Finding fish to keep with Red Tail Sharks can be a challenge. Here are some fish that have worked for us. Always have a back up plan in case the combo doesn't work for you. Check out these videos to learn more! Syncrossus berdmorei (Cool Loach): ua-cam.com/video/tsgGOadP74k/v-deo.html Geophagus steindachneri: ua-cam.com/video/yfVx-TOCc_M/v-deo.html Oscars (make sure they aren't big enough to eat a small red tail shark): ua-cam.com/video/iMGeND3zETk/v-deo.html Severums: ua-cam.com/video/xnUJKMhr_nU/v-deo.html
@@robexotic2.050 i have mine alone because she bullies (very aggressively) anything that is put in with her..she seems pretty happy though alone tbh.she has a ton of personality.she seems to recognize my voice and comes out of hiding when i talk to her and follows my finger/hand..she loves swimming through things like logs or caves..shes a bully but i love her so much😊❤ ive had her almost 3 years now.
This fish was one of my first almost 40yrs ago. Brings back happy childhood memories. My Dad loved mine. It lived for about 10yrs in a 3ft community tank with dwarf gouramis, guppies, danios etc. Ended up an only fish though as it got huge.
@@mercygirl317 My female is pretty chilled with her tank-mates, but she grew up with them from a small/young age. I was advised by my local aquarium. that they can grow up together and may be okay with other fish. I have Guppies and Cories, among others and she doesn't bother them that I've seen. I have a 200L tank though so they can all keep out of each other's way. She does love to explore though! When I changed the theme of my tank a few weeks ago, she was into every new ornament, investigating and swimming in and out at least 2-3 times. They are funny to watch. She also loves to swim upside down to eat whatever is on the bottom of the plants in the tank.
This is my longest living fish at this time. My red tail shark has survived from my first tank that I had no idea what I was doing to now living life in my 75 gallon. I enjoy that you bring information to fish that no one else wants to give credit to.
The hobby really needs more videos like this. Was going to buy one for my 40 breeder but when I saw how big it gets there is no way. That's good for me and it's good for the fish.
My sharky has a nice dark coconut cave to take refuge under where he loves to coop up for almost the whole day. If he fancies a change, he can do an Air BnB in the neighbouring submarine. If Mr Gourami is currently inhabiting the sub, he better get out. I have 3 angel fishies who he doesn't bother at all.
Had mine for 7 years and counting. Not aggressive at all if you give them lots hiding spaces and driftwood.Mine is in a 120 gallon tank. The only time they show aggression is at feeding time as they love food and are always grazing. Good informative video.
my female red tail is absolutely amazing. i have her with 5 tiger barbs, 5 synodontis multipunctatus catfish, and 8 corydoras in a 55 gallon. everyone does absolutely perfect
Gotta love large chain pet stores. I once had one of their employees tell my nephew and niece, ages six and four, a betta would be fine with a red tail black shark, along with a school of tiger barbs, would be fine with a betta behind my back, after I told them no.
The big box stores simply irritate me with a lack of knowledge within incredible levels especially during the summer months when kids who never owned a fish bowl are selling fish.
Really good information. I think this information is invaluable for new hobbyist as the attractiveness of the fish is a lure however the overall environment as it relates to hierarchy and safety of community fish is important.
Similar body shapes attract a very strong territorial response from Red tail sharks, and slow moving fish will usually always do badly in the same tank with fast swimming fish. Having said that, I do keep mine in a very peaceful community tank with great success, and have done for many years.
I have 1 and 2 rainbows in a 29, and they get along fine, theres an ocational display, as they are territorial but never agression they are great. I say it all depends
@@yadiellatinopropmaker5289 ive had one in a 55 gallon at 3 inches with 6 angels and kill a full grown angel and a 4 inch angel and tear their fins apart in under 3 days before I found out it wasn't the angels picking on each other
@Jonathon Mah I currently have Mollies (which I'm trying to give to a friend), 2 Yo-yo's, 3 catfish and a 1 pleco in addition to my 2 baby-ish red tail sharks (I didn't know it could be a bad thing). I want to add: • 2 Rainbow Red tails • 2-3 Clown Louches • African Cichlids And I don't know what else. Does this seem okay? I have a 47 gallon tank.
Spot on about the aggression developing with age. Every one I've had has eventually become the most feared fish in the tank, even with African Cichlids.
This video really help! I was at my local pet store and of course there was no information about any of the fish. I thought it looked cool, and they small. I figured I should go home and research the fish so I could take care of it properly (and if they were salt water fish I just wouldn’t get them). Glad I made the smart choice! I wasn’t looking for a big fish at all, then I see your fish! Holy Smokes! That is not very small at all! Thanks random pet store, soooo much help.
My female, Barkley (yes her name is Barkley LOL) is pretty chilled. I got her when she was little, as advised by my local aquarium, the lady there told me that if they grow up together they can be okay in a community tank. My tank is 200L (Australian measurement) Barkley isn't aggressive towards the smaller fish in my tank, that I have seen, including the guppies and Cories. She keeps to herself. She wouldn't be much smaller than your guy in the video She also loves to explore everything! I changed the theme of the tank a few weeks ago, and she got into every new ornament to investigate. In and out, two or three times. She has her favorite log that she likes to hide in a lot, she's kind of half between hiding and exploring. My other biggest fish in the tank are 2 male Bristlenose catfish and a pretty chilled Bolivian Ram. I hope she doesn't eventually get aggressive, because I love her so much.
I'm always fascinated by black fish. I think it's because although black furred animals are pretty common, when we think of "natural" things, we think of bright colored flowers, birds, fish, so black seems a little unusual.
I had a large red tail in a 25 gallon with cloud tetra, neon tetra, another small black tetra (name escapes me) clown loach. The thing had a alot of personality and definitely ran the tank, but it wasn't mean, it would chase a fish that got in front of it for about 2 seconds then wouldn't bother it, just like it was saying get outta my way lol. It would patrol the tank.
I jave a red tail shark, a rainbow shark (black not albino) and a flying fox all in a 65 gallon tank together with a couple bluegill and 4 cory cats. They have all been together in this tank for 3 years now. I think because the sharks have been together since they were babies...and theres amp!e hiding places for them all is why they have never shown any aggression. Very beautiful fish. Both are about 5 of 6 inches..vety robust, fins are healthy with no splits or chunks missing. The ocassional chase, but otherwise harmony. Thank you for your informative video, and for taking the time to educate others about this species! Namaste My Friend, and Happy Fish keeping!
