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Ok I want PERSONAL EXPERIENCES about keeping red tailed sharks with small schoolers such as tetra or rasboras. If YOU have kept a red tail shark with a smaller schooler please share your story as I need input as to what I can keep with mine.

Currently, I'm considering keeping a combination (2 schools) of the following fish with my RTBS in a 55g.

Cardinal Tetra
Harlequin Rasboras
Rummy Nose Tetra
Black Neons

Last edited by john.stone at 23-Oct-2004 01:21

I had a problem with a RTBS and neons early on. Nothing serious, the RTBS just gave a bit of chase to them. Frankly, though, it was my first tank---a whopping 20 gallons, so it could possibly be due to the space constraints. I have, however, heard of RTBSes going rambo on smaller fish, but I've never experienced such a thing.

When my tank had flame tetras the RTBS didnt even notice that they were there.

Really RTBS only give chase and don't cause harm, the smaller tetras will realise that the RTBS has or will establish a territory and they will try and spend as little time in that area. I personally believe that RTBS are a great fish and should be kept with most schoolers as they only chase the schoolers out of the area on which the RTBS has established his own.

So yeah in my experience i would give you the thumbs up on keeping smallish schoolers with a RTBS.

MY 55USGAL:

1 RTBS
1 Angelfish
15 Tiger Barbs
1 Flame Tetra
4 Blind Cavefish
6 Black widow Tetras

i currently have a rts in my 125gal community tank with everything you have (and then some) except for the black neons. the only thing he bothers is a pair of pictus catfish, and even then it is more chasing then anything. he is about 4 yrs old, and he mellows a bit more as time goes by. even the dozen long finned danios are completely ignored.

i have been keeping fish for a long time, and i have found every rts i have owned to have different temperments. i have had none kill other fish, but AVOID keeping 2 in the same tank (regardless of tank size). the dominate one will harass the other to no end.

they do enjoy nooks and crannies to hide in (i think it makes them feel comfortable), but they will usually explore the whole tank.

i've had rtbs with platties and guppies before (my first tank...) and there was never really any problem. it had lots of hiding places (hence his name 'waldo' as in 'where's waldo?' cause he was always hiding and i could never find him). right now i've got one in a tank with a betta and the betta chases him around more often than the opposite. i think as long as you have enough room for the rtbs and places for him to hide/establish territory there won't be too many problems with the tetras

John,

I know you want personal experiences with OUR OWN tanks, but my aunt has a RTBS in her community tank which 1) I have observed many times over and 2) helped her restock.
Also, 3) she's not a member of this site so she can't post about it herself

A few years ago, she and my uncle were very into fish keeping. He has since passed away (he was only in his early 50s and she had gotten away from the hobby. She just kinda let her fish die off. She took care of them, but she never replaced any of her stock. A few motnths ago she decided to spruce it back into shape. She called on racso and me to help her out

She has a fairly large RTBS (probably about 5 inches) that she has had for a couple years. Also from the "original stock" she has harleqiun rasboras and tiger barbs. Since then she has added some schoolers like black neons and cardinals, and a couple kribs. Her shark just doesn't seem to bother them. I really think the reasoning behind her success is the shark grew up with the barbs and rasboras, as well as some other smaller fish, so it is used to them being around. She also has a rock cave at the bottom of the tank that the shark has claimed as his own, which no other fish goes near. One more thing: when she bought the shark it was only about 1.5 inches. I wouldn't try putting a more mature shark in an existing community tank. If you're going to try it, get a juvenile.

Hope that helped.

><>Dani<><

Thanks everyone Your findings are not dissimilar to my assumptions .

I've already had my shark for nearly a year, she chased the tiger barbs a bit but never hurt them. I'm confident that my new stock (see below) will be fine with my shark. Again, thanks to everyone who replied.

New Stock (55g):
1 Red Tail Shark
18 Harlequins
18 Neons
6 YoYo Loaches