Red tail shark is chasing tetras

I have a 20 gallon tank with one red tail shark two white skirt tetras and one black skirt tetra. The people at Petco told me this would work but I later found out that it wouldn’t. The red tail shark chases all of the tetras. And the black skirt tetra chases the two white skirt tetras. I don’t know if the teachers are playing or fighting. I want to add other tetras so they can school but I am worried that they will also get stressed out along with the other tetras. I don’t know what to do about the red tail shark? Help please.

Here are some pictures of the tank set up and the fish.

 

I’d move the red tail to a different tank or rehome him. He’s going to eventually need a 55/75 gallon plus tank and the aggression will likely not decrease anytime soon.

 

Ok well how long should I rehome him for?

I’d move the red tail to a different tank or rehome him. He’s going to eventually need a 55/75 gallon plus tank and the aggression will likely not decrease anytime soon.

I also have had him for a year now would he still need a new tank?

 

Unfortunately, rehome means give her away. They are active and territorial fish and 20 g is too small. And she looks like she is a decent size and in nice condition. How big is she?

 

Yeah she is in nice condition she looks around 3-4 inches. I got her from petco would they take her back after a year? I would just want the fish to go to some place where it is better for her because this is my first fish tank and nobody at petco told me I would need a bigger tank and that these fish wouldn’t work together that well. I found that out later on.

 

The red tail shark NEEDS a 50 gallon or 48 inch long ASAP. a 40 gallon breeder that is 48 inches long would also be ok. If you can not upgrade your tank soon, you need to find him a new home.
the skirt tetra NEED to be in a bare minimum school or 6, while 8 is better.
Please look up the fish you want to keep before purchase in hopes of avoiding situations like this in the future. We are here to help you, Im glad you found this sight!

 

Yeah I will next time I get a fish look up about it first. Also I have seen other tetra tanks they don’t have as much decor as mine should I tale some out? Also is it still possible to get rid of the tetras stress and fix their fins? And will the black and white skirt tetras school together? Also thanks for everything you helped with you guys have helped ALOT.

The red tail shark NEEDS a 50 gallon or 48 inch long ASAP. a 40 gallon breeder that is 48 inches long would also be ok. If you can not upgrade your tank soon, you need to find him a new home.
the skirt tetra NEED to be in a bare minimum school or 6, while 8 is better.
Please look up the fish you want to keep before purchase in hopes of avoiding situations like this in the future. We are here to help you, Im glad you found this sight!

Yeah I will next time I get a fish look up about it first. Also I have seen other tetra tanks they don’t have as much decor as mine should I tale some out? Also is it still possible to get rid of the tetras stress and fix their fins? And will the black and white skirt tetras school together? Also thanks for everything you helped with you guys have helped ALOT.

 

Yeah she is in nice condition she looks around 3-4 inches. I got her from petco would they take her back after a year? I would just want the fish to go to some place where it is better for her because this is my first fish tank and nobody at petco told me I would need a bigger tank and that these fish wouldn’t work together that well. I found that out later on.

It’s difficult to say if Petco would take her back. I know my LFS would take her. Where are you? Any LFSs near you?

 

It is unfortunate that you cant get decent information from an employee at a pet store. Sometimes the fish only non big box stores are better, but many times they are not. You really need to look things up yourself and get several opinions.
Petco probobly wont take your fish back, but I would not give it to them if they paid me. He is not going to find a better home that way. Look for Local fish only stores, or try craigslist. Or just get a bigger tank, Its a lot more fun!
Your skirt tetras fins are likly to regrow just fine. But it is possible that they are nipping each other, hopefully having a larger school of them will help. "Will black skirts school with wite skirts?" I have heard very mixed things about this. Things like black skirts are semi aggressive and fin nippy, while white skirts are peacefull. But they are the same species, it is just a color morph. they should be able to mix with each other and with any of the glo fish tetra. but I have never had them. Maybe you can come back here and let us know.

 

The petco near me took about 60+ snails I had not purchased there.

they also got blue lobsters etc returned that I saw. No idea what they do afterwards, but they will take aquarium pets that are surrendered.

