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Hi, New and learning. We have a 55 gal. stocked with Neon tetras and Striped Danios. My little girl wants a shark fish(Bruce from Finding Nemo). Any suggestions to what is compatible. By the info I've look through the Bala Shark fit the profile from its profile. Is this a bad idea or will it work.

If bala sharks are what you are looking for, then you'd best look away. They grow large (around a foot), and should be kept in groups for best results. You won't be able to fit any in a 55 gallon tank.

Another idea is the red tailed shark. They stay much smaller (four inches or so), are fairly peaceful (they won't bother the tetras or danios that you have), and aren't kept in groups. If you want a fish with "shark" in its name, one of these will probably be your best bet.

Hey fella, welcome to the site!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks. Looks like the Red tail won't work either. I should have read a bit more. Figure out if you do more than one fish on the compatibility chart it give warnings as far as agression and water compatibles. Pretty neat.

While the profiles on this site may think otherwise, I don't see a problem with you adding a red tailed shark. Like I said, they shouldn't bother your danios or tetras (the sharks hug the bottom of the tank, anyways), and are hardy enough to thrive in most pH and hardness levels. The fish you mentioned are the only ones you have, right?

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Try a rainbow Shark. They look almost exactly like red-tail sharks, but I've heard they are somewhat less aggressive.

dont pay much attention to the compatability warnings with the feature in this site. according to that all my tank are death traps lol.

red tailed sharks have a habit of being mean to weaker fish when they get larger. not saying it wont work but the chance is there it might not. rainbow sharks a bit more agressive and not a good idea hehe.

i think the red tailed black shark would be your best bet, just keep in mind no slow swimming small fish later. the problem is ..well...sharks will be sharks lol.

Red tailed sharks are the same as red tailed black sharks.

I don't think that a red tailed shark will bother the tetras or danios, and here's why:
Danios are super active, so they can easily escape from an ornery shark. Tetras are pretty quick as well, and they won't have much trouble hiding or swimming away. Plus, as I said, the red tailed sharks tend to hang out near the substrate, while tetras and danios are mid-level fish.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I think a red tail shark would be fine...in my experience they are mostly aggresive in between themselves...in other words they don't like fish of the same species but i have 2 sharks in 2 different tanks and they don't really bother the neons or the barbs...they just chase them away from their cave from time to time...

The only problem I've had with my red-tailed shark comes around feeding time when he always decides to chase around any tiger barb he sees. Frankly, that's usually more amusing than anything else!

Rainbow sharks are actually more aggressive than RTBS. I had one that had an absolute vendetta for dwarf gouramis and wouldnt let up even though I gave him "time outs" in a breeder trap for several hours.
Also, I have seen many RTBS and Rainbow sharks that are at least 6 inches in length (body, not fins).
I think you would be fine with this fish, just dont add any dwarf gouramis and you should be fine!


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I have a red tailed shark with neons and rummies, they do absolutely fine. They couldn't care less about each other.

What you do have to worry about with red tailed sharks is adding "Like Shaped" fish such as other fish from the epalzeorhynchus family and loaches. They DO NOT like these fish unless they are much smaller or much larger than them. Most tougher loaches can handle it, but something like a flying fox might not be able too.

Tips for keeping a red tailed shark:
1. Provide at least 2 caves that can accommodate a 6 inch fish, they don't like moving caves.
2. Don't expect a fish thats swimming everywhere all the time, they like to stay in their cave many hours of the day only emerging to do a few laps around the tank.
3. Feed them shelled peas.

I would go with the bala shark get three or four and in 3 or 4 years when they start to get to big for your tank either trade them in or upsize your tank, but that is a long time from now, make you little girl happy :88)

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

i've got a red tailed shark in a tank with a betta. the betta is a slow moving fish that pretty much just sits at the top of the tank and there have never been any problems cause the shark roams the bottom. i'm sure it would be fine with your neons and danios

Yes, I wouldnt use the compatibily thing on this site as it just is kinda strange. I have a rainbow shark with neons and he only bothered them when they first came into the tank. Now he barely notices them or any other fish. THe rtbs or the rainbow is the best bet if your daughter wants a "shark". Of course these fish have no relation to the real sw sharks and are just named "shark" because of there "sharklike" apperance.

fish1

well, if it's ne help, i keep a rtbs wif 17 tiger barbs and 4 juvenile keyhole cichlids

:88)
smilingpiranha