Red-tailed black shark okay in planted tank?

[EcoPit]

Are red-tailed black sharks okay in planted tanks? Any problems with them rooting around in gravel and digging up plants, or munching on foliage?

Also, I know they do not tolerate other individuals of the same or closely-related species. Do they get along with SAEs and clown loaches?

[indiginess]

i had a RTS in a planted tank for about three years... no real problems. mine liked to cruise the substrate and plant leaves for missed food and algae, but never did any major damage. i don't think a RTS would consider foliage as food unless REALLY hungary, IME.

[sardesign]

RTS probably should be kept seperately from active fish (like SAE and Clown Loach). I know they won't like the SAE because of a close family resemblance :).

[Slappy*McFish]

I kept a RTS(4") in a planted tank with no problems towards the plants at all...and housed it with Clown loaches and SAE's..;). It was somewhat aggressive but nothing like a cichlid. It's aggression was aimed mainly at small tetras and a single CAE I had in the tank...it ignored my SAE's, and didn't dare harrass my much larger Clowns.

Here's an old pic of him. I had him about 4 years ago.

[Lady G]

My RTS is a stinker, he likes to chase everyone..he doesn't hurt anyone or anything he just goes on these rampages here and there and chases everyone. I have a few plants in my tank he doesn't bother them at all.

[Swimfins]

I have a rainbow shark in my planted tank and he cruises for algae most of the time unless he spots an sae then he goes after him but the sae's are like torpedos and he's a bit slow and chunky now and not quite as quick. It works.

[EcoPit]

Hmmm. I think I might try it, but with the understanding that it will be a trial and I may need to remove something. It will be in a 20 gal, and I am concerned that the small tank size may exacerbate the antagonism. My wife and I love RBSs though, so I really want to have a tank featuring one.

[Slappy*McFish]

Yeah, I love them too...they're one of my top 5 all time favorite fishes.;)
Good luck with yours if you get one. They really are worth all the trouble they can make.

[Mysteria]

I love my red tail shark and he doesn't seem to bother my plants or the other fish. I do have two SAE and two Yo-Yo loaches. The Yo-Yo loaches seem to be the most aggressive fish in my aquarium since they are always nipping the Angel fish fins.

[wickerman]

These fish are real neat,mine spends all day claening the tank.
Thay can be bullies mind and my pair of golden barbs are always being chased by the shark.
A very ative fish and personality to match.
if kept in the right condition the fish will be jet black with a flame red tail..i have seem them in shops gray with dim orange tails.

[va3svd]

I keep an RTBS in my 65 gallon planted aquarium, and he's with an albino rainbow shark and 2 SAEs, along with 5 balas. The SAEs he totally ignores, he usually tries schooling with the balas, which is hilarious to watch - this small RTBS struggling furiously to keep up with the 6" balas. The only problems arise when the Albino Rainbow shark and he meet up somewhere. But they've both marked off territories for themselves, and they know to avoid each other. But maybe once a day they both feel frisky and they'll have a little rumble in the middle of the tank, which inevitably results in them biting each other and the rainbow shark chasing the RTBS away.

I also keep one in a 10 gallon with 6 neon tetras, and usually she's just fine. She'll get a little rambunctuous about once a week and give them all a good chase, but she usually causes no damage. Both tanks are heavily planted, and RTBS are a godsend for doing janitorial and light algae control, plus they're incredibly attractive, as well as really funny when they get a little violent.