I asked on 1 trip and then returned a day or so later with my snails. They immediately quarantined them.

If you get no help there, reach out to Ohio Fish Rescue. they have a you tube channel & I'm sure can hook you up with someone local to you as they know ppl in rescue.

They are passionate about big fish rescue:

Ohio Fish Rescue

 

It’s difficult to say if Petco would take her back. I know my LFS would take her. Where are you? Any LFSs near you?

I live in Moses lake WA it is a small town the only fish stores here are petco I can call them and see if they can take it.

It is unfortunate that you cant get decent information from an employee at a pet store. Sometimes the fish only non big box stores are better, but many times they are not. You really need to look things up yourself and get several opinions.
Petco probobly wont take your fish back, but I would not give it to them if they paid me. He is not going to find a better home that way. Look for Local fish only stores, or try craigslist. Or just get a bigger tank, Its a lot more fun!
Your skirt tetras fins are likly to regrow just fine. But it is possible that they are nipping each other, hopefully having a larger school of them will help. "Will black skirts school with wite skirts?" I have heard very mixed things about this. Things like black skirts are semi aggressive and fin nippy, while white skirts are peacefull. But they are the same species, it is just a color morph. they should be able to mix with each other and with any of the glo fish tetra. but I have never had them. Maybe you can come back here and let us know.

Ok I will

The petco near me took about 60+ snails I had not purchased there.

they also got blue lobsters etc returned that I saw. No idea what they do afterwards, but they will take aquarium pets that are surrendered.

I asked on 1 trip and then returned a day or so later with my snails. They immediately quarantined them.

If you get no help there, reach out to Ohio Fish Rescue. they have a you tube channel & I'm sure can hook you up with someone local to you as they know ppl in rescue.

They are passionate about big fish rescue:

Ohio Fish Rescue

Ok I will look at them thanks for the help.

 

You do need a bigger tank, but if you want to keep the red tail I will suggest you change the gravel to a brighter color...more yellows red and pinks...they have that at the store.
Get more plants and hiding spots.
They are territorial yes,but only to their own kind or similar looking species.
I have 2 rainbows in my 55 gallon and 1 in my 28 gallon(for now)
55 gallon has dark gravel and my 1 in my 28 gallon became very territorial , I put him back in the 28 with the brighter rocks and he is cool, I have skirt tetras as well...just like you.
Basically you need to distract the red tail with hiding spots,bright gravel and bushy plants to get him to leave the skirts alone.

 

It is unfortunate that you cant get decent information from an employee at a pet store. Sometimes the fish only non big box stores are better, but many times they are not. You really need to look things up yourself and get several opinions.
Petco probobly wont take your fish back, but I would not give it to them if they paid me. He is not going to find a better home that way. Look for Local fish only stores, or try craigslist. Or just get a bigger tank, Its a lot more fun!
Your skirt tetras fins are likly to regrow just fine. But it is possible that they are nipping each other, hopefully having a larger school of them will help. "Will black skirts school with wite skirts?" I have heard very mixed things about this. Things like black skirts are semi aggressive and fin nippy, while white skirts are peacefull. But they are the same species, it is just a color morph. they should be able to mix with each other and with any of the glo fish tetra. but I have never had them. Maybe you can come back here and let us know.

If I get a bigger tank and keep the red tail shark will I have to keep the tetras separate with the red tail shark?

 

All of the skirt tetras should school together. Also, I wouldn’t worry about the number of plants (fish love having hiding options), just the texture (silk plants are gentler on fins than plastic). You might be able to post on the Buy/Sell/Trade section of the forum and get someone here to take the red tail.

 

The petco near me took about 60+ snails I had not purchased there.

they also got blue lobsters etc returned that I saw. No idea what they do afterwards, but they will take aquarium pets that are surrendered.

I asked on 1 trip and then returned a day or so later with my snails. They immediately quarantined them.

If you get no help there, reach out to Ohio Fish Rescue. they have a you tube channel & I'm sure can hook you up with someone local to you as they know ppl in rescue.

They are passionate about big fish rescue:

Ohio Fish Rescue

Hi is there anything I can use that will help with there fins I have tried many things I think they haven’t worked because they are still stressed do you know of anything that you think could work?