I've had plenty of red tails over the years, I've always been told (and can confirm) the redder the tail, the more of a bully they can be. Keep them in a very large- 125G or better tank with lots of hides and keep them fed. My largest to date was 9.75'', had a super red tail and dominated that tank. It's still a great fish but keep fish of the same sizes and temperament so they can hold their own against a RTS.
It’s better to get one younger shark (1-2 inches) and put them in a tank with a few larger, fast fish like Gourami or Rainbows. As they grow, the shark won’t try to be dominant with the other fish. Larger, older red tails (3-5 inches) will immediately try to take over a community tank.
So I bought 3 of these 2 males 1 female they are paired with a Betta 2 pleccos and 20 guppy and 20 neon tetra do you believe these are going to cause issues in the near future ?
I keep red tail with lots of other fish I have been doing this for a long time . Roughly 10 years I have 5 in a 125 gallon. The rule with these fish in my opinion is either one or five or more. Temper displacement is key I have also had full grown red tails in with other small peaceful tropicals and have had zero issue. The fact of this fish and its temperament is that they are truly only aggressive with there own species. They will chase smaller fish for only a short time and I have never once seen one actually attack the other fish or have I found fish with injuries pointing to a red tail shark. They are not bad fish and they make wonderful additions to any community or semi aggressive tank. Great video !
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I'm sorry that you have not had positive experiences with them in community tanks. My five are doing well in my community. Again great video can't wait to see more content :)
This made me go get one again never got one that size in all my years of having them but I have one in a 55 gallon with a Chinese algae eater moving soon and buying a 150 then going to add more fish
Had a rainbow shark in a 55 it was only about 4 inches and it still found a way to bully my 6 inch blood Parrott. Yeah...my blood Parrott was a punk. I guess the problems solved now tho cuz they're both dead
I bought the red tail shark as a baby knowing it would grow to be big and it grew up with 4 mollies and a bunch of baby mollies. It started picking off the babies and then eventually picking on the small mollies then picking on the 4.5 inch mollies😂 now he’s a monster
My current Red Tail is exiled to my BNP grow out tank. He is plump and about six inches. He has his own large hollow hide that he frequents, in and out, in his swim patterns all day. He rarely bothers to look toward the BNPs, but when he does they scatter and seek refuge in their hides, plants, rocks, etc. He has not killed any. Loves blood worms, and throws a fit if he is asked to eat black worms, shrimp, etc. Intelligent fish, that recognizes me and that I feed him.
I call my sharky Dennis the Menace. He sometimes chases my other fish, but my tank is heavily scaped so there are plenty of places for everyone to hide. He mostly stays under the driftwood.
great video on red tail sharks! I have one with 5 angels and 6 denisoni barbs, they get along very well, shark occasionally chases the barbs around, but denisoni barbs don't seem to be bothered that much. I keep my tank with no substrate, helps to keep the tank much cleaner and healthier and I also believe it reduces the shark's teritorial tendencies
Good information as usual. When they are small they are very attractive , who would not want a bunch of them together? All fish stores should Have a video available up on the wall, where people can watch the many different breeds of fish that grow large and aggressive. All store owners should be required to advise buyers about these breeds. Good video as usual.
I've read that this fish is nearly extinct in the wild. So I would think that purchasing them (the fish in your lfs are 100% captive bred) is helping to ensure the survival of the species by supporting the breeders.
beautifull specimen my big red tail was also 6 inches but he passed away at the age of 7 yrs very sad. but these fish don't deserve the hate they're amazing
A timely post, for me. Very informative, and thanks! Interesting especially that you mention the Buenos Aires Tetra. I was sold a couple who were immediately the tank bullies to just about anything except a couple plecos. One in particular seemed a bit...crazy and I worried as some smaller fish started to turn up missing. The Danios seemed to have held their own though. This mayhem seemed to end when I brought in a couple small red tail shark. Now they chase each other around but in the 65 gallon planted have lots of places to be alone. I am a bit dismayed to hear that the shark, one 2 inches and the other 3, will grow effectively too large for this tank in the future. I wish the fish shops did a better job telling people all the pros and cons of the fish they sell.
Ya, I have found Buenos Aires tetras to be very out-going to say the least. I found the trick with them is big groups. I had six one time and they slowed killed each other. Bigger groups did better.
My RTBS has been kept with: Swordtails (multiple species) Corydoras (multiple species) Amazon shrimp Borneo loaches Clown pleco Rubberlip pleco Bristlenose pleco Gold white clouds Odessa barbs Tiger barbs Melon barbs Glofish skirt tetra rescues SAE (actual SAE) And a few others. The only ones she ever had issues with was the SAEs that were female and were big. Exactly her body shape. I've seen mine protect fry from the parents and many other amazing things. If you have a good school size, community fish are fine. These fish also demand to have a hide of some kind. A cave or cover they can sleep in. Mine is mostly nocturnal.
I have one in my community tank and it has never shown any hostility towards anything in the tank (55 gallon platys, gourami, lace catfish, kuli loach, shrimp,snails)
There are always exception to the rules. I've seen community tanks with all the wrong fish work. I've seen tanks full of beta's and no fights. But these things cannot always be redone. Your red tail shark might be fine now. Then you get a different and it tears your fish up...
My red tail loves his wooden decor because It allows him to hide inside. I used to have angels and black skirt tetras in with him but he’s killed or made the fish commit suicide by jumping out of the tank... so he won himself his own tank and I bought a second tank to save my last angel... it’s funny because before buying him I asked the sales people at the pet store if these specific species of fish could thrive in a tank together and they were very confident that they could, but I’ve learned other wise and my shark is going to live on his own. Otherwise I still love him very cool to watch and beautiful fish to own!
I've got one almost up to 6" now in with some Tinfoil Barbs, some Botia Modesta, a Featherfin Squeaker and a Panther Crab. Even though some of the barbs are twice the RTS size it's still the boss. I will also parrot what others have said about same species and fish that look similar. When I added the RTS, it had a "twin", which it harassed to death within 3 months. It also most frequently chases the botia modesta, but no where near as violently as it chased the other RTS.
i have had many different resurgences of my 33 gallon tank in which i never go without a red tail shark. you can hold a red tail successfully within a smaller tank as long as you follow a tight tank mate composition. i often go w a school of 3-5 danio bc ik they will always be able to outswim the 1 red tail. i also go with various platys but imo the best one for the RTS is the mickey mouse platys at any pet store. they are hardy and stick together which prevents 1v1 bullying
I have mine in a 50 with all kinds of peaceful fish like glass catfish, 4 kinds of danios, gouramis, and loaches, however it did kill my weather loach (which was bigger than it) and was merciless to tiger barbs. I think the key is to have them in a very densely planted tank
I just got 1 for my 29g community tank with a school of 6 serpae tetras and a yellow electric cichlid. I had 3 guppies in there but the serpaes would bully them and and nip at their fins! So I took the guppies out and put them in their own tank and now I have a semi aggressive tank. I know the yellow cichlid and the shark will need more space but their both babies (about 1 inch) and thats why im planning on getting a 55-75g tank in a year or so :)
This fish is incredible. I have one in an african cichlid 90gal tank for 2 years now. It works perfectly and one interesting thing too is that they are really good at cleaning up the algae out of the rocks or substrate. I think that as long as a big red tail shark is in a rather big tank together with some bigger fish, everything is fine and this fish can rapidly become a favorite.
