Red Tail Shark question

Juvenile sharks will be okay together for a while, but they will start fighting as they mature. If they are so crowded that they can't (at least 2 tanks listed above have that potential), the fish will be stunted and never achieve their adult size, in addition to living shorter lives. I know, I did it when I was 10. They lived for about 4 years, and never got bigger than 4 inches. Not good fish keeping.
 
IMO, anyone who has more than 1 RTS in a tank smaller than say 250 gallons, is asking for trouble. They may not exhibit anything while they are young but they sure will show their colors as they mature. You risk losing all but one, and in some cases all of them due to the aggression. The aggressive behavior could take as short as months or a couple of years before it shows but mark my words, it will show.
 
I guess I'll look for new homes for 3 RTS and will miss them. WOW 250 gallons ! What size tanks is everyone else running with these guts. LFS giving lousy advice. Perhaps humane society should get involved.
 
250 is for multiples. A tank that will allow them to get to their normal adult size of 6-7 inches is fine for just one. I had mine in a 40 for 3 years, recently moved him to a 55.
 
Looks like I'll need to separate my Red Tail Sharks. I just setup another tank in my other room a couple of months ago so I will move him in there with the gourami.

Thanks!
 
so then when i start a new tank in the spring i guess i'll start with seperating my two guys. now what other fish get along with them other than barbs,gouramis,skirts?
 
OrionGirl said:
250 is for multiples. A tank that will allow them to get to their normal adult size of 6-7 inches is fine for just one. I had mine in a 40 for 3 years, recently moved him to a 55.
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OK, I know I am fairly new to this, but 250 Gallons is a HuGE Huge beyond average hobbyist tank. i also hear that they only grow to 4-5 inches and rainbows get up to 6-7...
at any rate...these fish are territorial and they like to dwell i caves...if you give them enough space to have their own domains, so that you don't see them battle and that they have enough room to grow freely i think you'll be fine. it's something to watch but I wouldn't go panic right away about it (unless the fight now). it's something of a ticking timebomb that needs to be watched but you don't need a multi thousand dollar system just to keep 3 RTS!

i also wanted to mention that my shark has been eating better...likes live blood worms as do all my fish :)

oh, and is there an easy way to keep track of which threads i've posted in?
 
I don't know about you but I don't like the idea of a ticking time bomb waiting to go off in my tank, maybe I'm just weird that way. Something about one day finding dead fish in my tank just doesn't set well with me.
 
1 for a 55 gallon, perfect. I agree with Karnaaj, I wouldn't ever think of doing that. It's correct that each needs it's own dwelling (cave of a sort) but these fish will eventually swim a little too close to the other side of the tank (or cave) and havoc will reap....a nice definite predictable recipe for disaster..... again, mark my words. I stand with OG in that if you are planning on keeping more than 1 in a tank, the smallest tank should be a 250 gallon.

a side note, if you click on your name on the left of these forums by your avatar, you will see a drop down menu, then select "view all posts by Spikor", you will get a lists of posts you're on.
 
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My RTBS goes nuts over frozen brine shrimp. He also likes shrimp pellets.

And I agree with the others.....1 shark to a tank.
 
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