
5 Best Red Tail Shark Foods:
- Wardley Shrimp Pellets – Best Overall. This is a great protein-rich source of food for any red tail shark. This stuff...
- Tetra 77035 TetraFin Floating Variety Pellets. Unlike the above option, these are floating pellets, which is probably...
- Hikari Cichlid Gold. This is a well-balanced fish food that has good levels of protein and...
What do you feed a red tail shark?
If you want to give your red tail shark a bit of a treat, you can always feed them some frozen foods such as frozen brine shrimp, blood worms, and daphnia. Red tail shark food is not something that you can really find, unlike goldfish or Betta fish food.
What do red fin sharks eat?
In the wild, the Red Fin Shark feeds on on phytoplankton and zooplankton. Being largely herbivorous, they eat copious amounts of algae and vascular aquatic plants by grinding them with their pharyngeal teeth.
What do you feed a great white shark?
Under natural conditions, the fish prefers plant food but can eat insects and larvae. Granular fodder with a large amount of plant fiber can be given to these sharks. You can use tablet food as well. Additionally, you can give slices of zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, and other vegetables.
Is the red tail shark a good fish to keep?
There are fish that are flashy and eye-catching, and the red tail shark is definitely one of them. It has amazing coloration, with the sharp contrast of a mostly velvet-black body matched to a bright red tail. This brilliant display has made the red tail shark a centerpiece for many home aquariums, despite the troubles this fish can bring.

What can I feed my red tail shark?
Most of their diet is made up of greenery but they will also eat worms, zooplankton, and other small prey. In an aquarium you should feed them a mixture of fish flakes and live prey in the aquarium. Fish flakes should be high in protein and supplemented with algae flakes.
What do red fins eat?
The Redfin perch is a pelagic carnivore with a diet that includes crustaceans (shrimps, yabbies and other freshwater crayfish), zooplankton and small fish such as Western carp gudgeon, galaxiids and Eastern gambusia. It is known to prey heavily on newly stocked trout.
Do red tail sharks need real plants?
Live plants are a great addition to the aquarium, and Red Tail Sharks don't eat plants. They may eat some algae on rocks and glass, but they will leave plants unharmed.
What vegetables do red tail sharks eat?
Red Tail Shark Diet They love to feed on algae, which is great for the cleanliness of your fish tank. They also love to eat shelled peas, blanched zucchini, and blanched cucumber too.
Do Red Tail Sharks eat cucumber?
What do Red tail sharks eat? Red tail shark feeds on plants such as peas, cucumber, and zucchini. Meat such as bloodworms, brine shrimps, daphnia, krill, and insects. Moreover, in wild, they eat algae, plankton, insects, and dead organic matter.
How do you keep redfin alive?
Habitat: Redfin perch live in a wide variety of habitats, but prefer still or slow-flowing waters such as lakes, dams, billabongs, swamps and slower moving streams and rivers. They prefer areas with good shelter such as snags (submerged dead wood and trees), vegetation or rocks, but have also been caught in open water.
Can 2 Red Tail Sharks live together?
While it's definitely possible to keep more than one Red Tail Shark in the same aquarium, it comes with risk. Due to their territorial nature, there's a high likelihood that these fish will fight unless they have a significant amount of space.
Do Red Tail Sharks like light?
Medium to low light. Red Tail Sharks are nocturnal, so if you want to observe them during day hours, it is best to keep the tank on the darker side, or use plenty of plants that provide dense shade to the substrate region.
Do Red Tail Sharks need heaters?
Temperature and Water Parameters Red tail sharks prefer warm water from 72 to 79°F, so use a heater to keep your tank's temperature stable. They're not sensitive to mineralization and tolerate from 5 to 15 degrees of hardness (dH), and prefer slightly alkaline water with a pH 6.8 to 7.5.
What should I feed my shark?
Most sharks are omnivorous in captivity and will thrive on a varied diet that includes Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Spirulina Flakes, Tropical Granules, Algae Rounds, Bottom Feeder Tablets and Shrimp Pellets. Frozen and live foods can also be fed as treats to improve growth and color.
Will a red tail shark eat guppies?
