Red Tail Shark Tankmates?

[hihi100202]

I will be soon be buying a 30 gallon tank , and i have planned to get a red tail shark. Any ideas for some tankmates?

 

[lordofthesea]

something tough that can hold its own. kribs?

 

[arobinson1984]

If its a red tailed black shark then you shouldnt put it in the tank, its not big enough.

They require minimum 40+ gal and by putting them in a smaller tank they wont have the swimming space required and you would also increase their aggression as they like to claim territory of large areas.

Andy

 

[zuulan]

I will be soon be buying a 30 gallon tank , and i have planned to get a red tail shark. Any ideas for some tankmates?

I've always liked RTBS's but in the end I decided it was much better to get a Rainbow shark. Looks just as good and he and his tank mates are much better off together.

 

[21rm]

I agree that a 30 gallon may be small as they get quite big, but Ive found that RTBS attack other fish that are dark in colour.
Due to some bad LFS advice I bought 2 RTBS at first, one killed the other. Then he went on to constantly chase my green tiger barbs, and dark platys.
Basically anthin that was dark, except for my plec

 

[arobinson1984]

If you are wanting a black shark, I'd certainly recommend a black rainbow shark instead, they normally have orange/red fins and tail and are much less aggressive.

Andy

 

[21rm]

If you are wanting a black shark, I'd certainly recommend a black rainbow shark instead, they normally have orange/red fins and tail and are much less aggressive.

Andy

Can rainbow sharks be kept in groups??

 

[zuulan]

If you are wanting a black shark, I'd certainly recommend a black rainbow shark instead, they normally have orange/red fins and tail and are much less aggressive.

Andy

Can rainbow sharks be kept in groups??

I got this from wikipedia...

"They are known to be territorial, and aggressive to their own species. If kept with their own kind or relatives, threat displays and fighting is likely to occur. This fighting behavior involves head-and-tail butting. Provision of hiding places and hollowed decors such as plants or artificial cave-like and tunnel-like aquatic ornaments minimize this typical behavior. Due to this behavioral characteristic among its own kind, rainbow sharks are not recommendable to the new aquarist. Keeping them with relatives such as red-tailed sharks, and black sharks are avoided."

They are less agressive then RTBS, but I guess they still are aggressive towards their own.

 

[arobinson1984]

Rainbow sharks can be aggressive to each other, I guess it comes down to the personality of the individual.

I have an albino rainbow shark in my community tank and its fine with all the other fish, it does tend to chase some every now and then but never attacks any.

Andy

 

[hihi100202]

just so every one knows, i'v done like LOADS of reaserch on these, i know that they get 4.5-5 inches long, some time six.

 

[arobinson1984]

If you've done loads of research on these then you'll know they need 40+ gal minimum

I think the 40 gal minimum isnt because of its size, it is because of its aggression. RTBS get very territorial and will claim large areas of a tank as 'their' territory and attack other fish that enter.

Andy