You do need a bigger tank, but if you want to keep the red tail I will suggest you change the gravel to a brighter color...more yellows red and pinks...they have that at the store.
Get more plants and hiding spots.
They are territorial yes,but only to their own kind or similar looking species.
I have 2 rainbows in my 55 gallon and 1 in my 28 gallon(for now)
55 gallon has dark gravel and my 1 in my 28 gallon became very territorial , I put him back in the 28 with the brighter rocks and he is cool, I have skirt tetras as well...just like you.
Basically you need to distract the red tail with hiding spots,bright gravel and bushy plants to get him to leave the skirts alone.

Could I have 8 tetras with one red tail shark in a 40 gallon breeder tank or would that not work? And also can I add red and yellows and pink gravel to my tank along with the green and blue or should I just remove the green and blue?

 

Could I have 8 tetras with one red tail shark in a 40 gallon breeder tank or would that not work? And also can I add red and yellows and pink gravel to my tank along with the green and blue or should I just remove the green and blue?

Leave the existing gravel and just mix in the brighter colored ones.
40 gallons would be fine for the red tail in my opinion.
They will mature too full grown and still have room to cruise.
I got pieces of shale rock and stacked them to make caves also for everyone to hide in.

 

Leave the existing gravel and just mix in the brighter colored ones.
40 gallons would be fine for the red tail in my opinion.
They will mature too full grown and still have room to cruise.
I got pieces of shale rock and stacked them to make caves also for everyone to hide in.

Ok also why is my tetras hiding next to the heater is it because of stress. And is it normal for tetras not to go in things because they are always out in the open or is it because there is not enough decor? And can you please send a pic of you tanks so I can have a idea of what mine should look like. Thanks.

 

Ok also why is my tetras hiding next to the heater is it because of stress. And is it normal for tetras not to go in things because they are always out in the open or is it because there is not enough decor? And can you please send a pic of you tanks so I can have a idea of what mine should look like. Thanks.

My tetras never really hide in anything either.
They sometimes cruise around under my big pothos plant but that is it.
The hiding behind the filter is more than likely stress yes...their is usually one being picked on more than the rest in the group of tetras itself...let alone with the red tail.

 

My tetras never really hide in anything either.
They sometimes cruise around under my big pothos plant but that is it.
The hiding behind the filter is more than likely stress yes...their is usually one being picked on more than the rest in the group of tetras itself...let alone with the red tail.

Ok should some of the stress and hiding behind filter be fixed with a bigger tank?

 

The first tank is the 28 with the tetras and rainbow shark in it.
Bright bright rocks,plants.
The next is the 55 gallon
Lots of hiding spots and current
Sharks like current,tetras seem to like it as well.
Plants plants and plants. Lol.

 

Leave the existing gravel and just mix in the brighter colored ones.
40 gallons would be fine for the red tail in my opinion.
They will mature too full grown and still have room to cruise.
I got pieces of shale rock and stacked them to make caves also for everyone to hide in.

So will the tetras also be able to go in the 40 gallon tank?

The first tank is the 28 with the tetras and rainbow shark in it.
Bright bright rocks,plants.
The next is the 55 gallon
Lots of hiding spots and current
Sharks like current,tetras seem to like it as well.
Plants plants and plants. Lol.

What so do you use for the currents. And how much of them would I need for a 40 gallon tank?

How many air stones would I need for it and how many of those pipe things that air come out of that are in the back do I need?

The red tail shark NEEDS a 50 gallon or 48 inch long ASAP. a 40 gallon breeder that is 48 inches long would also be ok. If you can not upgrade your tank soon, you need to find him a new home.
the skirt tetra NEED to be in a bare minimum school or 6, while 8 is better.
Please look up the fish you want to keep before purchase in hopes of avoiding situations like this in the future. We are here to help you, Im glad you found this sight!

Where can I find a 48 inch fish tank all the 40 gallon tanks I saw are 36.5.

 

Where can I find a 48 inch fish tank all the 40 gallon tanks I saw are 36.5.

