Red-Tailed Shark

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Scientific Name

Epalzeorhynchus bicolor

Min. Tank Size

50 gallon

Personality

Aggressive

Temperature

72-79°F

pH

6.5-7.5/5-15°dGH

Size

6"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Not recommended for community tanks; can be kept with Loaches and larger midwater swimming fish such as Rainbowfish, Barbs, Cichlids, and larger Tetras; should not be kept with other sharks or conspecifics!

Red-Tailed Shark

Also known as the Red-Tailed Black Shark or Labeo Bicolor, the Redtail Shark is native to the Chao Phraya river basin in Thailand. Unfortunately, these fish are believed to be critically endangered, if not extinct in the wild as of 1996. Overfishing for the aquarium hobby as well as drastic environmental changes are thought to be two of the biggest contributing factors in the extinction of this species. Though it is not found in the wild, large quantities of Red-Tailed Sharks are bred commercially for the aquarium trade and these fish remain a favorite among aquarium hobbyists.

Tank Set-Up

In the home aquarium, Red-Tailed Sharks are best kept in a tank environment set up to resemble a flowing river. The substrate should be gravel and the tank should be decorated with soft-leaved plants, water-worn rocks and driftwood roots or branches this fish can claim as their own territory. Because these fish can grow to be fairly large and males of the species often become territorial and aggressive as they mature, Red-Tailed Sharks should be kept in fairly large tanks. The tank should be outfitted with a tight-fitting lid because these fish are notorious jumpers!

Feeding

Red-Tailed Sharks are often inappropriately sold as algae eaters. While these fish may browse on algae in the home aquarium, their true diet consists largely of small crustaceans and insect larvae. The ideal diet for these fish would include high-quality flakes or pellets supplemented with small live and frozen foods like Artemia, Daphnia and bloodworms. These fish may also enjoy fresh vegetables like blanched spinach, shelled peas and cucumber slices. For optimum health, feed a varied diet on a regular basis.

Breeding

Sexing Red-Tailed Sharks can be difficult but females of the species tend to be more thicker-bodied than the males and males may develop longer paired fins. Though large quantities of these fish are bred commercially for the aquarium trade, little is known about breeding these fish in private aquariums. Commercial breeding of this species is typically accomplished with the help of hormones, a technique that is not practical for private application.