How would it be as far as in a tank with a jack demsy, I’ve got a 75 gallon that I recently purchased. It’s empty rn but I have a growing jackdemsy and a black convict in a 55. Before I switch them over I wanted to add 1 more fish. Is this the fish or will I have problems
In a 75gal, you should be perfectly fine. Depends on how big is your JD, but they are usually very peaceful and placid. Your convict will, in my opinion, be more picky with the shark, but again, it depends on the size of the fish. If the convict shows too much interest on the shark (female convicts can be very mean), just add more fish like green terror, blue acara, firemouth and you will be just fine! The only big trouble i got when i still had a new world cichlids tank, was with a salvini. The shark was hiding all day long because of him.
I had one in my mbuna tank for about 1 year. Everything was fine until 1 day the mbunas all ganged up on the red tail and shred it to pieces and killed it. You never know when these african cichlids can turn nasty without warning.
Do you happen to know how long it took for this fish to reach this size? I have one about 3.5 inches which has plenty of room in my 30 gallon with no aggression issues. Curious how quick they grow/how long I may have until it starts to grow to beast size like yours and need to upgrade...thanks!
I have a beautiful blue convict cichlid with my red tail, the red tail is perfect for territorial fish he will not attack back but he will also not back down like a smaller fish would and now it’s at the point where the convict has to get use to it
I have a goldfish tank and added the red tail shark because my wife wanted him, he’s small very young and the goldfish are a little larger (about 3 inches) and I keep the temp on the higher side for goldfish and the RTS has been thriving. His tail is deep red and was white in the tank I got him from, he even does good with the pleco... hopefully it stays this way long enough because I don’t want a bigger thank at the moment.
I kept a tank many years ago and had platys and a beautiful clown loach with tetras too. Pet shop told me this fish would be fine with my fish... Within 2 days all my fish were not just dead but gone ...I was so upset because I'd put this predatory fish in with them! I took it back to the shop and told them what had happened and they said no it can't be this fish. I knew better since it was the only fish left in the tank. The experience put me off keeping aquariums but I do keep goldfish and comets in a pond these days 😃
Tank size all depends on “how you set it up”. Your tank here is extremely overcrowded - too many fish and not enough room to move, so the Shark is going to be aggressive. They get irritated when overcrowded. You could make it a lot more open removing some of the wood and putting some towards one side and leaving an open space either in the middle or off to one side. I had a Redtail Shark, Gourami, Giant Danio, Tiger Barbs x2, Rainbow Shark, and a few other fish, all in a 10 gal tank when I was first starting out back in about 1983 and they lived communally for a long time, until I traded some away. They were all small fish at the time but were happy and healthy.
Actually - he was a model citizen in this tank. He lived a long happy life and didn’t bother the other fish in the tank because they were matched well.
My red tail doesn’t actively chase or bother my other fish but he definitely puts the others in their place if they try to take his favorite hiding spot. One good thing is red tails don’t nip, they just use their bodies to kind of push the others out of the way.
They def nip......Well usually. Maybe not yours. I've had plenty of fish that act completely out of character over the years...Considering I'm all about cichlids, I love those "black sheep" :-)
I have two red tail shark but luckily they are peaceful and they both just dance rubbing their body to each other and they wont fight.its better to keep them in fast moving water to reduce its aggression
I've had my red tail shark in a tank with angelfish all young from the store. The shark spends most of it's time skirting across surfaces, or going in and out of hiding. I haven't seen any aggression issues with it yet. The only aggression I have seen was the angelfish after laying some eggs. I got lucky I guess.
Hi I just found your group. I just talked to my fish shop about swapping my red tail shark. I have always kept them but this one killed one of my silver sharks and really damaged the other. You have given me a couple of new ideas to try to keep him. I've had him for at least 2 years so he is fully grown. I have subscribed to your group so thanks for the advice.
Since my cory is by himself because I got given him for free is not as active but he still active and plays around sometimes the rainbow shark does not bother him, I think the cory and the Chinese algae eater are friends they are usually next to eachother.
I just got one I have a 20 gallon community tank with a blue gourami and 3 cherry barbs 3 red nose minnows and a emerald Cory dora and gold mystery snail lots of room still and I’m thinking of getting a 40 gallon for the gourami n red tail and then add an angle fish but they are all happy with each other my male cherry barb was chasing the red tail shark and the shark didn’t want to play and they were fighting but I made them stop and now they don’t fight but my tank is really nice to look at I wanna make my own UA-cam videos and show y’all
When i was a young boy i had a tropical community tank and added one of these to...."Clean the bottom..." He kept getting bigger and fish slowly started going missing.....whoops.
Glad you are here! He's about 6-7 years old I think? They grow moderately fast and most fish continue to grow throughout their life, but he probably got close to that size within about 3-4 years.
Do you think its better to feed the fish( redtail shark and loaches) once or twice a day? In the morning or in the afternoon? THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS FANTASTIC HOBBY!
Went to the LFS to buy some torpedo barbs for my 180g. Saw they had a 5 inch red tail and bought him on the spot. He is not aggressive at the moment but he is still getting settled.
Man I remember I didn’t know how to take care of fish when I was about 11 years old.. I went to a local fish store and bought one. Bought a tank and everything. Went home set up my tank let the fish in it. Couple days later I went to clean my tank not knowing anything of how to properly move fish. I put tap water in a pot and transferred the fish in it. Next thing you know the fish went crazy moving like the flash banged his head on both the walls of the pot in a flash. Then it died.. I was so upset because I really wanted to see it grow. I’m 22 years old now and fishing is my hobby and I just enjoy taking care of fish. I think I might get a new set up.
In the tank in the video I have a severum, leaf ctenopoma, black skirt tetras, geophagus steindachneri, pearl gourami and possibly a few other I can't remember.
