{"id":1436,"date":"2022-08-30T06:07:22","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T06:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourprofisher.com\/?p=1436"},"modified":"2022-08-31T17:30:33","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T17:30:33","slug":"red-tail-shark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourprofisher.com\/red-tail-shark\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Tail Shark Care Guide: Color, Tank Mates & All About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thinking about eye-popping freshwater sharks<\/a> in your aquarium tank? The red tail shark is the most popular of the freshwater aquarium shark species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fish is very beautiful to look at, with a long red tail and black body. It is a very active swimmer and does well in a community tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its name, the red tail shark is not a true shark. It is actually a member of the carp family. However, this fish can be considered a little difficult to maintain, similar to Jack Dempsey of the cichlid family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will provide a care guide for the red tail shark, including information on size, tank mates, and ideal water conditions. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about keeping a red-tail shark in your aquarium!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History and First Sighting<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"History<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The red-tailed black shark is a member of the carp family, also known as the redtail sharkmino, redtail catfish, or just black shark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a freshwater species that is native to Thailand but has been introduced to other areas of Southeast Asia (In Thailand). The red tail is a popular aquarium fish<\/a> and gets its name from the long, reddish tail fin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An expedition in 1934 reported the first specimens of the fish in the Chao Phraya River<\/a> south of Silom, Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fish was likely first introduced to the aquarium trade in the early 1970s and has been bred in captivity since at least 1986. The species is considered to be of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Species overview of Red Tail Shark<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Species<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Common names:   <\/td>Red-tailed black shark, redtail shark minnow, red-tailed Labeo<\/td><\/tr>
Scientific name:   <\/td>Epalzeorhynchos bicolor<\/td><\/tr>
Distribution:   <\/td>Thailand<\/td><\/tr>
Size:    <\/td>6 inches<\/td><\/tr>
Life expectancy:  <\/td> 5\u20138 years<\/td><\/tr>
Color:   <\/td>Black with a red or orange tail<\/td><\/tr>
Diet:  <\/td> Omnivore<\/td><\/tr>
Temperament:   <\/td>Semi-aggressive, territorial<\/td><\/tr>
Minimum tank size:   <\/td>55 gallons<\/td><\/tr>
pH:   <\/td>6.0\u20138.0 pH<\/td><\/tr>
Temperature:   <\/td>72\u00b0\u201379\u00b0F (22\u00b0\u201326\u00b0C)<\/td><\/tr>
Hardness:   <\/td>5\u201315 dGH<\/td><\/tr>
Care level:   <\/td>Intermediate<\/td><\/tr>
Breeding:   <\/td>Egg layer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The red-tail shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor), also known as the red-tailed black shark, is a freshwater fish native to Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, you might think that this fish is a predatory saltwater shark of the chondrithys class, but you would be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red tail sharks prefer the turbid or sandy bottoms of freshwater rivers and aquarium tanks. The Thailand Fish Research Institute published a report in 2011 that the Red Tail Shark was extinct in the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that they are not extinct and are still being caught in the wild for the aquarium trade. In their natural habitat, red tail sharks grow to about 6 inches long, but in captivity, they only grow to be about 3-4 inches long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red tail shark is a semi-aggressive and territorial fish that should not be kept with other sharks or fish with long fins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are also known to be nippy so it is best to keep them with other semi-aggressive fish such as barbs, danios, and rainbows (We can discuss this in more detail next week).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding this fish to your aquarium tank can cost $5-$10 per fish. They are an omnivore and their diet consists of pellets, flakes, freeze-dried, live, and frozen foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When keeping more than one red tail shark, it is best to have at least 2 females for every male because they can be aggressive when mating. The ideal tank size for these fish is 55 gallons or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you know a little more about red tail sharks and their history. We hope you enjoyed this article and please check back next week for another exciting species!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All about Red Tail Shark<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"All<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Ask yourself how deeply you know about this fish. The fish look beautiful and know more about freshwater aquarium fish<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this section, I will discuss everything about red tail shark fish. The appearance, size, and lifespan of red tail sharks, the shark’s diet, and menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The body of a red tail shark is torpedo-shaped and flat from top to bottom. The coloring of the fish is dark gray on the back, light gray on the sides, and white on the belly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fins are all black with a white or yellowish stripe running along the leading edge. The most distinguishing feature of this species is the large, red tail fin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mouth of this fish is slightly curved U-shaped and has 2 antennae on the upper lip. One of the reasons why it looks so beautiful is that its body is black but the fins and tail are red in color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The total number of fins of red tail sharks is 8. Red tail sharks have 2 dorsal fins, 2 pectoral fins, 1 ventral fin, 1 anal fin, and 2 pelvic fins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I first saw red tail sharks I thought of rainbow sharks and albino sharks. Because it looks just like them but with a different color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fins on the back are long at first but gradually taper towards the tail. The anal and dorsal fins are equal in size and both have a black margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pectoral fins are also long and taper towards the pointed tips. The pelvic fins are shorter than the pectoral fins and are located just behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice the change in color of the fish when it will gradually mature. Male adult red tail sharks are more brightly colored than females.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they are juveniles, both sexes look alike with the only difference being in their size.You will notice the difference between 12 and 15 months of age and after 2 years their color will gradually turn pale red and grey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Male or female will be determined by looking at their belly size eg. If the female’s belly is larger and plumper, it means that she is full of eggs and is ready to mate. Males on the other hand tend to be slimmer with smaller bellies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size & Lifespan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, research reports on all species of freshwater aquarium sharks<\/a> were published. The mentioned report can be seen in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to that report, the average size of a fully grown red tail shark is between 18 and 20 cm (7-8 inches).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest ever recorded red tail shark was 22 cm (9 inches). This fish is known to live up to 8 years in captivity but can live much longer in the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lifespan of a red tail shark in captivity can be affected by many factors such as the quality of water, food, and care. In the wild, this fish can live up to 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The red tail shark is a semi-aggressive fish<\/a> that is known to be territorial. They are mostly found in the lower and middle regions of the water column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fish is a shy species that does not like to be in the company of other fish. In the wild, they are found solitary or in pairs. But in captivity, they can be kept in groups of 3 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fish is known to be active during the day and rests at night. They are not schooling fish but rather solitary species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They prefer to live at the bottom of aquarium tanks and may occasionally attack invertebrates (shrimps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red tail shark is not a picky eater and will eat anything that fits in its mouth. They are known to be opportunistic feeders and will scavenge for food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fish is not known to be a fin nipper but may attack other fish if they feel threatened. They are also known to attack their own species if they are not kept in groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red tail shark is a hardy fish that can adapt to different water conditions. They are known to be tolerant of high levels of ammonia and nitrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fish is not known to jump out of the water but may do so if the water conditions are not ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros and Cons of Red Tail Shark<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Pros<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Red tail sharks are a beautiful addition to any freshwater aquarium. They are relatively easy to care for and are peaceful fish that get along well with other tank mates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are a few things to consider before adding one to your tank.<\/p>\n\n\n

Pros<\/strong>