Red Tailed Black Shark. Will it or won't it?

[chewey]

Red Tailed Shark

Ihave hed a few RTS over the years and they are indeed one beautiful fish, full of fun and entertainment, but as they approach full size [ Aprox 6" or so ] they become very fast swimmers and need good hiding places such as a gnarly piece of drift wood, and a large cave also if you intend to keep a pleco. Trust me chasing will never stop between RTS AND PLECO IF GOOD HIDING PLACES ARE NOT PROVIDED. As for the rest of your tankmates, as long as there is room for them to run once in a while, and they DO NOT resemble another shark you should be ok.

 

[brianfl]

Slap,

I have had both over the years (their is usually at least one in at least one of my tanks all the time). I think it is about a 50/50 propostion of which is more agressive. I have had very agressive rainbows as well as rts. The rainbows seem a little sneakier with their aggression, but can get very aggressive.

 

[phpKerouac]

semantics

I dont know the right word to use, retractible is the best word i could come up with.

example - shark fins, like the big guys you see during shark week - their fins dont move relative to their body as far as i can tell, i mean they are most likely pliable and have some bend to them, but not like say a bass or perch whose dorsal and pectoral fins have a full range of motion and have an UP and DOWN position like a sail boat.

my rainbow shark (i thought rainbow and redtail were the same thing) has fins that move more like a bass or perch (why did i pick those as reference) than a big ole shark.

just curious if they were really related or just given the name "shark" plus he has a moustache.

 

[brianfl]

RTS and rainbow sharks are close relatives and are not real sharks. They get the name from their appearance. They are actually minnows. RTS and rainbows are very different though, especially appearance.