Red-tailed black shark

Jet black with a red tail, and more aggressive than the rainbow shark. One per tank, with fast mid-water tank mates.

Red-tailed black shark, side view

Care at a glance

Minimum tank55 gallons (208 L)
Temperature72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH6.5–7.5
How manyRed-tailed black sharks fight their own kind. Keep one per tank.
Adult size6 in (15.2 cm)
TemperamentSemi-aggressive and territorial
Where it livesThe lower half
TypeFish

Things to know

  • It claims a territory on the bottom. Give it a cave of its own.

Good tank mates

Possible with care

Do not mix with

Open any pairing to see the reason.

Tank sizes that fit