Just Curious...

[Rhapsody]

Red tailed sharks are probably my absolute favorite type of fish (well, along with angels.) I would love to have one, although at the moment I do not have the tank for one. Anyway, since I have plenty of time before I purchase a new tank, I thought I'd do a little research on them. I get so many contradicting things on websites, I figured it would be best to ask here instead.

I have read so many different things on the tank size these guys can go in, I have no idea what is right (although I know a ten gallon is way too small.) What is the minimum tank size for these guys?

I also know that they can be very aggressive and can not live with another of their kind...but is there any other fish that they can happily live with? If for some reason he was still to bully other fish, either the other fish would go back to the store or I would buy a seperate tank for him (hey, I said they were my favorite fish, lol.)

Just asking for future reference, like I said I don't know when I'll be able to start up a new tank (although I'm dying to...I swear, I'm still stocking my ten gallon and I'm already planning new bigger tanks...heh. Guess I'm hooked).

 

[BlackWolf0503]

I don't really know but I do know where to look.

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...=21&pCatId=1172

 

[KnuckleHead]

I have always kept mine in a 55g. One of the books I have states that a minimum of 30g is required. Mine gets along great with my angels. He has made himself a part of their school and will eat at the surface right among with them.

 

[Sondan]

Well I had a red finned shark...sorry I don't know how closely they are related but I would imagine it is pretty close. Mine was mean so I moved him to a 10 gallon tank for picking on my Ghost. I had just set up the tank and not put a lid on it....well needless to say he did the Nestee Plunge and commited suicide. He was as stiff as a old pine board when I found him the next moring on the floor. At first I didn't know what it was until I picked him up. (His death was an accident even though I didn't like him.) So make sure you have a good fitting lid on your tank.
Signed,
Sondan

 

[darksheep]

i had one red tailed shark, i had him mixed with neons, gupies and 4 tiger barbs and 2 clown loaches. he got on well with every fish besides the tiger barbs and loaches which he chased around the tank all the time (he got my tigerbarbs swimming sideways so i gave the barbs away) Must have been something bout the stripes dunno. was my fav fish had him for 3 and half years (longest living fish i ever had ) he went well with all my cichids never chased them unless they went in his log hope it helps

 

[Curtiss]

I've always kept Red Tailed Sharks in my tanks. They are also among one of my favorite fish. They can be very aggressive towards their own species. In addition, mine is quite aggressive towards my Flying Fox...probably because it is shaped similiar to a shark.

I currently keep mine with a Paradise Fish, 8 neon tetras, an African Butterfly, a bristlenose pleco, a Zigzag Eel, 3 Jullis and a Peruvian Puffer. In the past I've kept Red Tailed Sharks with angels, zebra danios, loaches and gouramis. My Red Tailed Shark has never been aggressive towards any of these species.

-Curtiss

 

[Mamaschild]

I have one RTS in my 80g with Angels, Gouramis, Congo Tetras, Bolivian Rams and a 6" Pl*co, but he actually hangs with the Clown Loaches like he's one of them. He is NOT aggressive. He will chase the Congos, but I think that's because they are fast and "bug him". He plays chase with the Clowns, but it is not aggression. He will chase them, then they chase him, they they all hang out together toolin' around the tank. I got him and the Clowns at the same time about 4 months ago, and the 5 of them have been inseperable every since.

Maybe I just have a docile RTS, but I don't see any problem in my tank.

 

[smb]

I must admit that rts's are close to the top of the list of my fav fish. I have a 20g with one and I set it up just for him because I wanted another one. I threw a couple zebra danios in there and am going to get some tiger barbs sometime when I think of it. Like alreadu mentioned, they are extremely aggro to conspecifics but not bad towards other fish.

It's always best to have as big a tank as possible for any fish but I don't see a problem keeping a rts in a 20g.

 

[Moe]

I have kept 2 RTS one was a peaceful community fish. He was one of my favorites. The other ate all the fins of a long finned angel fish the night I introduced him in the tank. I returned the RTS and sadly the angel died. I think that one was the exception to the rule but I would keep a close eye on your tank if you do get a RTS. Good luck.

 

[Debo]

I love my little "Sharky". He loves ALL his tank mates and socializes very well. He hangs out with the 3 loaches and they all share a castle together. He thinks he's one of them. My tiger barbs and he get along very well also. There is one TB thats a little #### and bugs sharky when he is trying to eat bottom sinking pellets. The TB tries to take his food and Sharky chases him away. The TB comes back again to antagonize him, and this time he gets ticked and really runs the heck out of him. The TB ends up defeated everytime and has to hide behind the sponge filter to calm down. But he has NEVER hurt anyone.
Get one.they are awesome.
Deb

 

[Morrgan]

It's always best to have as big a tank as possible for any fish but I don't see a problem keeping a rts in a 20g.