So you cant have one of these with a pleco or 4 lined pim catfish? and what about balas? Also i just subscribed because you are one of the few ppl that has answered my questions and i like your videos.
I think sadly i wont be able to keep a red tail in my 125g unless i go without a pleco and the 4 lined pim. Also i will have some balas. I really want a red tail tho :( I wish no fish were aggressive so i could keep whatever kind i wanted.
This is just from my personal experience, so take what I say with a grain of salt, because obviously my experience will be different. But I have a 55gal tank filled with a bunch of small fish like tetra, but I also have some medium sized fish. I haven’t had any issues with my tank ever. My shark only will dark out of his hiding spots to spook the nearby fish, but doesn’t pursuit in a chase. I’ve seen some pretty bad shark fights in my day, so I don’t find my current sharks behavior to be problematic. But also from my past experience, I think it just comes down to your tank setup really.
I took a tank that the previous owner had for 4 years that they put 4 red tail sharks in. I dont have the money to get them a different tank atm even though I know they need to be separate. That being said these are in a 55 gallon tank with mollies and they have never been aggressive at all.
Here is a tip. If you want a aggressive fish for a community tank always buy the one that is beat up. Fins missing under weight aggressive fish always pick on the weakest link. I got a green spotted puffer and it was a menace so I traded it in for the one that looked at the edge of death and it is a nice fish. Doesn't attack any fish in my tank only eats snails. Don't buy the most perfect fish in the store because it's the dominant one and is the meanest.
Mines Currently Living In A 30 Gallon Community Tank And The Only Problems I Ever Get With Him Are Chasing The Danio As They Are A Similar Size Currently When He Begins To Really Grow Though I’m Going To Put Him In A Much Larger Tank Ideally 60 Gallons With More Predatory Community Fish
I have a 40 gallon with guppies and I rescued a almost full grown red tail from my cousin. The guppies learned to steer clear of the shark and even had babies. The majority of them grew to adults, maybe I’m just lucky but they don’t seem to be as bad as this video makes them out to be.
Always liked this fish, had some small ones in the past but they like to jump. Got one about 3"-4", has a cave to hide in and that is all he did 1st 10 days, my experience this one does not like other orange/black fish (Tiger bard, Red Panda) all other fish in tank does not bother.
I have a 6-6.5 inch red tail shark with other sharks but he’s not as chunky as the one you have there and since the others are almost as big as he is, my camera doesn’t do much justice on his size. Mine has lost a little bit of weight with age. I have 2 redtail sharks, and 6 rainbow sharks in a 135 gallon. They have been living together with plenty of hiding spots for the last several years with the oldest one that I mentioned above being 6 years old
I had one and he was a bully as well. I ended up putting him in a 75 with two Convict cichlids and the male convict tried to chase him around but he was way too quick so it worked out pretty well.
Finding fish to keep with Red Tail Sharks can be a challenge. Here are some fish that have worked for us. Always have a back up plan in case the combo doesn't work for you. Check out these videos to learn more!
Syncrossus berdmorei (Cool Loach): ua-cam.com/video/tsgGOadP74k/v-deo.html
Geophagus steindachneri: ua-cam.com/video/yfVx-TOCc_M/v-deo.html
Oscars (make sure they aren't big enough to eat a small red tail shark): ua-cam.com/video/iMGeND3zETk/v-deo.html
Severums: ua-cam.com/video/xnUJKMhr_nU/v-deo.html
Can you keep one alone?
@@robexotic2.050 i have mine alone because she bullies (very aggressively) anything that is put in with her..she seems pretty happy though alone tbh.she has a ton of personality.she seems to recognize my voice and comes out of hiding when i talk to her and follows my finger/hand..she loves swimming through things like logs or caves..shes a bully but i love her so much😊❤ ive had her almost 3 years now.
This fish was one of my first almost 40yrs ago. Brings back happy childhood memories. My Dad loved mine. It lived for about 10yrs in a 3ft community tank with dwarf gouramis, guppies, danios etc. Ended up an only fish though as it got huge.
You kinda look like triple h lol but I really really love animals especially fish do you keep salt water also ?
@@mercygirl317
My female is pretty chilled with her tank-mates, but she grew up with them from a small/young age. I was advised by my local aquarium. that they can grow up together and may be okay with other fish.
I have Guppies and Cories, among others and she doesn't bother them that I've seen. I have a 200L tank though so they can all keep out of each other's way.
She does love to explore though! When I changed the theme of my tank a few weeks ago, she was into every new ornament, investigating and swimming in and out at least 2-3 times. They are funny to watch.
She also loves to swim upside down to eat whatever is on the bottom of the plants in the tank.
This is my longest living fish at this time. My red tail shark has survived from my first tank that I had no idea what I was doing to now living life in my 75 gallon. I enjoy that you bring information to fish that no one else wants to give credit to.
Ya, they are a pretty hardy fish.😀
Do you have other fish in there with him?
The hobby really needs more videos like this. Was going to buy one for my 40 breeder but when I saw how big it gets there is no way. That's good for me and it's good for the fish.
Ya, they’ll get 6” easy in the right set-up. Thanks for watching!
Same here, I was thinking of one but didn't realise they got this big. Changed my mind for sure.
Right I had a red tail and a albino but I never knew they got this big! Thanks for this video
My sharky has a nice dark coconut cave to take refuge under where he loves to coop up for almost the whole day. If he fancies a change, he can do an Air BnB in the neighbouring submarine. If Mr Gourami is currently inhabiting the sub, he better get out. I have 3 angel fishies who he doesn't bother at all.
Sounds beautiful lol
Had mine for 7 years and counting. Not aggressive at all if you give them lots hiding spaces and driftwood.Mine is in a 120 gallon tank. The only time they show aggression is at feeding time as they love food and are always grazing. Good informative video.
my female red tail is absolutely amazing. i have her with 5 tiger barbs, 5 synodontis multipunctatus catfish, and 8 corydoras in a 55 gallon. everyone does absolutely perfect
That’s cause u don’t have any middle swimmer that can big as red tail shark .
Sooooo are they still good? Any updates?
It's more like Petco will tell you they like pairs. According to them everything wants pairs.
So true and they dont really take care of their fish eather
i bought 2 small ones from pets mart and they told me in pairs. now one is harassing the other one. i'm going to separate them now
I bought four of them, two blacks and two albinos... when will I have a problem? And what fish recommended to swim with one in a 20 gallon tall tank
Gotta love large chain pet stores. I once had one of their employees tell my nephew and niece, ages six and four, a betta would be fine with a red tail black shark, along with a school of tiger barbs, would be fine with a betta behind my back, after I told them no.
