Red Tailed Black Shark Suggestions?

[UBigBobby]

My red tail and my Tiger Barbs coexisted peacefully for the first month or so. The Red tail would chase the TB's every so often, but it was harmless and no damage was ever done....it seemed to be more a show of force than anything. But alas, the red tail has gotten faster than the TB's apparently and the TB's are starting to have parts of fins missing. I just today moved one TB who had most of his back fin ripped off. Most of the other TB's have SOME damage. What types of fish would you suggest with the red tail as I will have to move all my TB's soon before I lose them all.

 

[kris-b-]

Any that don't resemble the body shape of the shark as they are predatory fish and will go after any fish wish looks similar to itself!

 

[CFC]

Any that don't resemble the body shape of the shark as they are predatory fish and will go after any fish wish looks similar to itself!

Thats half right, fish of the Labeo genus like RTBS are usually only aggressive to fish with a similar body shape, however they are not predatory fish, they mainly feed on algea and micro organisms not on other fish.
You dont say how big the tank is but with fish that display territorial instincts like RTBS you must have a suitably large tank to allow the shark to have a territory where it doesnt feel under threat from its tankmates all the time, i'm afraid you will either have to rehome the shark or the barbs or invest in a larger tank.

 

[@ombomb]

You dont say how big the tank is

40G tall in the sig...

Probably a little on the small size if it's tall.

 

[Andyplec]

You have also not mentioned how many tiger barbs you have, as a small shoal will inflict in them nipping eachothers fins !

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

A RTBS will need a 30gal if you are going to separate it from the barbs, which will be a good move as tiger barbs are very nippy and RTBS can get very terotorial with age as they mature- once terotorial they will go for any fish that looks remotely like them, but they can and often do go for anything that simply attracts attention- for example, i have recently adopted an agressive RTBS who is temporarily staying in my large community tank while i set up his own tank and is harrassing a big female molly of mine.
Small tetras like neons, and fish like corys, seem to do fine with the shark though and they don't bother each other.

 

[prios]

Put some coconut caves in there for him too. he'll calm down if he has a house. mine did, big time. became a lot more peaceful.

 

[@ombomb]

Put some coconut caves in there for him too. he'll calm down if he has a house. mine did, big time. became a lot more peaceful.

Good advice.

Tiger Barbs and RTBSs are often recommended tank mates, the fact that you are having problems suggests to me the environment just isn't right. Can you give the actuall dimensions of the tank? I believe RTBSs (and most fish I suppose) base their territory on area rather than volume, so if the tank is tall rather than long, it gives them less area to work with.