Is yor RTS 6-7 inches long? If not, then no offense but I do see a problem. I had a red-finned shark in a 34 gal that only grew to less than 5 inches. This was before I knew about stunted growth and such. I won't get a RTS or RFS for my 34 gal again. I'll wait until I can get a 55 gal.

 

[smb]

It's always best to have as big a tank as possible for any fish but I don't see a problem keeping a rts in a 20g.

Is yor RTS 6-7 inches long? If not, then no offense but I do see a problem. I had a red-finned shark in a 34 gal that only grew to less than 5 inches. This was before I knew about stunted growth and such. I won't get a RTS or RFS for my 34 gal again. I'll wait until I can get a 55 gal.

I've had plenty of rts's. Never did any get more than 5" and this is more than fine for a 20g tank.

There are a very few rts's that get 7". If I had one that did I would move it to another tank. It wouldn't be a 55g tank either. The lack of depth for a 55g wouldn't make it much better than your 34g. If you're worried about such a large rts, then get a 40 breeder instead of a 55g.

 

[Morrgan]

I once saw an over 6" RTS in a large public tank, and since then I've been very wary about getting one for a small tank. If they have the capacity to grow to over 6", doesn't this mean they always will if they have enough space and good diet? Doesn't keeping them in a tank too small keep them small too, at least affect their growth negatively to some extent? Not trying to argue here, I'd just like to know the answer.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that another reason for recommending a bigger tank is the other fish. I can't say about RTSs from personal experience, but my RFS was quite defensive about his territory. Any fish getting too close got chased away. A bigger tank would also have given them more space to be in.

Oh, what do you mean by lack of depth? And what's a 40 breeder?

 

[smb]

The 5" I said above as the biggest-I meant to say 6". Typo. my bad.

If they have the capacity to grow to over 6", doesn't this mean they always will if they have enough space and good diet?

Not always. Female rts's get larger than males. I can't give an exact # of rts's I've had but it's been dozens and I had a female or two get to 6" and males about 5" at the most. Not saying that it can't or doesn't happen but I can't see it being very normal, imo.

Doesn't keeping them in a tank too small keep them small too, at least affect their growth negatively to some extent?

Yes and no. The idea of a fish doesn't outgrow their surroundings is a myth. If a fish is in a tank too small, that means they are usually in terrible conditions as far as water quality also. This in itself stunts the fish, not the fact that they won't outgrow the tank.

Not trying to argue here, I'd just like to know the answer.

I understand that. I didn't consider it arguing at all. It's ok if you have a different opinion and I wouldn't consider it arguing with me if you didn't agree with me. I wouldn't have even replied before when you disagreed with me but you quoted me so I didn't want to ignore you. I by no means think I am always right. I'm just saying IME is all and am happy to leave it at that even when others might disagree.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that another reason for recommending a bigger tank is the other fish. I can't say about RTSs from personal experience, but my RFS was quite defensive about his territory. Any fish getting too close got chased away. A bigger tank would also have given them more space to be in.

I agree with you. I am a huge fan of understocking and always recommend that, especially for cichlids. Like I said, the bigger the tank the better it is for any fish.

I agree that rts's are hyper-territorial but IME, it's only with conspecifics. They'll chase the occasional fish around from time to time but I don't think they are all that aggro otherwise. Your experience shows otherwise and if you posted that I wouldn't correct you because you have a valid point of which you are basing your opinion on.

Oh, what do you mean by lack of depth? And what's a 40 breeder?

The lack of depth I meant is the front to back space. The width. I apologize for that. I'm used to calling it depth at so many other forums. It doesn't mean as much with community fish as does with cichlids but I still don't like 55g's out of habit I guess. A 40 breeder tank has a lot more depth to it than a 55g and I was suggesting you take a look at one before you buy your 55g and see if you like it better. You might not, but it's worth a look.

 

[Morrgan]

Thanks for the clarifications, smb. I see what you mean now. I still wouldn't put a RTS in a 20 gallon tank, but I think we can agree to disagree on that.

Thanks for the suggestion on the tank proportions too, I'll keep that in mind. I guessed you might have been meaning the width, but I thought I'd make sure.