The big box stores simply irritate me with a lack of knowledge within incredible levels especially during the summer months when kids who never owned a fish bowl are selling fish.
Really good information. I think this information is invaluable for new hobbyist as the attractiveness of the fish is a lure however the overall environment as it relates to hierarchy and safety of community fish is important.
Thank you!
Similar body shapes attract a very strong territorial response from Red tail sharks, and slow moving fish will usually always do badly in the same tank with fast swimming fish. Having said that, I do keep mine in a very peaceful community tank with great success, and have done for many years.
how big tank
They are mainly aggressive towards other Epalzeorhynchos bicolor and/or similar-looking fish (Crossocheilus siamensis - for example).
That has been my experience too.
They are very aggressive towards each other,and as someone who got to spawn sharks,these were a pain because they are bullies.
@@galapagos6186 You got them to spawn?😱How bro?
i’ve owned two and never had an aggressive one.
I have 1 and 2 rainbows in a 29, and they get along fine, theres an ocational display, as they are territorial but never agression they are great. I say it all depends
@@yadiellatinopropmaker5289 ive had one in a 55 gallon at 3 inches with 6 angels and kill a full grown angel and a 4 inch angel and tear their fins apart in under 3 days before I found out it wasn't the angels picking on each other
@Jonathon Mah 1 month and a few days, so far nothing out of ordinary. One of them is 4 inches, and hes been relatively chill
@Jonathon Mah yeah im monitoring them, so far hes behaved good enough, despite being that size.
@Jonathon Mah I currently have Mollies (which I'm trying to give to a friend), 2 Yo-yo's, 3 catfish and a 1 pleco in addition to my 2 baby-ish red tail sharks (I didn't know it could be a bad thing).
I want to add:
• 2 Rainbow Red tails
• 2-3 Clown Louches
• African Cichlids
And I don't know what else.
Does this seem okay? I have a 47 gallon tank.
Spot on about the aggression developing with age. Every one I've had has eventually become the most feared fish in the tank, even with African Cichlids.
This video really help! I was at my local pet store and of course there was no information about any of the fish. I thought it looked cool, and they small. I figured I should go home and research the fish so I could take care of it properly (and if they were salt water fish I just wouldn’t get them). Glad I made the smart choice! I wasn’t looking for a big fish at all, then I see your fish! Holy Smokes! That is not very small at all! Thanks random pet store, soooo much help.
My female, Barkley (yes her name is Barkley LOL) is pretty chilled. I got her when she was little, as advised by my local aquarium, the lady there told me that if they grow up together they can be okay in a community tank. My tank is 200L (Australian measurement)
Barkley isn't aggressive towards the smaller fish in my tank, that I have seen, including the guppies and Cories. She keeps to herself. She wouldn't be much smaller than your guy in the video
She also loves to explore everything! I changed the theme of the tank a few weeks ago, and she got into every new ornament to investigate. In and out, two or three times. She has her favorite log that she likes to hide in a lot, she's kind of half between hiding and exploring.
My other biggest fish in the tank are 2 male Bristlenose catfish and a pretty chilled Bolivian Ram.
I hope she doesn't eventually get aggressive, because I love her so much.
I'm always fascinated by black fish. I think it's because although black furred animals are pretty common, when we think of "natural" things, we think of bright colored flowers, birds, fish, so black seems a little unusual.
I had a large red tail in a 25 gallon with cloud tetra, neon tetra, another small black tetra (name escapes me) clown loach. The thing had a alot of personality and definitely ran the tank, but it wasn't mean, it would chase a fish that got in front of it for about 2 seconds then wouldn't bother it, just like it was saying get outta my way lol. It would patrol the tank.
I have mine in a 20 gal. Will he outgrow the tank? I've had him for a year and he's not that big. They say they are full grown in a year.
Great information Jason, thanks for sharing! I agree 75g or larger is needed for this fish!
Thanks man!
I jave a red tail shark, a rainbow shark (black not albino) and a flying fox all in a 65 gallon tank together with a couple bluegill and 4 cory cats. They have all been together in this tank for 3 years now. I think because the sharks have been together since they were babies...and theres amp!e hiding places for them all is why they have never shown any aggression. Very beautiful fish. Both are about 5 of 6 inches..vety robust, fins are healthy with no splits or chunks missing. The ocassional chase, but otherwise harmony.
Thank you for your informative video, and for taking the time to educate others about this species! Namaste My Friend, and Happy Fish keeping!
Glad everything is working out!
Nice man that red tail shark is huge
Thanks!
Great video. Clear, concise, intelligently communicated and informative. Keep them coming! I like the red tail shark but it's not a favorite of mine.
I've had plenty of red tails over the years, I've always been told (and can confirm) the redder the tail, the more of a bully they can be. Keep them in a very large- 125G or better tank with lots of hides and keep them fed. My largest to date was 9.75'', had a super red tail and dominated that tank. It's still a great fish but keep fish of the same sizes and temperament so they can hold their own against a RTS.
That’s a huge fish!
It’s better to get one younger shark (1-2 inches) and put them in a tank with a few larger, fast fish like Gourami or Rainbows. As they grow, the shark won’t try to be dominant with the other fish.
Larger, older red tails (3-5 inches) will immediately try to take over a community tank.
So I bought 3 of these 2 males 1 female they are paired with a Betta 2 pleccos and 20 guppy and 20 neon tetra do you believe these are going to cause issues in the near future ?
I keep red tail with lots of other fish I have been doing this for a long time . Roughly 10 years I have 5 in a 125 gallon. The rule with these fish in my opinion is either one or five or more. Temper displacement is key I have also had full grown red tails in with other small peaceful tropicals and have had zero issue. The fact of this fish and its temperament is that they are truly only aggressive with there own species. They will chase smaller fish for only a short time and I have never once seen one actually attack the other fish or have I found fish with injuries pointing to a red tail shark. They are not bad fish and they make wonderful additions to any community or semi aggressive tank. Great video !
I’ve been keeping these fish for over 40 years and can’t remember one ever behaving in a community tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I'm sorry that you have not had positive experiences with them in community tanks. My five are doing well in my community. Again great video can't wait to see more content :)
Thanks very much for mentioning African cichlids because i considering getting 1 red fin for my 125g african cichlid tank.
