Asian Tankmates for Black Shark

[Red Beard]

Hi everyone, probably won’t happen but maybe?

I have a South American tank with Kelberi and plecos
I have an Australian tank with a few of the cool things we get here (I’m an Aussie)

I was thinking about maybe doing an Asian tank for my next project. As I can’t get my hands on a red tailed giant gourami I was thinking about making the ‘big guy’ in the tank a black shark

I was wondering if through the absolute wealth of experience in this forum (it’s quickly become my main go-to for research) people could suggest or share their experience/s with other Asian fish that may be compatible.

I’d love clown loaches but it didn’t take long to see that that idea is a very big no-go.

tin foils, maybe an Asian bumblebee catfish?
Anyway any help or discussion for discussions sake would be appreciated!

 

[L3CTR0N]

You could try the Syncrossus loaches maybe. Tinfoil barbs, lemon fin barbs and spanner barbs are good choices.

Alternatives to the tinfoils would be Systomus rubripinnis/orphoides, Cyclocheilichthys apogon and Osteochilus vittatus but those are hard to come by.

All the catfish I could find were either invasive species (and are probably banned) or absolute monsters.

 

[duanes]

If you include India and Sri Lanka in your scenario, Etroplus suratensus could work.
They get about as big as a dinner plate, and not particularly aggressive, and are primarily vegetarian as adults.

The above shots are semi adults at about 5-6"
Etroplus eating dandilions

 

[Red Beard]

These black sharks as beautiful as they get, wow they're not the easiest hey hahaha.

I think if I cant nut something out the idea of a big school of Clown Loaches is starting to sound more appealing!

 

[Midwater]

Best loaches would be Modesta.

 

[esoxlucius]

I have a predominantly Asian com tank. The only two oddball fish are a choc cichlid and a red shoulder sev which I were forced to put in when I took down my old 120.

My "centrepiece" fish is indeed a RTGG, the very fish you want! Other Asians that make up the mix are balas, clown loach, filament barbs, beardless barbs, Borneo red finned sharks, red tailed barbs and dennisons.

I've also had tinfoils, lemonfins and cigar sharks in the past, all with my RTGG. Everyone got along fine back then, and everyone gets along fine with my current mix too.

 

[Red Beard]

I have a predominantly Asian com tank. The only two oddball fish are a choc cichlid and a red shoulder sev which I were forced to put in when I took down my old 120.

My "centrepiece" fish is indeed a RTGG, the very fish you want! Other Asians that make up the mix are balas, clown loach, filament barbs, beardless barbs, Borneo red finned sharks, red tailed barbs and dennisons.

I've also had tinfoils, lemonfins and cigar sharks in the past, all with my RTGG. Everyone got along fine back then, and everyone gets along fine with my current mix too.

Wow! I love how busy it is!!

 

[Ogertron3000]

You will need very big tank to keep anything with a black shark as theyy are very nasty and/or territorial.
The bumblebee cat might work but you will never se it as they hide all the time. Probably would hide more with a big black shark on patrol.

 

[Fishman Dave]

What sort of “tank” size are you thinking?
Black shark will reach a bigger size than a giant gourami and are way more active. Mines in 1200ukg and when he gets chasing other fish even that can be a little small for his speed outbursts.

Black shark - unlikely giant in more ways than one

The black shark is one of those fish that unsuspecting fish keepers come across and often regret it. And a monster that some, including myself, bought on purpose as a 2” tidler with character. I guess some see a rival to the red tail shark which is often seen in tanks of 20 or more. The black...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Red Beard]

Would have been to start 6x2.5x2.5 but after my research and your opinions I think perhaps this idea is just one for the ‘nah’ pile!