Red tail sharks tend to bully slow-moving, timid, long-finned, and small fish, like angelfish, fancy guppies, and bettas. Invertebrates shouldn't be added to the tank because red tail sharks eat them.
What causes red fins in fish?
Fin rot can generally be diagnosed by the characteristic symptoms. If you see your fish developing progressively frayed fins and tail, particularly if the skin at the base of the fins is reddened, then you are dealing with fin rot.
Why are my fish's fins turning red?
frayed, decaying tissue around its mouth or fins … yep, it sounds like your fish pals are fighting fin rot. One of the most common and preventable diseases in pond and aquarium fish, fish rot typically starts around the edges of the fins and gradually destroys more tissue until it reaches the fin base.
What freshwater fish has red fins?
The redfin pickerel (Esox americanus americanus) is a subspecies of freshwater fish belonging to the pike family (Esocidae) of the order Esociformes. Not to be confused with its close relatives, the grass pickerel and the chain pickerel, this fish is unique in the fact that it has brightly colored red fins.
How do I know if my fish has ammonia poisoning?
Symptoms include:Purple, red or bleeding gills.Fish may clamp, may appear darker in color.Red streaking on the fins or body.Fish may gasp for air at the surface of the tank water.Torn & jagged fins.Fish may appear weak and lay at the bottom of the tank.
What is the best food for a red tail shark?
The best option to go with is some kind of high quality pellet or flake food with a medium content of plant matter and protein. Remember that you will be supplementing these flakes and pellets with veggies and frozen foods. Things like freeze-dried or frozen daphnia, insect larvae, crustaceans, and brine shrimp should all be included in the diet of the red tail shark.
What do floating flakes do to a red tail shark?
These floating flakes will provide your red tail shark with a well-balanced diet, will enhance its color, and keep it as healthy as can be. This food is ideal for most tropical fish.
What is the red tail shark?
The red tail shark is also known by its scientific name, Epalzeorhynchos bicolor. The word bicolor is because the red tail shark has a black body with a red tail. Interestingly enough, these “sharks” are freshwater fish that used to be found in the streams of Thailand. It is a fresh water fish and is actually a species of carp, not a shark. They were actually declared extinct in the 1970s, but small populations have been found here and there.
How long do red tail sharks live?
They can grow to be around 6 inches in length and will live to around 6 or 8 years in home aquariums but have also been known to live up to 18 years. (more on freshwater aquarium sharks in this article ).
Do red tail sharks like food?
Whatever food you buy, just make sure that your red tail shark likes it, and whenever buying new fish food or switching up the diet, keep an eye on your red tail shark. Make sure that it does not get sluggish, loses color, or seems sickly in some other way. Always remember, this is a freshwater fish, they like their food to float, and they love plant matter, but also like some protein too.
How to balance out a red tail shark?
If you want to balance out your red-tailed sharks with other fish in a community tank, then you should ensure that you are meeting the needs of each fish in the tank. When every fish is well cared for and fed a high-quality diet, then they will display lower aggression levels that are commonly triggered by stress. Both red-tailed sharks and their tank mates thrive in a heavily planted tank that consists of a variety of live plants with different rocks and pieces of driftwood. Hideouts for fish are commonly sold in pet stores and allow your red-tailed shark to have a safe retreat.
What Makes a Good Tank Mate for Red-Tailed Sharks?
Livebearers like mollies, platies, and swordtails are one of the best fish tank mates to keep with a red-tailed shark. When it comes to invertebrates, freshwater snails can be successfully kept with red-tailed sharks at both a small and an adult size. You can also mix most of the tank mates. Livebearers get along well with tetras and danios.
How big of a tank do you need for a red tail shark?
Red-tailed sharks grow slowly and reach adult sizes between 5 to 7 inches. Due to their size, they require a large tank with the starting minimum being 20 gallons for one red-tailed shark and a pair of gourami or snails. If you plan to keep shoaling fish with your shark, a 25-gallon tank or larger is recommended.
Why do sharks need tankmates?
Tankmates can help a red-tailed shark to get used to having other fish in the tank and lower their aggression. Community tanks will promote a balanced ecosystem where all the inhabitants learn to be kept together.