This made me go get one again never got one that size in all my years of having them but I have one in a 55 gallon with a Chinese algae eater moving soon and buying a 150 then going to add more fish
Had a rainbow shark in a 55 it was only about 4 inches and it still found a way to bully my 6 inch blood Parrott. Yeah...my blood Parrott was a punk. I guess the problems solved now tho cuz they're both dead
I guess no worries anymore!
I bought the red tail shark as a baby knowing it would grow to be big and it grew up with 4 mollies and a bunch of baby mollies. It started picking off the babies and then eventually picking on the small mollies then picking on the 4.5 inch mollies😂 now he’s a monster
😂😂
Lol that's dark
My current Red Tail is exiled to my BNP grow out tank. He is plump and about six inches. He has his own large hollow hide that he frequents, in and out, in his swim patterns all day. He rarely bothers to look toward the BNPs, but when he does they scatter and seek refuge in their hides, plants, rocks, etc. He has not killed any. Loves blood worms, and throws a fit if he is asked to eat black worms, shrimp, etc. Intelligent fish, that recognizes me and that I feed him.
The Other BOB aka Bob Caylor Wow, the ideal wet pet👍🏾.
That sounds like a Red Tail fit for sure. Haha
This is literally how I want my fish tank love that all black. Theme
I call my sharky Dennis the Menace. He sometimes chases my other fish, but my tank is heavily scaped so there are plenty of places for everyone to hide. He mostly stays under the driftwood.
great video on red tail sharks! I have one with 5 angels and 6 denisoni barbs, they get along very well, shark occasionally chases the barbs around, but denisoni barbs don't seem to be bothered that much. I keep my tank with no substrate, helps to keep the tank much cleaner and healthier and I also believe it reduces the shark's teritorial tendencies
Glad to hear it’s working!
Good information as usual. When they are small they are very attractive , who would not want a bunch of them together? All fish stores should Have a video available up on the wall, where people can watch the many different breeds of fish that grow large and aggressive.
All store owners should be required to advise buyers about these breeds. Good video as usual.
I've read that this fish is nearly extinct in the wild. So I would think that purchasing them (the fish in your lfs are 100% captive bred) is helping to ensure the survival of the species by supporting the breeders.
The big thing is making sure they have the right sized tank and proper tank mates!
One of the very first fish I ever purchased when I was 13 years old... always been one of my favorite fish.
Mine too!
I heard they are in cyprinid fish family which includes carp , koi, goldfish
beautifull specimen my big red tail was also 6 inches but he passed away at the age of 7 yrs very sad.
but these fish don't deserve the hate they're amazing
I agree - when kept with the proper tank mates, they can be quite enjoyable!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics In my opinion they're one of the most stunning fish
A timely post, for me. Very informative, and thanks!
Interesting especially that you mention the Buenos Aires Tetra. I was sold a couple who were immediately the tank bullies to just about anything except a couple plecos. One in particular seemed a bit...crazy and I worried as some smaller fish started to turn up missing. The Danios seemed to have held their own though.
This mayhem seemed to end when I brought in a couple small red tail shark. Now they chase each other around but in the 65 gallon planted have lots of places to be alone. I am a bit dismayed to hear that the shark, one 2 inches and the other 3, will grow effectively too large for this tank in the future. I wish the fish shops did a better job telling people all the pros and cons of the fish they sell.
Ya, I have found Buenos Aires tetras to be very out-going to say the least. I found the trick with them is big groups. I had six one time and they slowed killed each other. Bigger groups did better.
My RTBS has been kept with:
Swordtails (multiple species)
Corydoras (multiple species)
Amazon shrimp
Borneo loaches
Clown pleco
Rubberlip pleco
Bristlenose pleco
Gold white clouds
Odessa barbs
Tiger barbs
Melon barbs
Glofish skirt tetra rescues
SAE (actual SAE)
And a few others.
The only ones she ever had issues with was the SAEs that were female and were big. Exactly her body shape.
I've seen mine protect fry from the parents and many other amazing things.
If you have a good school size, community fish are fine.
These fish also demand to have a hide of some kind. A cave or cover they can sleep in. Mine is mostly nocturnal.
Great info thanks!
This is one of my favorite fish. 😊
It's a cool fish!
I have one in my community tank and it has never shown any hostility towards anything in the tank (55 gallon platys, gourami, lace catfish, kuli loach, shrimp,snails)
Thanks for sharing!
Haseeb 2 none I have had the kuli lunches and red tail shark for years and they have never bothered each other
Just add another red tail if you want an aggressive fish.These are very dangerous towards conspecifics.
There are always exception to the rules. I've seen community tanks with all the wrong fish work. I've seen tanks full of beta's and no fights. But these things cannot always be redone. Your red tail shark might be fine now. Then you get a different and it tears your fish up...
mr. kriβensis I have 3 red tails and 2 albino rainbow and there is never any fights in mine
That’s a nice looking tank. Dark matching the fish.
I have two red tail sharks in a 55gal, one is aggressive and the other is not. The big one chased some of my fish.
My red tail loves his wooden decor because It allows him to hide inside. I used to have angels and black skirt tetras in with him but he’s killed or made the fish commit suicide by jumping out of the tank... so he won himself his own tank and I bought a second tank to save my last angel... it’s funny because before buying him I asked the sales people at the pet store if these specific species of fish could thrive in a tank together and they were very confident that they could, but I’ve learned other wise and my shark is going to live on his own. Otherwise I still love him very cool to watch and beautiful fish to own!
They are cool, but you are so right! Have to pick tankmates carefully. :-)
Red tail shark cleans my tank of algae better than any other fish.
I've got one almost up to 6" now in with some Tinfoil Barbs, some Botia Modesta, a Featherfin Squeaker and a Panther Crab. Even though some of the barbs are twice the RTS size it's still the boss. I will also parrot what others have said about same species and fish that look similar. When I added the RTS, it had a "twin", which it harassed to death within 3 months. It also most frequently chases the botia modesta, but no where near as violently as it chased the other RTS.
