become agressive until I had to take them back.

I really like them and would like to keep one in the Rio 300 since its a bigger tank maybe the Redtailed shark would be less territorial

The comunity I was thinking of is as follows

1x Bristlenosed pleco
3x Otos
5x Pepperd Corydoras
4x Chained Loach
4x Golden Barbs
16x Neon Tetras
1x Redtailed Shark

What do you think??

 

[ghent_3rd]

It was almost definately because you had 2 in such a small tank. You would be fine with one in the Rio 300.

You would also be able to stock your tank more heavily than you are planning if you want to.

I have about as much as you are planning at the moment in a Rio 180!!!

 

[Tropicaltone1980]

I only had one young Redtailed shark in the tank but after I took it back to the shop about a year later I tried another one with the same results.

I realise I could stock more but I'm planning a heavily planted aquarium.

Do you think the Redtailed shark will be ok with the Neon Tetras? last time I had a Redtailed shark in the Rekord 96 it used to be aggressive towards the White Cloud Moutain Minows which are a similar size to the Tetras

 

[Spank]

IMO, I think you'd need semi aggressive tank mates that can look after themselves. In my experiance, docile tank mates will always be harrased when the RTBS gets' big enough. Maybe try fish like green/tiger barbs

 

[Tropicaltone1980]

Spank in your opinion which of the tankmates should be changed?

 

[dwarfgourami]

The ones I would think of changing are the corys. They are down on the bottom with him and they are totally incapable of standing up against aggression or understanding about territorial boundaries- they think everybody should be joining together in one big group hug! Sweet but hardly practical in a semi-aggressive tank. The bristlenose should be quite ok, though; they are a lot tougher, and no doubt he will find his own patch.

 

[Tropicaltone1980]

what about the Neon Tetras are they ok?

 

[skiltrip]

Minnows/Danios are usually pretty good with RTBSs. Zebra Danios, White clouds, etc. Barbs too, cherry barbs, and possibly tiger barbs. I've had bad luck with tiger barbs though and though highly entertaining and energetic, they are a pain in the arse. No matter what size group i got, they'd always pick the smallest one and gang up on it till it was dead, then move on to the next in line, till there was only one left standing. they are insane.

 

[Bex]

I have an RTBS in my 105 gal community. I got him when he was only 3-4cm and he is now about 3". The only fish he bothers ATM are the Tiger Barbs and my 2 Bala Sharks. He doesn't bother anyone else and we have cory's, gouramis, rummy nose tetras, plecs, rosey neon barbs amongst others.

He hasn't injured any other fish (yet) and we are hoping he won't. He only chases the tiger barbs and the bala sharks but as they are faster than him they swim away easily.

Perhaps it is just luck of the draw with these guys? I don't want to have to re-home him as his colours are stunning and he is awesome so I can see why you want to try again. If he gets really aggressive and injures anyone he will have to go though. Good Luck!