rts inquiry here

[LMOUTHBASS]

it's been some time now i have been pondering the thougth of getting on of these - or even a rainbow shark
i have a 55 gal tank other bottom dwellers include
5 albino cories
two pictus cats
3 clown loaches
1 pleco
i am curious will a rainbow shark or rts work in this set up i hear they can be nasty but i have two caves n plent yof plants and hiding places - will this fish get along with the other fish???
just curious they are nice looking what woul be a better fit an rts or rainbow shark what are their differences???

[Dangerdoll]

hmmmm.... I've had both (at different times of course) and tend to like the RTS better. The don't get as long as the rainbow, at least mine didn't..... not sure if it's due to a male vs. female thing as they may very well get to be the same size as each other, again, not sure. I know for a fact that it will be ok with the cories, pleco and pictus. I never kept either one with clown loaches but I have had the RTS with skunk loaches and they don't seem to bother each other. I believe as long as there's a safe haven (such as a cave it can claim as it's own.....mine has a simple little hole in a driftwood piece) it should be ok. As with anything though, watch him for a few days to see how he blends in with the others.

Good luck with yours, I like mine a lot. ;)

(EDIT: my rainbow seemed more aggressive than my RTS but may have been due to the inhabitants with him were different than the RTS, though none are listed in your question)

[clayt101]

From what I have heard, rainbow sharks are not as territoral as RTS. When I kept clown loaches and RTS, my RTS did go after my clowns from time to time. It was worse to my bettas (male and female) and my black mollies, going after them mercilessly.

[OrionGirl]

My rainbow is a big, healthy male. He defends his cave against any intruder--even the puffers stay out of his way. Otherwise, he ignores the other fish. When my SAE was in with him, he constantly chased that fish, all over the tank. Think the body shape was too similar.

[LMOUTHBASS]

realy woul like to add either one just dont want a nasty fish everything now is sooo peacefull -
gotta say i cant get enough of my pictus cats such an interesting fish - question for you guys who have em' - i just moved them from quarantine as they were new now that their in my 55 they seem lost its been almost a week - the first few nights they stayed exclusively in one corner - then one hid in some plants for a while now they have huddled back together int he corner but they were swimming in place against the glass with their nose towards the top of the tank (in other words they were just looking towards the top although they were at ther bottom) - i think they are jst nervous it seems they take some time to settle in ? when i first boughtt hem theya cted liek this in the q tank then once they liked thier home they swam aroun - now they are starting to explore a little more onme has started using an empty cave - is this normal for them to be scared for a while? they seem like they shoul be a tough fish but they are big babies hahaha nice fish though!!!

[Must4ng s4lly]

My two Pictus cats are four inches each & they are HUGE babies! They are very sensitive to any moving of tank items, so when I clean the tank and take out the shells & stuff, I put them right back where they were before.

[ticklemepunk473]

I had a rainbow shark with three pictus cats and never had a problem it was when i brought in my tiger barbs that he got really terretorial. Maybe they were just too nosy. lol

[PumaWard]

My rainbow shark killed my hillstream loaches within a few weeks and harrassed mollies, angels, bettas, guppies, and swordtails....

He could have just been a real jerk though :).

[ukclaire]

I have a redtailed black shark and he schools with my 5 banded barbs.

The female bettas chase him but I think thats beacuse he is a baby.

The previous RTBS I had schooled with the clown loaches, he was a softy.

I have heard that the two should not be kept in the same tank as they will fight due to being very similar in colour/shape etc. I have also heard that both can be very territorial so need lots of plants/caves/hidy holes so there is no bickering.

Out of the two the redtail black shark looks the best....IMHO

Regards
Claire