Why do red tail sharks chase?
Their territory is typically near a cave-like structure and plants. When another fish tries to swim into their territory, red-tailed sharks will chase or nip at the fish. This makes it important to keep fast-moving fish that can swim away when the red-tailed shark decides to act aggressively.
What is a red tail shark?
Red-tailed sharks are a type of tropical, freshwater fish that have an aggressive and territorial temperament. They have a black body with a dark ruby red tail fin. They are a form of suckermouth fish that spends most of their time cleaning away at surfaces in the tank. They form part of the aquarium’s clean-up crew and feed off algae and leftover fish food. Aside from their aggressive nature, they can do well in large community tanks with tank mates that swim near the mid or top level of the aquarium. Red-tailed sharks should be kept alone in an aquarium without other red or rainbow-tailed sharks due to their territorial nature.
Can you keep a red tail shark in a tank?
Red-tailed sharks are not particularly sensitive to high levels of nitrite, but the water should still be kept clean using a filter and regular water changes. Only place the red-tailed shark in the tank if the tank has been fully cycled for 4 to 6 weeks prior.
What is a red fin shark?
The Red Fin Shark is a rare find for tropical fish keeping enthusiasts and specimens when available are almost always caught in the wild. Misidentified specimens are occasionally imported and mixed in with other “shark minnows” as juveniles.
How many eggs do red fin sharks scatter?
After scattering up to several hundred eggs and milt, the pair should immediately removed from their eggs. Any uneaten fertilized eggs will hatch out in a day or so at 80 F. The fry are free swimming in another day and can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp and finely ground flake foods.
Where do red fin sharks come from?
The Red Fin Shark was named for the Menam Mun River at Tha Chang, East of Korat in eastern Thailand from where it was first collected, and unlike the Rainbow Shark, it is rare in the aquarium trade and has not been commercially bred in Southeast Asian farms. Specimens have been recorded from some other tributaries of the middle Mekong in both Thailand and Laos, and may occur in Cambodia as well.
Can you keep a red fin shark in a community tank?
The Red Fin Shark is antagonistic towards their own kind or fish that are similar in appearance. They are best kept as a single species, one fish per tank. As juveniles, they can be housed with most peaceful species in a community tank, but as they grow larger, they become highly territorial and are best kept with other, like sized medium aggressive fish. Barbs, larger gourami, danios, and various SouthEast Asian catfish species are all good candidates. Avoid mixing them with other shark like looking cyprinids.
What to use for a red tail shark?
For substrate, use gravel or large rocks. I used 1/4-inch gravel in my tank. I would avoid using smaller gravel because your Red Tail Shark might try to eat it.
Why is it so hard to care for a red tail black shark?
Caring for a Red Tail Black Shark is tricky because these fish are aggressive and territorial with tankmates. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the best tankmate for a red tail shark?
The best tankmates for the Red Tail Shark are large-bodied, quick and swim in the mid- to upper levels of the water column. My Zebra Danios and White Cloud Mountain Minnows managed to do well enough, and here are a few more suggestions.
How long do red tail sharks live?
Known for its large black body and vivid red tail, the Red Tail Black Shark can grow up to 6 inches in length. A lifespan of 6–10 years is common, but rare reports have stated a few living up to 18 years.
Why is it impossible to breed red tail sharks?
Breeding Red Tail Sharks in the home aquarium is close to impossible because of their aggressive nature toward each other. The process starts when the female swells with eggs, becoming more rounded than males. A week before spawning, a spawning tube appears on the male.
What color are albino sharks?
The albino Rainbow Shark has a pale white body with orange to red fins. Better known for eating algae. True to bottom feeder nature, Rainbow Sharks will clean plants and rocks of algae quicker than their Red Tail counterparts. They like the water to be a little warmer.
Where do red tail black sharks live?
They are native to Thailand, but because of excessive poaching they are thought to be extinct in the wild. They survive in greater numbers in the aquarium trade.
What is the best shark to have in a freshwater aquarium?
The Red Tail Shark can be a standout in any freshwater aquarium.
How many sharks can you keep in a red tail tank?
