View Full Version : 30 gallon, a redtailed shark and now?
So my brother just purchased a 30 gallon tank. He has currently got a 10 gallon tank but he wants more plants. This won't be an upgrade but an addition. Anyway once the tank is ready (cycled etc..) he will move the redtailed shark from his 10 gallon home to his nice new home in the 30. That will leave cherry barbs and cories in the 10 gallon. So the question becomes what would be a fun group of fish that would go well with the shark. I have never owned one but I hear they can get aggresive. Is there some good loaches that might work in that tank? I had suggested tiger barbs in a school would be nice as well. They have to be plant friendly fish and he tends to like more smallish fish rather than a few big ones.
ChilDawg
09-05-2003, 9:44 AM
Wow...that's a tall order as that shark is going to be pretty darn aggressive.
I'd have to go with Tiger Barbs, though...as long as there's a school of them. Otherwise they'll pick on the shark and it will pick back...and probably cause a few fatalities in the process.
Well the shark so far isn't overly aggressive. He has spent almost a year in the overstocked 10 gallon, but it was my brothers first tank and he got carried away. It is his favorite fish though. I was unsure if the shark would get more aggressive in his new tank. Yes, tiger barbs wouyld be in a group of 5 at least. I was also thinking some dwarf gouramis would be okay in there with lots of plants.
Would Ottos do well or should he get SAE's instead?
ChilDawg
09-05-2003, 9:56 AM
I would not get SAEs...too closely related to the RTBS.
I would also not get Gouramies as those feelers might be removed by a surgically-inclined shark or some Tigers.
Ottos aren't a good choice b/c that dorsal fin will prove to be irresistible to Tigers...
Thanks for the info. I will pass it along and see if he has any ideas from browsing what elase he may want to add.
ChilDawg
09-05-2003, 10:01 AM
No prob. Glad I could attempt to help.
Slappy*McFish
09-05-2003, 7:42 PM
I keep SAEs with my RTBS with little consequence, but then again, it is a 55g so there is more room.
ChilDawg
09-05-2003, 7:54 PM
SAEs continually surprise and amaze as they seem to be equally split between the temperaments...I've heard it both ways.
SwedishFish
09-06-2003, 8:45 AM
I say keep the otto's they will do fine. Everyone is acting like its gonna be a plain tank just wide open so every fish will see each other arent you going to plant it somewith fake and live plants. I have a 29g and a rainbowshark is in it and so is an otto and a group of fruit salad tetras and they all do fine. The otto is very small so i doubt the tiger barbs will nip at him alot. The redtailed prolly wont be too agressive if he has his own territory and a planted area. Thats how i keep my 4-6 inch rainbowshark under control :D
Dangerdoll
09-06-2003, 12:50 PM
I never had a problem with my RTBS being aggressive with my community before. I thought they were aggressive only to other RTBS. I guess that's an idividual trait? Or maybe I have a very passive shark...
Thanks for the other experiences guys. Yes, this will be a heavily planted tank so that should really help keep the aggressions down a bit. I told my brother to make a little cave for RTBS and hopefully it will give him some security.