Appreciate you sharing your experience!
great research about this fish.hope everyone should do its research before buying their fish. this is heads up info about this fish....
i have had many different resurgences of my 33 gallon tank in which i never go without a red tail shark. you can hold a red tail successfully within a smaller tank as long as you follow a tight tank mate composition. i often go w a school of 3-5 danio bc ik they will always be able to outswim the 1 red tail. i also go with various platys but imo the best one for the RTS is the mickey mouse platys at any pet store. they are hardy and stick together which prevents 1v1 bullying
I have mine in a 50 with all kinds of peaceful fish like glass catfish, 4 kinds of danios, gouramis, and loaches, however it did kill my weather loach (which was bigger than it) and was merciless to tiger barbs. I think the key is to have them in a very densely planted tank
I just got 1 for my 29g community tank with a school of 6 serpae tetras and a yellow electric cichlid. I had 3 guppies in there but the serpaes would bully them and and nip at their fins! So I took the guppies out and put them in their own tank and now I have a semi aggressive tank. I know the yellow cichlid and the shark will need more space but their both babies (about 1 inch) and thats why im planning on getting a 55-75g tank in a year or so :)
I’ve got a rainbow in with my 3 juvenile red belly piranha and 12 tiger barbs they get along well for the moment
I have had mine in a 29 gallon with 10 tetras and I have had no issue other than during feeding time
I've found they fit in decent until about 4-5", then they terrorize everything they can. Glad it's working so far!
This fish is incredible. I have one in an african cichlid 90gal tank for 2 years now. It works perfectly and one interesting thing too is that they are really good at cleaning up the algae out of the rocks or substrate. I think that as long as a big red tail shark is in a rather big tank together with some bigger fish, everything is fine and this fish can rapidly become a favorite.
I’ve done the same and it worked too!
How would it be as far as in a tank with a jack demsy, I’ve got a 75 gallon that I recently purchased. It’s empty rn but I have a growing jackdemsy and a black convict in a 55. Before I switch them over I wanted to add 1 more fish. Is this the fish or will I have problems
In a 75gal, you should be perfectly fine. Depends on how big is your JD, but they are usually very peaceful and placid. Your convict will, in my opinion, be more picky with the shark, but again, it depends on the size of the fish. If the convict shows too much interest on the shark (female convicts can be very mean), just add more fish like green terror, blue acara, firemouth and you will be just fine! The only big trouble i got when i still had a new world cichlids tank, was with a salvini. The shark was hiding all day long because of him.
I had one in my mbuna tank for about 1 year. Everything was fine until 1 day the mbunas all ganged up on the red tail and shred it to pieces and killed it. You never know when these african cichlids can turn nasty without warning.
I know this is really old thread but i got one with gold fish and a cichlid and giant bottom feeder
What you have going on here is my ideal tank. Also, thank you for introducing me to the sponge filtration system.
Thank you! Appreciate you watching.
Ive got one that bullies Central American Cichlids. Your spot on with that size. That's when mine "snapped" and started bullying.
Crazy how that happens.
Do you happen to know how long it took for this fish to reach this size? I have one about 3.5 inches which has plenty of room in my 30 gallon with no aggression issues. Curious how quick they grow/how long I may have until it starts to grow to beast size like yours and need to upgrade...thanks!
It was probably 2-3 years?
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks! By that time I'll be out of college and can upgrade!
I keep them with cichlids in my 55 gallon
I have a beautiful blue convict cichlid with my red tail, the red tail is perfect for territorial fish he will not attack back but he will also not back down like a smaller fish would and now it’s at the point where the convict has to get use to it
I have a goldfish tank and added the red tail shark because my wife wanted him, he’s small very young and the goldfish are a little larger (about 3 inches) and I keep the temp on the higher side for goldfish and the RTS has been thriving. His tail is deep red and was white in the tank I got him from, he even does good with the pleco... hopefully it stays this way long enough because I don’t want a bigger thank at the moment.
I kept a tank many years ago and had platys and a beautiful clown loach with tetras too. Pet shop told me this fish would be fine with my fish... Within 2 days all my fish were not just dead but gone ...I was so upset because I'd put this predatory fish in with them! I took it back to the shop and told them what had happened and they said no it can't be this fish. I knew better since it was the only fish left in the tank. The experience put me off keeping aquariums but I do keep goldfish and comets in a pond these days 😃
I'm sure that was frustrating.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics it was ... I wish I'd had access to your information then lol but it was 35 years ago 🤣🤣
Thats an awesome tank man. Great tank!!!
Thank you!
Thanks bud 🤜🏻🤛🏻
I have a baby red tail shark and it’s temper is actually mild. So mild in fact I have it right now in with a glow fish. It’s a beautiful fish.
They generally change at about the 4" mark or so.
Tank size all depends on “how you set it up”. Your tank here is extremely overcrowded - too many fish and not enough room to move, so the Shark is going to be aggressive. They get irritated when overcrowded. You could make it a lot more open removing some of the wood and putting some towards one side and leaving an open space either in the middle or off to one side. I had a Redtail Shark, Gourami, Giant Danio, Tiger Barbs x2, Rainbow Shark, and a few other fish, all in a 10 gal tank when I was first starting out back in about 1983 and they lived communally for a long time, until I traded some away. They were all small fish at the time but were happy and healthy.
Actually - he was a model citizen in this tank. He lived a long happy life and didn’t bother the other fish in the tank because they were matched well.
My red tail doesn’t actively chase or bother my other fish but he definitely puts the others in their place if they try to take his favorite hiding spot. One good thing is red tails don’t nip, they just use their bodies to kind of push the others out of the way.
MIne has shredded fish fins - they get more aggressive as they get larger.
They def nip......Well usually. Maybe not yours. I've had plenty of fish that act completely out of character over the years...Considering I'm all about cichlids, I love those "black sheep" :-)
OMG that guy is huge! I had mine for 5 years and it wasn't even close to that big!! Wow that's awesome!
Thank you!
crazy the size they actually can get too
I have two red tail shark but luckily they are peaceful and they both just dance rubbing their body to each other and they wont fight.its better to keep them in fast moving water to reduce its aggression
You’ve convinced me good sir! I’ll be adding one to my 120!
I've had my red tail shark in a tank with angelfish all young from the store. The shark spends most of it's time skirting across surfaces, or going in and out of hiding. I haven't seen any aggression issues with it yet. The only aggression I have seen was the angelfish after laying some eggs. I got lucky I guess.
Hi I just found your group. I just talked to my fish shop about swapping my red tail shark. I have always kept them but this one killed one of my silver sharks and really damaged the other. You have given me a couple of new ideas to try to keep him. I've had him for at least 2 years so he is fully grown. I have subscribed to your group so thanks for the advice.
Glad you are here! Thanks for watching.
Since my cory is by himself because I got given him for free is not as active but he still active and plays around sometimes the rainbow shark does not bother him, I think the cory and the Chinese algae eater are friends they are usually next to eachother.
Corys will sometimes do that kind of thing. : -)
I have 7 of those in a 50 gal, they get along just fine. Since they have lots of small tankmates .
I'll be interested to see how they do as they get older.
