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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Will RTS get along with other bottom feeders?
I was just wondering...will a red tail shark get along with other kinds of bottom feeder fish? Like a pleco?
Asking because I am planning on having a 90 or 120 gal tank with lots and lots of plants and want to make sure I've got a sufficient "cleanup crew"  | 
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Good morning FireTyger. My Rainbow Shark (pretty much the same characteristics as the Ret Tail) get along fine with everyone. His best buddy is a Cory Cat. I also have a Pleco and I've never seen any aggression from either. He does like to give the Silver Dollars a chase every now and then but no damage done. I think most of your aggression issues would be if you had more than one shark in the same tank.
I think he will be a fine addition. (especially in a 90 or 120g tank) Make sure there are no escape routes (including heater holes) and that your water perimeters are in check. If the water chemistry gets out of balance the shark will jump out if he can.
Ken  | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by aquarist48  Good morning FireTyger. My Rainbow Shark (pretty much the same characteristics as the Ret Tail) get along fine with everyone. His best buddy is a Cory Cat. I also have a Pleco and I've never seen any aggression from either. He does like to give the Silver Dollars a chase every now and then but no damage done. I think most of your aggression issues would be if you had more than one shark in the same tank.
I think he will be a fine addition. (especially in a 90 or 120g tank) Make sure there are no escape routes (including heater holes) and that your water perimeters are in check. If the water chemistry gets out of balance the shark will jump out if he can.
Ken | Awesome  Thank you for all your help with answering my questions! This newbie appreciates it. | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| My pleasure!
Keep us updated
Ken | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Well it all depends on what bottom feeders you are planning on having. For the most part though; with that big of a tank you will be fine. As a 6 inch RTS shouldn't feel cramped.
My RTS seems really passive, but when she runs into my biggest pictus there does seem to be a little bit of a power struggle there.
But the RTS is a bully non the less and there may be a tussle here or there which is of course unavoidable with a RTS, but you should be fine. | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Just make sure that the other bottom feeders don't look "sharky" and you should be fine.
Can't wait for pics. | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Peffico Well it all depends on what bottom feeders you are planning on having. For the most part though; with that big of a tank you will be fine. As a 6 inch RTS shouldn't feel cramped.
My RTS seems really passive, but when she runs into my biggest pictus there does seem to be a little bit of a power struggle there.
But the RTS is a bully non the less and there may be a tussle here or there which is of course unavoidable with a RTS, but you should be fine. | For bottom feeders to go along with the shark I was thinking of something like an Albino BN Pleco and Siamese Algae Eater. I thought the Yoyo Loaches were pretty neat too but they take up quite a bit of space... | |
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October 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Red1313 Just make sure that the other bottom feeders don't look "sharky" and you should be fine.
Can't wait for pics. | What counts as "sharky"? | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| The algae eater is kinda iffy for the fact they become temperamental. As for a sharky look the only bottom feeder i can think of that matches that is the pictus catfish which can hold their own and normally are used to fin nipping.
The pleco should be fine. Also mystery snails are good clean up crew that won't be bothered.
As for the yo yo loach, i would say go for it 120 gallon tank should be more than enough for 3 yo yo's.
Good luck on your tank and I hope I helped you out. Pictures when you get it up please. | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Quote:
Originally Posted by firetyger What counts as "sharky"? | Anything that closely resembles a shark They're very aggressive towards anything that looks like them  | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| There's a red finned loach(?) I think that's the name. That looks very similar even by coloring. As well other freshwater "sharks" should be avoided. Species with a darker body and redish tail, could be problem-matic as well if they're not significantly larger then the shark.
Good Luck, | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Peffico The algae eater is kinda iffy for the fact they become temperamental. As for a sharky look the only bottom feeder i can think of that matches that is the pictus catfish which can hold their own and normally are used to fin nipping.
The pleco should be fine. Also mystery snails are good clean up crew that won't be bothered.
As for the yo yo loach, i would say go for it 120 gallon tank should be more than enough for 3 yo yo's.
Good luck on your tank and I hope I helped you out. Pictures when you get it up please. | I like the SAE for their versatility in eating all different sorts of algae...but I wouldn't want it to fight with the shark or other fish. About the snails, won't the pleco and others eat them?
Was reading some more about the yoyo loaches and I didn't realize they like to dig a lot. That would probably be a problem as I plan to have a planted tank with lots of plants. | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Red1313 There's a red finned loach(?) I think that's the name. That looks very similar even by coloring. As well other freshwater "sharks" should be avoided. Species with a darker body and redish tail, could be problem-matic as well if they're not significantly larger then the shark.
Good Luck, | Good to know Thank you. I wasn't planning on having anything else like that in the tank... It's funny, though. When I was at Petco they told me that Bala Sharks and Red Tail Sharks can be in the same tank together, and a fifty five gallon tank at that  Once I did some of my own research I quickly changed my mind about Balas, lol. | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by firetyger I like the SAE for their versatility in eating all different sorts of algae...but I wouldn't want it to fight with the shark or other fish. About the snails, won't the pleco and others eat them?
Was reading some more about the yoyo loaches and I didn't realize they like to dig a lot. That would probably be a problem as I plan to have a planted tank with lots of plants. | Well if you get the loaches with the snails then yes they would eat them. However the Pleco is an herbivore, and my pleco and snail like to share the same stump together.
Also if you plant.... errr your plants first then let the roots get settled in then they will probably stand a chance. | |
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October 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Peffico Well if you get the loaches with the snails then yes they would eat them. However the Pleco is an herbivore, and my pleco and snail like to share the same stump together.
Also if you plant.... errr your plants first then let the roots get settled in then they will probably stand a chance. | Ah... I had seen a picture online of a pleco starting to swallow (maybe it was cleaning it off? lol) a snail so I had assumed they ate them.
Don't know if I'd want to risk the loaches digging out the plants...but I'll keep them in mind
Thanks for your advice! | |
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