I had been looking for a new fish for my 20 gallon for a few months, and rainbow sharks were on my short list. Obviously I should have checked here first or I wouldn't have considered one. Now that I know of my mistake, I'm wondering how long I have until it's going to need a bigger home? I had hoped we would be able to upgrade to a larger tank this year, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen so I'll probably have to home it through my favorite pet shop when the time comes.
The actual purchase was an impulse buy. One of the chain stores were we get supplies for our cats had gotten in a huge shipment of rainbow sharks, and there were at least 25 crammed into a 10 gallon tank. The one I chose I honestly didn't think was going to make it - pale white with no fins left, missing scales and the others wouldn't stop attacking it. It was a pity purchase, and surprisingly he healed up within a few weeks and is now stunning again! We've had him for about two months.
He's currently the same length as the kuhli loaches, and the only other things in the tank with him are three clown pleco and the seven kuhli loaches. I've seen him physically push the other fish out of his favorite cave, but he's never attacked or chased any of them. He's content to swim around the tank, eat algae off the plants and glass (at least that's what it looks like he's doing), and he only gets upset when the other fish run into him. With kuhlis the collisions happen all the time as they have no sense of personal space, but he just kind of shoves them away. The only time he gets peeved is when they invade his cave, and even then once he gets them out he settles right down.
So realistically, what am I looking for to know when the time has come? I'm very much enjoying this fish and I'd really like to hold out as long as possible in case we can do an upgrade sooner then expected.
The actual purchase was an impulse buy. One of the chain stores were we get supplies for our cats had gotten in a huge shipment of rainbow sharks, and there were at least 25 crammed into a 10 gallon tank. The one I chose I honestly didn't think was going to make it - pale white with no fins left, missing scales and the others wouldn't stop attacking it. It was a pity purchase, and surprisingly he healed up within a few weeks and is now stunning again! We've had him for about two months.
He's currently the same length as the kuhli loaches, and the only other things in the tank with him are three clown pleco and the seven kuhli loaches. I've seen him physically push the other fish out of his favorite cave, but he's never attacked or chased any of them. He's content to swim around the tank, eat algae off the plants and glass (at least that's what it looks like he's doing), and he only gets upset when the other fish run into him. With kuhlis the collisions happen all the time as they have no sense of personal space, but he just kind of shoves them away. The only time he gets peeved is when they invade his cave, and even then once he gets them out he settles right down.
So realistically, what am I looking for to know when the time has come? I'm very much enjoying this fish and I'd really like to hold out as long as possible in case we can do an upgrade sooner then expected.
