Red Tailed Black Shark

[SG-1]

dont keep the shark with any fish that look like it or is black. Mine once went in with black mollies and he chased them in about 5 mins of being in the tank. Laying dead on the floor about 3 hours later.

Thats why I keep my red tail with africans, it killed everything else I tried to put it in with.

 

[WizzBang]

Ive had a RTBS for coming on a year now, and its about 4 1/2" long. It shares its tank with 5 bronze corys, 2 bristlenose cats and then some barbs and danios etc. They have just recently migrated from my old 100L tank into my new 240L and all get on absolutely fine. The BN cats have been in the tank since practically day one and what they say goes as far as territory, the corys have been residents for a few months more than the shark and just go where they want.

In the new tank I have built a 'cave' with some stacked rocks and the shark has claimed it, but the corys are often in and around it, but sharky just gives them a little nudge, sometimes they move, most times they dont and the shark just tries to move around them.

All in all, its very peaceful

 

[Sir_lance]

What should you feed it? I thought normal flake food would suffice but none of this reaches the bottom as the other fish eat it all before. Should I get some pellets?

Also I have a 125l tank is this big enough to prevent aggression problems when it becomes larger?

 

[LakeyGal]

I wouldn't go with Barbs in a 125 to be honest I have a RTBS who battered my Barbs mercilessly, ultimately the shark is now banished to a separate tank with danios and bristlenoses and even then he is the grumpiest fish in the world luckily the BNs just turn the other cheek, if he didn't look so handsome he would have been expelled ages ago.
Sometimes moving their territories around calms them down but it can depend on your shark, I am now looking for a 5-6ft tank so be absolutely sure you want one before you leap, they do look cute in the LFS when they are 1 inch and playing in a group but when he is 6 inches and bullying everything you may change your mind

 

[Apolloefc]

I have one of these in my tank.

IN my tank I also have platys, guppys, a rogue fish (somehow came with some guppys i bought) plecs, clown loaches and a flying fox.

It seems to get on well with all these. The flying fox and the shark get on surprisingly well. At first I thought they fought but after further watching it seems theyy just play and chase each other.

 

[Genesis]

RTBS are territorial by nature, I have had one for nearly 3 years!
Make sure you set up some territories he can establish as his own (rocks, plantpots etc.)

Any fast-moving fish (tetras, raspboras etc.) or reasonably aggressive fish (cichlids for example) should be fine.

Mine is in a 180 Litre tank with 3 Severums, 1 Angel, 2 Silver Dollars and 2 Disc Tetras. It's only the tetras who get chased, and not too ruthlessly even.