Red-tailed Shark - Aquarium Fish

First of all, whoever named this particular aquarium fish a "shark," must have really been highly imaginative or confused, to say the least. Unlike the tropical fish known as the Bala Shark, the Red-tailed Shark doesn't even remotely resemble such a creature. I'm assuming they got their name because of their somewhat high dorsal fin, but good grief! Anyway, this is a very mild-mannered tropical fish. I have heard before that they can be a bit scrappy amongst each other, but the ones I had in a large community tank always minded their own business. Then again, there were big African Cichlids in the tank to keep everybody on their best behavior, too. Ha!

The red-tailed shark can be dull colored or a deep, rich color. I prefer the dark black ones with the bright red tails, but the one pictured here isn't so hot. If I still had my tanks, I'd take pictures from it. I may try to find some old pics if I can find the data discs around here. At any aquatic rate, this is an excellent fish for community tanks.  They do not get very big, either. I've read that they can grow up to 6 inches long (probably the ones kept in bigger tanks), but the ones I had where more in the 4-inch range. They are not picky eaters, either, which is always a plus. If you allow a decent amount of time in between feeding times, they are fun to watch when they get hungry, as the red-tailed shark will vivaciously scavenge the rocks and the live plants for any microscopic growth or crumbs, which also helps keep your tank clean and looking good.

So, if you're looking for a scavenger-type fish that is not a bottom feeder nor a suckerfish and/or algae eater, that actually has some type of personality, this may be a good choice for your community aquarium. Now, if you're looking for something that has more of the shark look, then the Bala that I linked to at the beginning of this post would be a better option.

Image Credit: Is in the Public Domain and is not under copyright. Source = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_black_shark

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