Try searching for “40 gallon long aquarium”. If you have trouble finding it, Pet Supplies Plus has a dollar per gallon going on, so you might be able to get a 55 from them.

 

Where can I find a 48 inch fish tank all the 40 gallon tanks I saw are 36.5.

55 gallon tanks are 48in long.

How many air stones would I need for it and how many of those pipe things that air come out of that are in the back do I need?

If you get the 55 gallon you can run 3 of them in the back, they are 11 in air bars.

 

55 gallon tanks are 48in long.

Would a 40 gallon breeder tank be fine?
I meant to say will a 40 gallon tank work with 8 tetras and 1 red tail shark?

 

Personally, if you are going to upgrade why not go big with a 75g? It is 4 ft like a 55g but wider at 18” versus 12”. That extra 6” makes a big difference. Your shark really needs a 4 ft tank minimum IMO. Then you would have plenty of room to do large schools of both tetras.
Although sharks can be aggressive, they are normally only with other sharks or fish similar shape as them. I would bet the tetras are nipping each other and having a larger school would help.

I don’t think substrate color really impacts his behavior. I had mine in a tank with natural color sand. He was pretty chill except with the bengal loaches because they were similar in shape to him. He just basically kept them run into the many caves I had available for them.

 

Yeah but I don’t have enough room for that big of a tank. If 40 gallons won’t work I will probably have to get rid of the shark. I could do 50 gallons but it is all expensive unless I could find a good quality cheap one.

 

I have 2 black skirted and 3 white ones. The black seem to be the aggresores mostly, but sometimes the white. Mine all stay out in the open. I have a 75 gallon, and the reason I don't have more in the schools is covid. They chase each other away but I have never seen them nip, and they do not school together. I am trying to find some on line as my stores here are having trouble getting fish.

 

Yeah but I don’t have enough room for that big of a tank. If 40 gallons won’t work I will probably have to get rid of the shark. I could do 50 gallons but it is all expensive unless I could find a good quality cheap one.

Try searching craiglist or Facebook marketplace for a 55 if you are worried about cost. Sometimes you can find free tanks or tanks priced at a dollar per gallon or with canister filters.

 

I meant to say will a 40 gallon tank work with 8 tetras and 1 red tail shark?

Yes it will.

 

Yes it will.

Do you think that 2 or those 11 inch air pipes and two air stones would work if I but the 2 air pipes in the back and 2 air stone in each side or should I put the air stones more in the middle or should I have those to pipes and 1 airs tone in the middle.

 

Do you think that 2 or those 11 inch air pipes and two air stones would work if I but the 2 air pipes in the back and 2 air stone in each side or should I put the air stones more in the middle or should I have those to pipes and 1 airs tone in the middle.

How ever you like, some people like no bubbles,some a little and some alot haha, I like alot of them.
Set it up how you like just make sure when you set up the wave maker the current is flowing towards the filter and back around to the wave maker.
Like a circle, my bug one pushes water from the right to the left front of the tank ,bounces off that pain and gets pushed towards the filters, then back around to the wave maker.

 

How ever you like, some people like no bubbles,some a little and some alot haha, I like alot of them.
Set it up how you like just make sure when you set up the wave maker the current is flowing towards the filter and back around to the wave maker.
Like a circle, my bug one pushes water from the right to the left front of the tank ,bounces off that pain and gets pushed towards the filters, then back around to the wave maker.

What is a wave maker?

I want to add on to what I asked what is a wave maker and how does it go in circles?

 

There's no guarantee that he will stop chasing the tetras even in a bigger tank. However he may calm down a bit and only be territorial in one area or at feeding time. Put his favourite cave up one end. The other fish will have more room to stay away from him, and if you add more tetras it's unlikely that he'll be able to single any one of them out for constant harassment.

 

There's no guarantee that he will stop chasing the tetras even in a bigger tank. However he may calm down a bit and only be territorial in one area or at feeding time. Put his favourite cave up one end. The other fish will have more room to stay away from him, and if you add more tetras it's unlikely that he'll be able to single any one of them out for constant harassment.

