Species Spotlight | Redtail Shark

Aquatics expert Tom Sarac provides an in-depth overview of the Redtail Shark! Once widely distributed in rivers, streams and creeks in the Chao Phraya basin in Thailand, this species is now only known to exist at a single location, and has a Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List. The Redtail Shark is a beautiful, hardy fish, but tankmates must be chosen with care: the species becomes aggressively territorial with age.
Special thanks to Mathieu's Aquatics for videos of his Redtail Shark: / mathieus.aquatics
Check out our other content!
Facebook: / fluval
Instagram: / fluvalaquatics
Website: fluvalaquatics.com/
Newsletter: fluvalaquatics.com/us/create-...
#Fluval #SpeciesSpotlight #Shark #Aquarium #Fish

[@Chuck59ish]

I remember back in the 80s when the TETRA Magazine was the hobby bible, a hobbyist in Germany had 6 Redtail in a 30 gallon tank without hiding places, he went to work one day and when he came home, the 6 sharks were going at it, all other fish were dead and the sand was piled up in the center of the tank. When I had my 4 sharks I made sure they had hiding place in each corner of the tank and I had no problems with them.

[@nabokovfan87]

I keep mine colder. Other than that, really great advice. They do not like light at all. Need cover during the day and they absolutely do wonderful with a few species of barbs.

[@eues803]

I always like to see yr videos, a lot of necessary information's for people that want to have this fish, that is very beautiful, thanks 👍😉

[@user-mk1pc9wb4c]

Just bought mine! Great find scientists.

[@hulloitsbunawhale9329]

My favourite fish

[@bigbadwolfman75]

i grew 'jaws' in my 123l flex with about 40-50 other various tetras, rasboras and platties... once he was large enough to be rehomed to my sons 55g he gained a friend in my sons clown loach... both share the same hollow log and are best of friends... he still has a handful of tetras, a couple sketchy 3 spot gourami 2 adult angels and a 10" pleco(not a common sail fin) that was rescued from a 10g at 5"... rosey barbs were in the tank but they over competed with the other fish and were rehomed

[@GAMINGMATRIXXX]

I have a very similar fish. The Rainbow Shark. I have a Black one and an Albino one.

[@kailebsok8038]

Strange fish. Some hide, some are extremely active. Some are calm, some are hostile. Mine hated my catfish, but was absolutely best friend with a random cichlid i had.

[@fluval]

We agree! Ours seems to go through phases - one week he'll be chasing after every fish in the tank, and the next week he just minds his own business! 🤷‍♂️

[@matharris100]

Not for neon Tera or any small tetras . They are little shits with small fish will hunt and kill them 😡 start off friends then gets to 2 inch and turn into killers . Will never get one again and been into fish 40 years . Large fish fine might add .. Mat

[@nicksanders111]

That’s because you put them with fish that they can easily bully. If you keep them with other semi aggressive fish they are fine, because those fish don’t get bullied.

[@carlwagner4565]

Just went from a 5gal to 45 hoping thatd be enough and your over hesr telling me i need a 75😂😢 rip me

[@aquariumeasy4865]

In a group of 5 or more they will live mostly without any aggression. You need caves and many plants also. I think if you have only one red tail shark it is the wrong way regarding to their social behaviour they need ... to have a happy life.

[@ShamuAquatics]

I typically keep mine in groups of 5+ (often times a mix of redtail and rainbow sharks which also works) because every time I’ve kept them alone, they’d terrorize the community fish. When I keep groups, they barely pay any attention to the community fish.

[@TheShad_1]

@@ShamuAquatics I’ve been thinking about keeping a group with my preexisting Rainbow, but Afraid that a 55g is too small for that.

[@ShamuAquatics]

@@TheShad_1 I would only do it in a 100+ gallon that is no shorter than 5 feet long. Mine started out in a 40 gallon but I upgraded them to a 125 gallon tall (5 feet long) 9 months later, then a 135 gallon (6 feet long) 6 years after that. The upgrade from the 125 to the 135 wasn’t necessary tho lol the 125 was just old and scratched up.

[@TheShad_1]

@@ShamuAquatics ah i see.

[@carlwagner4565]

​@@ShamuAquaticsi did that and my redtail ate all 5 of my rsinbow sharks one by one

[@user-yl9vg5mj4u]

Fac

[@IcyxxxStacks]

I rarely ever see my redtail. But I know its eating, biggest fish in my tank

[@lrakwons9799]

Same for me. Never seen him consistently eat besides some algae around. But he’s a husky guy lol

[@PULAG]

Can it be with a goldfish that is larger than itself? Note that current goldfish lives with Angelfish, Congo tetra, tiger barbs and is safe with those.

[@fluval]

Hi there! Goldfish are coldwater fish and should not be kept with Redtail Sharks or any of the other species you listed. It's important to properly research fish species before adding them to your aquarium!

[@PULAG]

@@fluval goldfish been in 78°F tank with all the others listed for 3 years and is fine.

[@thefish4856]

I have a baby rainbow shark in my 75 gallon and he is with black skert tetras and rainbow fish and he is doing great

[@2facerios]

Can he still be together with skert tetras and rainbow fish if the redtail is all grown in a 75 gallon ??