Redtail Shark With A White Tail

[myfisharerappers]

I just brought home a redtail shark, it was the only one of its kind left in the tank with other sharks. His tail is completely white, besides the tips be slightly red. I'm assuming it was just too stressed at the store but just want to double check with someone on here. He's doing great in my tank eating and swimming around.

 

[Platylover]

Photos?

 

[david1978]

Their a pretty cool fish. You can judge your water conditions by its tail color.

 

[Platylover]

Their a pretty cool fish. You can judge your water conditions by its tail color.

Really? I never knew that it could change so much. Do you have any links on this? It sounds very interesting and I’d love to read up on it.

 

[myfisharerappers]

Here is a picture but you can't really see the that the tips are red. There really wasn't any red on him in the store, so since I've brought him home he's been getting a bit more color that's what is leading me to believe he was just stressed.

 

[david1978]

In the appearance section. Was the first article on Google.

 

[Platylover]

In the appearance section. Was the first article on Google.

I suppose I thought “fade” meant light pink or something of the sort, not completely white. Interesting.

Well, I agree, it very likely is just stress and will return to normal shortly.

 

[Coptapia]

It doesn’t have a red tail because it’s not a Red Tailed Shark. It’s one of those white tailed Sharks that appear in some batches of Rainbow Sharks (E. frenatum). AFAIK it’s not yet known whether it’s a farm bred mutation or an undescribed species, or even a hybrid (complicated further because we don’t know what E. muruense looks like when alive).

 

[david1978]

It doesn’t have a red tail because it’s not a Red Tailed Shark. It’s one of those white tailed Sharks that appear in some batches of Rainbow Sharks (E. frenatum). AFAIK it’s not yet known whether it’s a farm bred mutation or an undescribed species, or even a hybrid (complicated further because we don’t know what E. muruense looks like when alive).

I missed the pic. So that's what's going on? I have only seen this mentioned once before and nobody had any idea. But you are correct they don't get that color from stress.

 

[myfisharerappers]

It doesn’t have a red tail because it’s not a Red Tailed Shark. It’s one of those white tailed Sharks that appear in some batches of Rainbow Sharks (E. frenatum). AFAIK it’s not yet known whether it’s a farm bred mutation or an undescribed species, or even a hybrid (complicated further because we don’t know what E. muruense looks like when alive).

Even though he clearly isn't a rainbow shark and has some red on his tail which has been getting more red (very slowly)?

 

[Coptapia]

Even though he clearly isn't a rainbow shark and has some red on his tail which has been getting more red (very slowly)?

I would say it probably is a Rainbow Shark.
RTBS always have a bright red tail fin. It can fade a little with stress but it’s still very red. They also don’t have the dark and light patches on the peduncle (even when the body fades to grey), typical of Rainbow Sharks.

 

[myfisharerappers]

I would say it probably is a Rainbow Shark.
RTBS always have a bright red tail fin. It can fade a little with stress but it’s still very red. They also don’t have the dark and light patches on the peduncle (even when the body fades to grey), typical of Rainbow Sharks.

I thought rainbow sharks have red fins? His are all black except for his tail.

 

[Coptapia]

The one like yours that keeps cropping up within Rainbow Shark batches needs explaining somehow. Probably (imo) a Rainbow Shark mutation.

Read the notes here...
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/epalzeorhynchos-frenatum/

 

[myfisharerappers]

Not that I think any one cares but I had to give an update and show this guy off. Its been a few weeks now and his whole tail is actually red! Definitely not as vibrant as its supposed to be but he's happy and healthy!

 

[Coptapia]

I’m interested.
So it is a Red Tailed Shark after all. Hmm...

 

[wd67]

When i got mine he was light orange but he got the bright red after a few days in my tank. Stressed fish usually don't show good coloration.