Ok

How ever you like, some people like no bubbles,some a little and some alot haha, I like alot of them.
Set it up how you like just make sure when you set up the wave maker the current is flowing towards the filter and back around to the wave maker.
Like a circle, my bug one pushes water from the right to the left front of the tank ,bounces off that pain and gets pushed towards the filters, then back around to the wave maker.

Do I need to have a wave maker if I don’t want a lot of plants or could I just have the air bars and a air stone?

 

Do I need to have a wave maker if I don’t want a lot of plants or could I just have the air bars and a air stone?

Honestly as long as your filters are covering the tank there is no real need of bubblers or a wave maker (the filters need to be pushing 8-10 times to volume of the tank in gallons per hour, I'd probably do two large filters on it - bubblers are designed to break the surface, but if your filters are already doing that there isn't much point in adding air stone or bubblers as it isn't going to add anything to the tank).

 

Fishowner24

I had a beautiful 3.5" RTS
When I first started I had 3 SAE and decided to get RTS. They grew up together. Everything was fine in my 55 Planted community for 4 months then he became a jerk, decided the tank was his. Always chasing everyone, Black Skirts, Rasboras, including SAE's approx. same size. Then moved him to a tank with giant danios same size if not larger and same issue chasing the danios. I ended up trading him in at the LFS for some cories. Even the store clerk said they can become jerks, he was going to try and put him in a tank with larger fish.
Just my experience.

Good Luck

 

Honestly as long as your filters are covering the tank there is no real need of bubblers or a wave maker (the filters need to be pushing 8-10 times to volume of the tank in gallons per hour, I'd probably do two large filters on it - bubblers are designed to break the surface, but if your filters are already doing that there isn't much point in adding air stone or bubblers as it isn't going to add anything to the tank).

What does breaking the surface help with? Also I am getting a 40 gallon tank so should I get 2 filters.

This is the only surface tension I have. It covers up a quarter of the tank

Does someone have a example of a wave machine set up so u can see what it means by same side a filter input. If you do please post picture so I have idea. Thx

 

What does breaking the surface help with? Also I am getting a 40 gallon tank so should I get 2 filters.

Breaking the surface is to help with gas exchange, if your filter is already causing movement you wouldn't need air bubblers to increase it. On a 40 i'd still do two as it never hurts to provide more filtration (also makes it easier because you can alternate filter cleanings so you do not lose your filter bacteria).

Waver makers are designed to cause no stagnant areas in the tank, or in the case of marine tanks where they are most often used to create current for there to be no place that has stagnant water or allowing live rock to stay live. If you have the filtration this is also an unnecessary thing in a freshwater tank - it is an underwater pump that moves water around more effectively because it can be positioned wherever in the tank - however I'd say a shark would try and swim into the propeller and possibly hurt itself (happens with the noodle shaped fish and often anemones) so you'd have to cover it with a stocking or similar to prevent any accidents.
I don't think you'd need a wave maker to get enough flow to prevent stagnant places in the tank, as well as it possibly being to strong for the long finned white skirts.

 

Breaking the surface is to help with gas exchange, if your filter is already causing movement you wouldn't need air bubblers to increase it. On a 40 i'd still do two as it never hurts to provide more filtration (also makes it easier because you can alternate filter cleanings so you do not lose your filter bacteria).

Waver makers are designed to cause no stagnant areas in the tank, or in the case of marine tanks where they are most often used to create current for there to be no place that has stagnant water or allowing live rock to stay live. If you have the filtration this is also an unnecessary thing in a freshwater tank - it is an underwater pump that moves water around more effectively because it can be positioned wherever in the tank - however I'd say a shark would try and swim into the propeller and possibly hurt itself (happens with the noodle shaped fish and often anemones) so you'd have to cover it with a stocking or similar to prevent any accidents.
I don't think you'd need a wave maker to get enough flow to prevent stagnant places in the tank, as well as it possibly being to strong for the long finned white skirts.

Ok thanks. I have a question what do you mean my alternate filter cleanings?

 

Ok thanks. I have a question what do you mean my alternate filter cleanings?

My guess is if you have 2 filters, clean one and wait 2 weeks before cleaning the other one, that way if you mess up and kill the Benefitial Bacteria on 1, you still have the other filter to rely on .