Red Tail Shark died help

Question for you all. I have a tank that's almost five months old. I have 12 fish. 8 septa tetras and 4 white skirt tetras. Two months ago I got a RedTail Shark a two weeks later it died. The local fish store replaced it. The new one recently died. It was a month old. I would feed it flakes and that's all. My water levels are great. No ammonia. Nitrates and Nitrites are zero. PH is 7.0. My goal is to have a healthy Red Tail Shark. Any suggestions? I was think maybe different food for them. My substrates in my tank are snow colored rocks. So light colored rocks. Would that be the reason why they keep dying as well. Love to hear any suggestions.

 

Tank size? and Nitrates shouldnt be 0 unless your tank is very heavily planted

 

They are usually quite hardy and will eat flake although sinking pellets and frozen food are probably easier for them to access. What size is the tank? Are you sure that it's cycled? A cycled tank should be producing nitrates.

 

Sorry. Nitrates are at 10. It’s a 29gl tank. Will be going to a 55 in a few months. Yes the tank is cycled.

 

I'm a little late to this thread. My daughter wanted a red tailed shark in her new aquarium. Initially I agreed and said it would be the last fish we would get. However, I didn't quite understand this fish in any great depth. This is a fish with attitude. Even the most placid red tail shark can have days where it will bully other fish. I knew they grew to 15cm but didn't spot that they are from the carp family. So they are quite bulky when fully grown. I think you'd need a huge tank to keep this fish in with serape tetra, otherwise they would not be able to outrun the red tail.

This little clip on You Tube does give you a clue as to how big these "little bruisers" really grow.

Red Tail Shark Care - Are They Really That Bad?

AiYn'U

 

I'm a little late to this thread. My daughter wanted a red tailed shark in her new aquarium. Initially I agreed and said it would be the last fish we would get. However, I didn't quite understand this fish in any great depth. This is a fish with attitude. Even the most placid red tail shark can have days where it will bully other fish. I knew they grew to 15cm but didn't spot that they are from the carp family. So they are quite bulky when fully grown. I think you'd need a huge tank to keep this fish in with serape tetra, otherwise they would not be able to outrun the red tail.

This little clip on You Tube does give you a clue as to how big these "little bruisers" really grow.

AiYn'U

I'm a little late to this thread. My daughter wanted a red tailed shark in her new aquarium. Initially I agreed and said it would be the last fish we would get. However, I didn't quite understand this fish in any great depth. This is a fish with attitude. Even the most placid red tail shark can have days where it will bully other fish. I knew they grew to 15cm but didn't spot that they are from the carp family. So they are quite bulky when fully grown. I think you'd need a huge tank to keep this fish in with serape tetra, otherwise they would not be able to outrun the red tail.

This little clip on You Tube does give you a clue as to how big these "little bruisers" really grow.

AiYn'U

Go with the rainbow shark they look very similar with more red fins not just the tail they will also grow about 6 inches

 

I'm a little late to this thread. My daughter wanted a red tailed shark in her new aquarium. Initially I agreed and said it would be the last fish we would get. However, I didn't quite understand this fish in any great depth. This is a fish with attitude. Even the most placid red tail shark can have days where it will bully other fish. I knew they grew to 15cm but didn't spot that they are from the carp family. So they are quite bulky when fully grown. I think you'd need a huge tank to keep this fish in with serape tetra, otherwise they would not be able to outrun the red tail.

This little clip on You Tube does give you a clue as to how big these "little bruisers" really grow.

Red Tail Shark Care - Are They Really That Bad?

AiYn'U

I have a Rainbow Shark (about 5-6 inches) in my main display tank. Even though it's not the Red Tailed, they are similar. I've had him for years. He was with me when I first started my tank back up, to when I switched to African Cichlids, to when I switched to American Cichlids, until now with a larger tank with more aggressive Cichlids. Although I never really valued him much, he is my "veteran" and is pretty much a "been there done that" fish lol

I've seen some aggression with these fish, but the way their mouths are I doubt they're capable of actually killing any fish. The only aggression is the occasional chasing of any smaller fish I have with the tank.

You really don't need that large of an aquarium to keep them in my opinion. They are extremely compatible with a variety of fish. I've kept them with small peaceful community fish to larger Cichlids that can swallow him whole. My Rainbow Shark gets along with the Pleco fine too.

Just thought I'd share. Definitely don't be too hesitant if you want to get the Red Tail (assuming your tank is compatible).

 

Go with the rainbow shark they look very similar with more red fins not just the tail they will also grow about 6 inches

Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to offer your advice and having looked them up I think I agree with you. Also my daughter says thank you for the help too

AiYn'U