Red Tailed Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor)
The Red-Tailed Black Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) has become extremely popular in the aquarium due to its stunning appearance and exciting behaviours. Unfortunately, these fish are not suitable for the general community aquarium; however, as long as you carefully choose your tankmates, they are generally peaceful towards other species. That said, these fish can become increasingly territorial as they mature and can display exceptionally high levels of aggression towards similar-looking species.
Ideal tankmates for the Red-Tailed Black Shark would be active, larger, robust schooling Cyprinids such as Mascara Barbs, Denison Barbs, Odessa Barbs and Clown Barbs. These fish do not seem to bother loaches. It would be best if you avoided most other bottom-dwelling species such as Catfish and similur fish in aperance and shape such as the Rainbow Shark and True Flying Fox.
It would be best if you kept these fish alone in a community aquarium or a group of 5 or more individuals in a large tank with lots of cover. A cohabitation attempt might be possible; however, each individual will need their territory with at least a metre diameter, so keeping them alone is probably your best option.
Red-Tailed Black Shark are not fussy when it comes to decor in the aquarium. However, the ideal aquarium setup for the Red-Tailed Black Shark would imitate a flowing stream or river with differently sized rocks, small pebbles, sand or fine gravel, and perhaps some boulders as a substrate. Adding driftwood and hardy aquatic plants such as Anubias or Microsorum would benefit your fish and give them places to hide if need be.
Like most Cyprinids, these fish live in pristine water in the wild, so they are therefore intolerant to the build-up of organic waste, so good filtration and frequent water changes are a must. It is also advisable to have a tight-fitting lid on your aquarium as these fish are known to jump out if startled.
The Red-Tailed Black Shark has a long and chunky body shaped very much like a torpedo. As juveniles, their bodies are a deep black colour, and their caudal fin is bright red; however, the black fades to a dark grey as they mature. Their dorsal fin sits roughly halfway back on their body, giving them a shark-like appearance.
Tank Mates for the Red Tailed Black Shark
1 ideal tank mate ideas for the Red Tailed Black Shark include:
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epalzeorhynchos bicolor |
| Year Described | 1931 |
| Other Names | Red Tail Shark, Fire Tail, Red Tailed Labeo, Red Tailed Shark |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Epalzeorhynchos |
| Origins | Thailand |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Loners |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 5 - 8 |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| GH | 10 - 16 |
| KH | 10 - 1 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 73 - 79℉ 22.8 - 26.1℃ | |
Photos of the Red Tailed Black Shark
Natural Habitat
The Red-Tailed Black Shark originally came from Thailand in Southeast Asia. There is only one known population of Red-Tailed Black Sharks in the wild, in the Chao Phraya Basin's clear waters and floodplains as far South as Bangkok. These fish inhabit streams, rivers, and waterways with rocky substrate and vegetation to feed, shelter, rest, and hide.
Currently, the Red-Tailed Black Shark is classed as critically endangered on the IIUCN Red List, and from 1996 until 2011, they were believed to be extinct in the wild.
What to feed the Red Tailed Black Shark
The Red-Tailed Black Shark is unfussy and will happily accept high-quality dried food such as flakes, granules or pellets, as well as good quality plant-based food. These fish will also graze on algae and appreciate the occasional treat of green vegetables. However, for your fish's best colour and condition, you should also provide them with live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, mosquito larvae, and brine shrimp.
How to sex the Red Tailed Black Shark
It is pretty difficult to differentiate between the male and female Red-Tailed Black Shark; however, the male's caudal fin is usually much brighter than the females and is generally a slightly slimmer fish. In contrast, females are narrowly larger and plumper than males, and their overall colour is marginally duller. In addition, the female's dorsal fin is more curved than the male's.
How to breed the Red Tailed Black Shark
There are no records on the successful breeding of the Red-Tailed Black Shark in the home aquarium. However, these fish are mass bred with hormone treatment in commercial farms.
The Red Tailed Black Shark has been featured on the following stamps
Frquently asked questions about the Red Tailed Black Shark
Are Red Tail Sharks aggressive?
It is recommended to house these fish with other semi-aggressive fish or ensure the aquarium is large enough for the other fish to escape harassment. In keeping with other shark type species ensure there is a group, so the aggression is more distributed instead of focused on a single fish.
Are Red Tail Sharks okay with Amano and other shrimp?
We have maintained Red Tail Sharks with adult cherry and Amano shrimp in the past without problems.