Red Tail Shark

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Freshwater South-east Asia Usually captive bred

A black body and a red tail. The male claims territory and chases others of its shape. Keep one per tank, and give it caves to hide in.

Also called: Redtail sharkminnow, Red tailed shark, Redtail shark.

13 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

Item	Value	Because
Adult length	13 cm	Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank	200 L, at least 120 cm long estimated	The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish	80 L estimated	What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load	Class 3 of 5 estimated	How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature	22 to 27 C	Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH	6.5 to 7.8	Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness	GH 6 to 16, KH 3 to 10	Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow	Medium	Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light	Moderate	Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size	Single fish is fine	Not a schooling species.
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Territorial: strong.
Swims in	Near the bottom	Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan	About 8 years	A fish is a long commitment.
Experience	Some experience helps	A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps	Yes	Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Red Tail Shark is an omnivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover. It nips fins.

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.