Redtail97

whats the smallest tank required for a red tail shark please can you help me i am new at keeping RTBS

Shawnie

if hes is alone, 20 gals if fine... if he has tank mates, I wouldnt go anything less than 35-40 (especially more bottom dwellers)

mathas

The bare minimum I would personally consider would be something with a 36"x12" footprint. A 48" tank would be even better, but a 36" tank would likely work.

Of course, someone who's actually had an RTS in the last 10-15 years would be a better source than me I'm sure someone with more recent experience will chime in soon.

Redtail97

ok thanks but i know quite a lot about them i have been researching all night becuase my friend is getting a new tank so he is giving me his red tail shark to hold till he gets it and it is only 2 inches i am getting a 32 gallon tank next month so i have put him in my 16 gallon tanks for now with my 3 black widow tetras do you think he will be ok?

Shawnie

he will be ok, not sure about the tetra's tho

Redtail97

thanks one more thing when i got her she had a torn fin on the top first i thought that was how they looked but then when i researched it wasn't is she ok? becuase she has been fine since i have had her?

Shawnie

daily partial water changes with stress coat....keeping her in that 16 gal with the others is going to stress her big time so keep an eye out for ICH

Redtail97

what if i keep it in another 16 gallon tank on its own with caves and very well planted becuase they say an inch of fish for every gallon and my RTBS will probaly grow to a maximum of 6-7 inches and my tank is 16 gallons so shouldnt that mean it would be enough

Shawnie

in a 16 gal alone, no other fish ever, that would be cool....the 1inch per gal is a general rule but IMO , its mostly for livebearers...and beginners....he is a territorial fish and needs to not feel like he always has to protect his area or he will either kill others, or stress himself so he always has different diseases...they are GREAT fish if kept properly

Redtail97

thank god i was thinking of wishing my red tail dreams goodbye but the weird thing is a lot of websites say that a tank of 10 gallons or larger would be perfect why do they give wrong information?

Shawnie

you will probably find thousands of different things on the web....its how the web works...I can only give suggestions from my experience as most members do here and the best part, its FREE advice LOL ...dont always believe everything you read just take it all in and make your own choices from what others have offered

Redtail97

but my very good freind who has had RTBS for 2 years now in a 16 gallon tank with some harlequin tetras and nothing ever happend and i have another freind who works in my local pet shop who has never let me down and says it will be ok and here in london these RTBS are one of the most popular fish

Shawnie

so why ask for our advice ....you have your advice from your "reliable" friends so not sure if you are just looking for agreements or not..but I gave my advice from experience also...again, its your fish do as you please

Redtail97

sorry i was just looking for different oppinions and to get more knowledge about RTBS

Shawnie

dont be sorry its fine lol....sometimes we dont like hearing opinions when they differ from what we want to do ...maybe some other members can give you advice you want to hear either way, I wish you sucess with your shark and hope you enjoy her

Redtail97

thank you sooo much i will need and thank you for your advice and i will probably end up keeping him in my 16 gallon tank on his own anyways thanks again