Yet Another Red Tailed Shark Thread...

[Canadian Fish]

I see on most profiles that the minimum tank size for a RTS is 48". I was wondering if one could like comfortably in a 36" 35 gallon tank if he was the only fish in the tank? Or is it just too cramped?

 

[KittyKat]

In my experience they need the space due to their level of activity and adult size, so 48" is really an absolute minimum.

 

[Canadian Fish]

Shame. Good looking fish. I don't want to put him in my 55s, for the sake of the other inhabitants, and I just can't bring myself to dedicating a 48" tank to a solitary 6" fish.

...and that's why. four tanks later, I still don't have an RTS.

 

[KittyKat]

Well, in a 48" tank, you could keep other fish alongside it. For example, it mixes well with barbs, rasboras and smaller loaches.

 

[San O Fisher]

I have a 55 gallon with a rtbs that is along side 3 picture cats, 2 clown pecs, 2 albino bn's, and some schooling fish. The RTBS was the first in the tank and territorial for a little bit but it has settled in very nicely. Just make sure you have lots of hiding places and you are fine.

 

[Canadian Fish]

For every person that says their RTS gets along with other fish, there seems to be someone whose RTS got mean as it matured. It seems to really vary depending on the individual fish.

Both my 55 gallon communities are very peaceful, so I wouldn't subject them to the potential abuse they might endure by introducing an RTS to their tank.

 

[falcon1]

I kept a rainbow shark in a 20g. It never bothered the other fish or seemed to have too little space. I say you would be fine in a 35 gallon, even with some surface dwelling fish.

 

[Zenki]

I kept a rainbow shark in a 20g. It never bothered the other fish or seemed to have too little space. I say you would be fine in a 35 gallon, even with some surface dwelling fish.

I bought my rainbow shark because the people at my lfs suggested him to the rtbs, They said there less aggressive than the redtails.

both require 55G tho.