Can I add a Red-Tailed Shark?

[LogJam]

I have always liked the Red-Tailed Shark, but don't want it get it if it means the detriment of my other fish:

46 gallon bowfront

2 swordtails
6 Neon tetras
6 Zebra Danios
2 Blackskirt tetras
4 corys
3 otos
3 Head-and-tailight tetras

Can I safely and non-stressfully add 1 Red-tailed Shark?

Thanks!
LogJam

 

[pictus5]

i think so but just see what others think

 

[Puffernewbee]

I recently bought a 72 gallon bowfront from someone that included the fish. I traded in all of the fish except the red tail shark, 1 cory and a dwarf rainbow. I set up the tank and added the resident of my 29 gallon which were pretty much like yours, a peaceful community.
4 cardinals
4 neons
2 otos
2 blue rams
1 guppy
5 harlequins
3 albino cories
The peace ended. The red tail shark proceeded to harrass every fish in the tank. After one week I had to trade him in before he overly stressed my other fish. My shark was a mature one that was 5 inches long. Not sure how a juvenile would behave. I did alot of reading up on the red tail shark to try to find out if he would chill after a while but everything I found is that they tend to be quite aggresive unless you put them up with fish their size or larger. Mine had been in a tank with larger fish before and had kept to himself in that one.

 

[Kasakato]

IMO they are like Bettas. Some are nice and some are not. You can try it, as it will fit, but be prepared to take it out.

 

[katt001]

I have had the same problems as a previous poster with my red tailed shark. I had two, and they matured and lived peacefully with my community fish, and then i mistakenly added two more that were given to me as a gift. All were OK except one, who proceeded to harass one of my other sharks to the point where he had gnawed off his entire back fin (this took about 2 days). Needless to say, I got him out of there as soon as I saw what was going on, and luckily my injured shark recuperated. But it just depends on the fish. I definitely wouldn't get one that was mature and fully grown. That was a huge mistake on my part and one I won't make again.

 

[Holly9937]

You can definately only have one, but I think it could be worth a try. I have a rainbow shark (I think they look almost identical to the redtail shark), and it is very peaceful. If you do give it a shot, just get a couple of good caves/hidng places

 

[pophead]

I saw a tank where two red tailed sharks were living peacefully with each other and also with the other inhabitance of the tank (tetras and such), but I'm sure that's a rare case and I think usually they shouldn't be kept together. correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Holly9937]

I had a rainbow shark and an albino rainbow shark live together well, for quite a while, BUT they were not full grown. From what I understand they get more aggressive with age.

 

[Chill]

I recently lost a beautiful RTS, he was about 4 inches long. He was very small when I purchased him. As he aged he became more teritorial and would chase fish that would flee from him. He would not chase fish that did not flee and he never harmed any other fish. It would be a brief chase with no consequence and then he would chase a different fish. I have had a couple in differnt community tanks and they are generally peaceful to fish other than other RTS. Of course different fish have different personalities. I would give it a try and see how it plays out. In the short term I would expect no problems with a young fish but you might have to make some changes after a couple of years but again you might be fine in the long term as well.

 

[TONO]

I would not do it they all become real a$$holes when they get older. Mine at 5 inches was bitting chunks out of my denisoni barbs imaging what would happen to little tetras. Here is a rule I figured out while keeping them, if the fish in the tank are smaller or similar size they will be picked on. I think these guys need at least a 6 foot tank so that any tankmates can get away from their aggression (when older). Also if you give them enough space i've seen one at 7 inches they look so cool at that size. You will be able to keep it in their for awhile maybe 4 months if your lucky before it starts getting really agressive.