Rainbow Shark Owners: What else do you have?

Southerrngirrl

Southerrngirrl

Bert
Apr 21, 2005
65
0
0
47
Invercargill, New Zealand
Just wondering what every one else has in with their rainbow sharks.

I am just about to transfer my Rainbow Shark from my other tank into a new tank, because he's terrorising the platys. Its only a 34ish litre tank which I know is too small for him, but I am planning to get a bigger tank soon.

Should I get him some tankmates, if so what?? I was thinking more tetras as he didn't seem to bother the tetras in the other tank.

Cheers :shark:
 
i have mine in a 30gal with 6black neons, bala shrak,dwarf chuna gourami, long finned ram, a zebra and a yo-yo loach, and a sail fin. he only seems to pick on the gourami or bala every now and then when they get near each other other than that he's fine just swims around doing his rainbow shark thing
 
I have Platys, Swordtails and Rasboras with the Rainbow Shark in my 25 gallon. The only time he seams to bother other fish, primarily the Swordtails and Plattys is around feeding time. Interestingly, he only bothers the adults. He leaves the fry and juvies alone.
 
I'd say just about anything but another rainbow shark or similar species, they tend to get territorial with their own kind. Also, I have heard that some can get pretty mean as they mature, it seems like it can go either way. Mine shows no aggression. He swims around all day lookin for grub, and retires back to his den in the stump cave promptly around 8. :)
 
Rainbow sharks are amazing fish, I've got mine in a 50 glalon tank with swordtails, platys, mollies, tetras and pictus catfish and he seems to be fine, theres the odd bit of chasing when fish come near his favourite eatting spot (a piece of bog wood) but other than that he just swims around grazing on whatever he chooses. I'd say though these sharks do get more agressive in smaller spaces and a tankl of only 34 litres is way too small and you shouldn't even consider adding more fish with a rainbow shark in there, he'll most likely just get stressed, actually I'd be supprised if he's not stressed already being kept in such a small place, at full size they can get as large as 9" so your tank needs to be able to accomodate that size.
 
I think I've just gotten lucky because my rainbow shark has always been extremely peaceful!! And hes about 3-4 inches, so I think even if he gets a little worse with age, he'll be fine! Some can be pretty mean though!
I think the best way to keep them from terrorizing is a big enough tank and lots of hiding places!
 
Vyper said:
I'd say though these sharks do get more agressive in smaller spaces and a tankl of only 34 litres is way too small and you shouldn't even consider adding more fish with a rainbow shark in there, he'll most likely just get stressed, actually I'd be supprised if he's not stressed already being kept in such a small place, at full size they can get as large as 9" so your tank needs to be able to accomodate that size.
Click to expand...

Thats the conclusion I have come to. Unfortunately the LFS that I bought him from did not inform me of what his preference for tanks were and I didn't know that AC existed so.. He is in a tank all by himself now, and appears happy, good colour, eating and swimming normally. It is a temporary arrangement. I am aware that they can grow large, but he is small at the moment, hopefully he'll give me enough time to get a larger tank (looking at a 35 gallon minimum at this stage)
I think perhaps I should just leave him on his own.
 
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