On Sun, 07 May 2006 14:36:17 GMT, -ED wrote:

Trevor Stenson wrote:
In article ,
netDenizen wrote:

-ED wrote:
I just added a RT black shark to my tank this week and I wanted to post a
question about his coloring....The fish appears grey with black fins, save
the red tail fin. The body lenght is close to 1.5 inches...I was curious to
find out if it will develope into the 'jet' black body I've read about; or
will this grey-color remain, or is it an indication of his/her mood...

Thanks for the help...-ED


I don't know about the colour, but it will probably become a big, mean
son-of-a-b. My brother had one for 7 years plus and it was the boss of
the tank - not a nice fish, actually.

My Rainbow shark turns a lighter shade of pale black when stressed.
(ie, major water change, "tankscaping", etc.). But even when it is
healthy and happy I wouldn't call it jet black. For them a touch of
grey-kind of suits them anyway, and it's alright.

I had, as a youth a Red-Tailed Black Shark, and at one time a Rainbow
Shark. The RTBS had a black body.

For whatever reason, my RTBS was not aggressive at all - and this was in
a 10 gallon community tank mind you. He lived for years and was not a
problem fish. The two rainbows I've had seemed more aggressive.

I currently have a Rainbow Shark in a 20+ gallon tank.

I think the trick with both sharks is to give them a nice cave they can
call their own, don't over-crowd with lots of middle to or top-to-bottom
dwellers (although mine have seemed to like a the company of at least
one other bottom dweller), have lots of plant cover for the other fish
and most of all find the right balance of tank-mates that won't p@ss it
off.

For instance, my Rainbow shark is not threatened by my Pleco or my
Swordtails.

[yes I know (thanks to the group) that the Pleco will have to be moved
at some point when out grows the tank]

The RS pays those other fish little attention. As for my Betta, well he
is a top dweller, and I have plenty of plant coverage including floating
Hornwort so he stays out the sharks way. They did spar off a lot when
they were about the same size as were determining who would be the alpha
fish.

Now that the shark is much bigger he's the heavy weight champ. He
wasn't compatible at all with neon tetras. I found that out the hard
way.

Cheers,

TS

Well, should I concern myself with the Danios I've put in there. At
present, 10 Zebras are in there.
Thanks.........-ED

I once read a description of zebra danios as "constantly moving about
the tank yet never appearing restless or nervous." And yes, that's
what they do. Plenty of action, never disruptive. They must love your
big tank. Zebras were one of the first egglayers that I spawned, I
have a special place in my heart for them.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me