Tank mates

[LunarisSurge]

Hey,

So I have recently bought a 200 litre tank and am set on getting myself a red tailed shark. My tank is currently cycling now and I want advice on want tank mates I can have. I have heard a few things, such as fast swimming fish that stay mid level in the tank such as tetras, also fish bigger or of equal size or fish like tiger barbs.. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

 

[mikey11]

i would never recommend a red tail shark in an otherwise community type aquarium, it will be nothing but trouble

 

[Byron]

I would agree. It can work, but tankmates need to be carefully thought out. The "shark" attains five inches, and would be the only substrate level fish (they do not get along with similar fish such as loaches, and cory catfish would be dangerous too). Upper fish that have vertical bars or stripes, such as the Tiger Barb you mention, frequently inflame the Red Tail Shark, for reasons we do not know, but it is common. Individual sharks can be very temperamental, tearing into any fish.

 

[hobby5]

What are the dimensions of the tank? The size seems at or rather below the lower limit for that species. It can work pretty well with some of the loaches, but again the tank is pretty small. And this will highly depend on tank interior (lots of driftwood and stone piles with cavities to hide, some current), and character of the individual fish. Imho, it should work pretty well with a larger shoal of small and mobile fish (not bottom dwellers), as they are too small to bother it.

It should be added as last fish, after all the others have settled in very well.

Correct me if I am wrong.