I just got one I have a 20 gallon community tank with a blue gourami and 3 cherry barbs 3 red nose minnows and a emerald Cory dora and gold mystery snail lots of room still and I’m thinking of getting a 40 gallon for the gourami n red tail and then add an angle fish but they are all happy with each other my male cherry barb was chasing the red tail shark and the shark didn’t want to play and they were fighting but I made them stop and now they don’t fight but my tank is really nice to look at I wanna make my own UA-cam videos and show y’all
When i was a young boy i had a tropical community tank and added one of these to...."Clean the bottom..." He kept getting bigger and fish slowly started going missing.....whoops.
I have had one for years in a 60 gallon with two angel fish and a couple other random fish, no problems 🤞
Shouldn’t keep them with angel fish
I have a red tail shark with Barb's and such in a 58. He is definitely the boss of the tank
Ya, they definitely take over a tank. : -)
Nice fish. I subscribed to your channel 👍🏽. How old is your shark and how long did it take to get that big ?
Glad you are here! He's about 6-7 years old I think? They grow moderately fast and most fish continue to grow throughout their life, but he probably got close to that size within about 3-4 years.
Prime Time Aquatics thanks for answering my question. I have one that’s 1 year old and it’s about 5 inches.
Stunning fish. Good advice 👍😀
Thanks Mark!
Do you think its better to feed the fish( redtail shark and loaches) once or twice a day? In the morning or in the afternoon? THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS FANTASTIC HOBBY!
Great questions! I prefer to feed smaller meals twice per day. I feed in the morning and in the evening.
They're beautiful and I'm getting some when my axolotl dies
Good info. I like the way you present the info.
Thank you!
Went to the LFS to buy some torpedo barbs for my 180g. Saw they had a 5 inch red tail and bought him on the spot. He is not aggressive at the moment but he is still getting settled.
Let us know how he does once settled in! It's a big tank and with the right tank mates he may be a wonderful addition!
Man I remember I didn’t know how to take care of fish when I was about 11 years old.. I went to a local fish store and bought one. Bought a tank and everything. Went home set up my tank let the fish in it. Couple days later I went to clean my tank not knowing anything of how to properly move fish. I put tap water in a pot and transferred the fish in it.
Next thing you know the fish went crazy moving like the flash banged his head on both the walls of the pot in a flash. Then it died.. I was so upset because I really wanted to see it grow. I’m 22 years old now and fishing is my hobby and I just enjoy taking care of fish.
I think I might get a new set up.
Nice thing is now there is so much on the internet to help people along! It's a great hobby. : -)
I had one and he wouldn't back down from a fight. Very tough and territorial with their food. I kept him with african cichlids and a red devil.
What fish are in the tank (couldn’t hear when he listed them)
In the tank in the video I have a severum, leaf ctenopoma, black skirt tetras, geophagus steindachneri, pearl gourami and possibly a few other I can't remember.
So you cant have one of these with a pleco or 4 lined pim catfish? and what about balas? Also i just subscribed because you are one of the few ppl that has answered my questions and i like your videos.
I think sadly i wont be able to keep a red tail in my 125g unless i go without a pleco and the 4 lined pim. Also i will have some balas. I really want a red tail tho :( I wish no fish were aggressive so i could keep whatever kind i wanted.
I have seen them relentlessly chase balas and other types of catfish. Thanks for watching!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks alot i cant have the red tail chasing my poor balas! maybe one day ill get a seperate tank for red tails and other types
I've got one in my 260ltr with my guppies he seems fine as of now but I'll keep an eye on him not sure what to do if he starts to bully like
Excellent advice thank you xxx
This is just from my personal experience, so take what I say with a grain of salt, because obviously my experience will be different.
But I have a 55gal tank filled with a bunch of small fish like tetra, but I also have some medium sized fish.
I haven’t had any issues with my tank ever. My shark only will dark out of his hiding spots to spook the nearby fish, but doesn’t pursuit in a chase.
I’ve seen some pretty bad shark fights in my day, so I don’t find my current sharks behavior to be problematic.
But also from my past experience, I think it just comes down to your tank setup really.
That's cool that it's working out! Thanks for sharing.
I took a tank that the previous owner had for 4 years that they put 4 red tail sharks in. I dont have the money to get them a different tank atm even though I know they need to be separate. That being said these are in a 55 gallon tank with mollies and they have never been aggressive at all.
Good to hear!
Here is a tip. If you want a aggressive fish for a community tank always buy the one that is beat up. Fins missing under weight aggressive fish always pick on the weakest link. I got a green spotted puffer and it was a menace so I traded it in for the one that looked at the edge of death and it is a nice fish. Doesn't attack any fish in my tank only eats snails. Don't buy the most perfect fish in the store because it's the dominant one and is the meanest.
This the stupidest advice u can give to people buying fish
Mines Currently Living In A 30 Gallon Community Tank And The Only Problems I Ever Get With Him Are Chasing The Danio As They Are A Similar Size Currently When He Begins To Really Grow Though I’m Going To Put Him In A Much Larger Tank Ideally 60 Gallons With More Predatory Community Fish
Sounds like a good plan!
Do geen severums usally get dark like that?
Your severum is a beautiful fish.
Also what is the name of the fish that looks like a geophagus.
They do on darker substrate.
I have a 40 gallon with guppies and I rescued a almost full grown red tail from my cousin. The guppies learned to steer clear of the shark and even had babies. The majority of them grew to adults, maybe I’m just lucky but they don’t seem to be as bad as this video makes them out to be.
Might be its size. They get more territorial with age and size. Hopefully, it's just a nice red tail. : -)
Always liked this fish, had some small ones in the past but they like to jump. Got one about 3"-4", has a cave to hide in and that is all he did 1st 10 days, my experience this one does not like other orange/black fish (Tiger bard, Red Panda) all other fish in tank does not bother.
I have a 6-6.5 inch red tail shark with other sharks but he’s not as chunky as the one you have there and since the others are almost as big as he is, my camera doesn’t do much justice on his size. Mine has lost a little bit of weight with age. I have 2 redtail sharks, and 6 rainbow sharks in a 135 gallon. They have been living together with plenty of hiding spots for the last several years with the oldest one that I mentioned above being 6 years old
Sounds like a set up that's working well!
I've got a Red Tail Shark with a few Cory cats, and a Electric Blue acara. I mean he's pretty big and so far he's been doing fine.
Good to hear!
Just bought mine, cool so far
love their look
I had one and he was a bully as well. I ended up putting him in a 75 with two Convict cichlids and the male convict tried to chase him around but he was way too quick so it worked out pretty well.
That's sounds like a nice mix!