Make sure you have a large aquarium; for each Red Tail you add, you need to add a minimum of 1 meter to the tank. You will also need to keep at least five sharks at once.
What is the color of a red tail shark?
Red Tail Shark Appearance. The Epalzeorhynchos Bicolor is a standout in any freshwater aquarium, with a deep black body offset with a red forked tail. It’s their dorsal fin that is similar in appearance to a shark, which is where its name comes from. Their body is long and slim with flattened sides and a curved back.
Where do red tail black sharks live?
As previously mentioned the Red Tail Black Shark is native to the freshwater algae ponds of Thailand. During rainy season they will inhabit the bottom lands, streams and forest area. It is a very active fish that will spend the majority of its time “busy”.
Should You Get a Red Tail Shark for Your Aquarium?
The red tail shark is a robust and lively fish with a fierce personality. Red tail sharks are moderately difficult to care for and need at least a 55-gallon tank or bigger.
Where do red tail sharks go to find food?
Because they’re scavengers, they will enjoy scooping up food in between nooks and crannies. Caves and hiding places will also be an excellent way to scope out a territory for the red tail shark.
What is the color of a red tail shark?
It has amazing coloration, with the sharp contrast of a mostly velvet-black body matched to a bright red tail.
How to tell the difference between a rainbow shark and a red tail shark?
Here’s how to tell them apart. Both species have red colorations, but the rainbow shark has red coloration on all of its fins. The red tail shark only has a red tail, with the rest of its fins colored black. The red tail shark will always have a black body. The rainbow shark also has a black body, but it’s more iridescent than the velvet-black ...
What shark has a black body?
The red tail shark will always have a black body. The rainbow shark also has a black body, but it’s more iridescent than the velvet-black of the red tail shark. The rainbow also has an albino variety, with a white body.
How big do red tail sharks get?
Size and Growth. The usual red tail shark size is about six inches for fully-grown adults. However, they can grow to larger sizes, as much as seven to eight inches in length. Red tail sharks often live around five to six years in an aquarium. Of course, like with most fish, they can live longer with exceptional care.
Why are red tail sharks endangered?
While the endangered status of the red tail shark can be credited to the aquarium trade, there is more evidence that environmental damage is responsible. A large number of dam construction and swamp drainage took place in the 70s, putting a strain on red tail shark’s habitats.
Why are red tail sharks so aggressive?
Because of the red tail shark’s aggressiveness, the size of their tank becomes even more critical. The more room they have to swim around, the less they will want to chase and stress out other fish.
What is the best substrate for a red tail shark?
It’s easy to go overboard when decorating a tank! Author Note: The ideal substrate for Red Tail Sharks is moderately-sized gravel or pebbles. Red Tail Sharks are bottom-dwellers for the most part, so getting the substrate right is very important.
Why are red tail sharks not picky eaters?
Because Red Tail Sharks aren’t picky eaters, it’s important to make sure you’re not overfeeding them. If they can’t eat what you gave them in a couple of minutes you’re probably giving them too much food. Also, keep an eye on how much food is actually being eaten and how much is falling to the substrate.
How big of a tank do red tail sharks need?
Tank Size. The recommended tank size for Red Tail Sharks is 55 gallons. Even though these fish aren’t massive, they’re quite active and need a good amount of room to swim. This space also comes in handy for reducing the possibility of aggressive behavior.
Why is it important to choose the right tank mates for a Red Tail Shark?
Because of their potential to be an aggressive fish, it’s important you choose the right tank mates for your Red Tail Shark.
What does a red tail black shark look like?
The Red Tail Black Shark has a long and thin body that’s shaped very much like a torpedo. Their dorsal fin begins roughly halfway back on their body and resembles the classic trait of the scary fish we’ve come to fear in movies.
How long do red tail sharks live?
The average Red Tail Shark lifespan is between 5 and 8 years. While there’s always an element of randomness to this, there are some things you can do to ensure that they live as long as possible.
What is a red tail shark?
Red Tail Sharks are an eye-catching freshwater fish that we’ve been drawn to for quite a while. Their simple yet striking appearance is something you don’t often see in other species.
