Red-Tailed Black Shark (pics :p )

Orchid0 · 06-07-2008, 4:02 PM

I saw one of these at my local pet-store and REALLY REALLY want to incorporate it into my 55 Gal tank because there so beautiful. From my research Ive found they can live in anything 45 Gal and bigger. So im fine there but apparently they can be a little aggressive if they dont have a hiding place. However my tank as seen below has a broken ship theme soon to be with rocks that Im going to position into a cave. So he would have more then enough room and I plan to have silver dollars. Does anybody have any experience with these guys. I wont lie im a little intimidated by the title of "Shark" and i dont want him to tear apart my silver dollars.

My tank unfinished still a rock/cave to go in thet middle.

A picture of the red tailed black shark.

gobucks1 · 06-07-2008, 4:07 PM

they mostly stick to themselves, unless you have any fish that look similar to them, or have similar body shapes.

so no, he probably wont mess with your dollars

good luck

Orchid0 · 06-07-2008, 4:09 PM

Okay. another thing that seemed to work is that dollars are omnivores they enjoy the occasional meaty snack.. so thats good because I planned on buying them bloodworms for my dollars and Id give him some too.

another question is.. since these eat flakes and they are bottomfeeders then would there be a conflict If I was to get something catfish like that cleaned the tank?

Bderick67 · 06-07-2008, 4:20 PM

The only fish you would likely have problems with are other redtail or rainbow sharks. I have kept them with many different loaches and cats with no problems.

gobucks1 · 06-07-2008, 4:25 PM

yeah ^ if they dont look like him he wont mess with them

ps mine is with african cichlids and he likes shrimp

USMCtanker · 06-07-2008, 4:26 PM

ya there are very cool. i only had one and it was fine with any other fish i put in with him, i also like ur tank setup with the ship, very cool

Cichlaholics Anonymous · 06-07-2008, 4:26 PM

they will be fine with silver dollars, and with most catfish, as long as there is enough space, and that isn't an issue in that setup.

Orchid0 · 06-08-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCtanker

ya there are very cool. i only had one and it was fine with any other fish i put in with him, i also like ur tank setup with the ship, very cool

thank you!

pwmin · 06-08-2008, 2:33 AM

pretty much what everyone else said...no more rainbows or red tails

I love them. I went with a rainbow this time as I've had a couple red tails before.

LittleBigAl3 · 12-08-2008, 11:19 AM

i have had two different ones so far and the first one was with similar size fish and in a 30g. he was very mean and territorial, he died from old age. i got a new one soon because i loved them so much and the other fish got bigger and this one is so calm and has no territory whatsoever.