The red-tailed
black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor; syn. Labeo bicolor), also known as the
redtail shark and redtail sharkminnow, is a species of freshwater fish in the
carp family, Cyprinidae. It is endemic to Thailand and currently critically
endangered, but common in aquaria, where it is prized for its deep black
body and vivid red or orange tail. The red-tailed black sharks seen in the
aquarium trade today are all captive bred.
Size and age
Red-tailed black sharks can reach a length of 12 cm (5 in).
They can live up to eight years, although in some rare cases they have lived to
be over 10 years old.
In the aquarium
In the aquarium trade, tail colors can vary, with bright red
and orange being the most common. If the shark is stressed or unhealthy, the
red color will drain from its tail. Albino forms may also be encountered.
pH and water temperature
In home aquaria, redtail sharks prefer a pH between 6.8 and
7.5, a temperature between 22 °C and 26 °C (72 °F and 79 °F) and water hardness
between 5 and 15 dH.
Behavior
Typically they are aggressive chasers, but will rarely bite
or harm other fish. Individual personalities vary greatly—some are calm, while
others are rather aggressive towards tank mates. They are bottom dwellers and
like lots of dark hiding places. They get along with other semi-aggressive fish,
but they do not like other sharks.
When two red tails cohabitate, they have been known to
become extremely territorial with one another. One shark will become dominant
and will continually chase and harass the submissive shark, preventing it from
feeding and resting. This will often result in the death of the submissive
redtail shark. Larger groups of five or more, surprisingly, tend to get along
much better than two or three, as they will establish a stable hierarchy; such
a group will require a very large heavily planted aquarium, however.
Redtail sharks are considered compatible in some community
tanks, although they may chase docile or peaceful fish that present a large
target (such as the Metynnis argenteus, or "silver dollar" fish).
This may be physically harmless, but could cause a great deal of stress for the
pursued fish, sometimes resulting in death due to stress. Redtails do not
typically bite or injure other fish, but they will chase them and try to corner
them. They will mostly chase fish away from their territory and then retreat;
therefore, it is important to ensure the aquarium is large enough to allow the
redtail some space to call its territory. Aquariums should be at least 170
litres (45 gallons) or larger for a comfortable community. Redtails are bottom
dwellers, so it is strongly suggested that one does not introduce them into an
aquarium with another bottom dweller, as they will constantly pester and harass
it. They also should not be introduced to communities containing other
shark-like fish.Despite this, it is often reported that they do not generally
harass loaches, such as Chromobotia macracanthus, and may even exhibit
schooling behavior with them.
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