Red Tail Sharks

[caige]

Hi there,

I currently have 4 red barbs in a 29g tank and plan on adding a few Red Tail Sharks. I will be upgrading my tank size in a year or so, but for the time being I was hoping for ideas for tank mates for Red Tail Sharks.

Any suggestions?

 

[Hunterprey]

I'd say just get 1 RedTail, they usually dont get along with other RedTails. I have my 4" RedTail with 3" Gold Gourami, they usually just ignore each other. I tried them with Synos and Pictus catfish too and theyre fine.

I'd suggest get at least 75gallon if u plan to upgrade.

 

[Geoff-]

29g will be fine for a single red tail that is still growing, adult size you'd want a larger tank.

RTBS are aggressive towards their own species so you need a BIG tank to house more than 1.

I currently have a juvenile RTBS with serpae tetras, german blue rams, BN catfish, siamese algae eaters, and bronze corys. The RBTS only really chases the serpaes, the others seem to get left alone for the most part. the shark may get a bit more aggressive when it gets older, but for now everything is good

 

[lilfishie]

I have a pretty big 1 (5" is that fully grown?) that i was given for free, he lives with rams, tetras, SAEs, platies, swordtails, pleco and a betta, but wouldn't tolerate the cories which were soon moved

 

[raptorrex]

Hi there,

I currently have 4 red barbs in a 29g tank and plan on adding a few Red Tail Sharks. I will be upgrading my tank size in a year or so, but for the time being I was hoping for ideas for tank mates for Red Tail Sharks.

Any suggestions?

I'd suggest you get the RTBS WHEN you have a tank big enough (50ukg long min), not before. you understand, the best laid plans of mice and men?

 

[Caprichoso]

I would hold off on the Red Tail until you get that bigger tank. Just keep one. They can get aggressive even when they are small. You don't want to run into territory issues in your small tank. Better to be ready for the fish rather than have the fish wait until you are ready.

 

[Alasse]

I have an adult in a 30gal tank, it shares the tank with Neons & Cories

Keeps to itself and doesnt bother anyone

 

[raptorrex]

I have an adult in a 30gal tank, it shares the tank with Neons & Cories

Keeps to itself and doesnt bother anyone

indeed, may have. but they still need a much bigger tank.

 

[Alasse]

I respectfully disagree

They get to 6inches. I've also had it in a 90gal tank and there is no difference in its behavior since being moved back to a 30gal. It still cruises around and minds its own business.

 

[Caprichoso]

I have an adult in a 30gal tank, it shares the tank with Neons & Cories

Keeps to itself and doesnt bother anyone

You have the exception to the rule. Which of coarse there always are. What we don't want is for the person to run into issues when he doesn't have to and that he should be aware that he may not be as lucky as you. Generally speaking it's not a good fish for a small tank and to co-habitate with certain fish. It is a risk.

 

[raptorrex]

I respectfully disagree

They get to 6inches. I've also had it in a 90gal tank and there is no difference in its behavior since being moved back to a 30gal. It still cruises around and minds its own business.

.
not sure what size has to do with it guy! and i didn't mention aggression (though it is a big problem with RTBS.)
a tank of less than50g, though 40 long might surface, is too small for a grown red tail. despite their size, they need swimming room. hence the, 50g recommendation, i have made.

I understand you report no problems in a 30g tank. but enough others do, to make. 50g a safe recommendation. that and a lot of hiding places.

incidentally, how old are your sharks now?

 

[caige]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions everyone. I understand that one shark may be ideal for my tank size until I upgrade. But is it possible to house multiple harks at the moment? I just find them fascinating and would prefer more than one at the moment. Would it be wise to get a Rainbow Shark instead of a second Red Tail? Or perhaps someone can suggest fish that appear similar to Red Tails that I can house with them?

 

[Caprichoso]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions everyone. I understand that one shark may be ideal for my tank size until I upgrade. But is it possible to house multiple harks at the moment? I just find them fascinating and would prefer more than one at the moment. Would it be wise to get a Rainbow Shark instead of a second Red Tail? Or perhaps someone can suggest fish that appear similar to Red Tails that I can house with them?

Some of us are trying to tell you that it's NOT ideal and that you should wait until you get the big tank and then only get one Red Tail. You obviously are trying to talk yourself into it and are hoping someone will validate what you want to do. Sounds like you want to take the risk, so go for it. Maybe you will be as lucky as the other guy. On a side note, there are plenty of fish I find fascinating as well but I don't add them to my tank because of potential problems I can foresee down the road. I prefer to buy fish that I know I can house for the long run, not what I think is cool at the moment.

Good luck with your decision

 

[caige]

Some of us are trying to tell you that it's NOT ideal and that you should wait until you get the big tank and then only get one Red Tail. You obviously are trying to talk yourself into it and are hoping someone will validate what you want to do. Sounds like you want to take the risk, so go for it. Maybe you will be as lucky as the other guy. On a side note, there are plenty of fish I find fascinating as well but I don't add them to my tank because of potential problems I can foresee down the road. I prefer to buy fish that I know I can house for the long run, not what I think is cool at the moment.

Good luck with your decision

You're right, I have a tendency to do that. I'm not cruel enough to stick fish together for them to only kill each other. The only reason why I suggested putting two in right now, is because they are young and small and as previously stated I would be upgrading my tank to minimum 55 gallon in a year.

So perhaps you could suggest similar fish I can place with my Red Tail or bottom dwellers that can co-exist with a Red Tail?

 

[Alasse]

I respectfully disagree

They get to 6inches. I've also had it in a 90gal tank and there is no difference in its behavior since being moved back to a 30gal. It still cruises around and minds its own business.

.
not sure what size has to do with it guy! and i didn't mention aggression (though it is a big problem with RTBS.)
a tank of less than50g, though 40 long might surface, is too small for a grown red tail. despite their size, they need swimming room. hence the, 50g recommendation, i have made.

I understand you report no problems in a 30g tank. but enough others do, to make. 50g a safe recommendation. that and a lot of hiding places.

incidentally, how old are your sharks now?

Adult size of course has to do with tank size....i've never had a problem with aggression in RTS

A 30gal has plenty of swimming spce for a RTS, as stated mine cruises quite happily. It does have plenty of hiding places.

Not sure where you got sharkS from when i stated i have AN adult. My RTS is around 3 1/2yrs old and still going strong and looking stunning

Oh and i'm not a guy!