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Here's a complete guide to the Red Tail Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) — a striking, semi-aggressive freshwater fish loved for its bold black body and vivid red tail.

🐟 Red Tail Shark Overview

🎨 Appearance

• Body Color: Deep, jet black

• Tail: Bright crimson or fire-engine red tail — the only splash of color

• Shape: Torpedo-shaped body, flat belly, tall dorsal fin

• Size: Up to 6 inches (15 cm)

• Sexual Dimorphism: Males are more slender with slightly brighter coloration; females are plumper when mature

🔥 The contrast between the black body and red tail makes it one of the most visually dramatic freshwater fish.

📏 Size & Lifespan

🔥 Temperament & Behavior

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive and territorial, especially toward similar-looking or bottom-dwelling fish

• Behavior:

  • Active and fast swimmer

  • May chase other fish from its territory

  • Mostly stays in lower and middle tank levels

  • Becomes more aggressive with age or in small tanks

⚠️ Not a true shark, but called so due to its shape and swimming style.

🐠 Tank Requirements

🚫 Avoid small tanks — confined space amplifies aggression.

🍽️ Diet

• Feeding Type: Omnivorous

• Best Foods:

  • High-quality sinking pellets

  • Algae wafers

  • Blanched veggies: spinach, peas, zucchini

  • Frozen/live foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia

• Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times daily

✅ A varied diet ensures vibrant color and long life.

✅ Care Tips

• Do not keep more than one Red Tail Shark per tank unless in very large aquariums (75+ gallons) with heavy visual breaks

• Avoid tankmates with similar body shape or coloration (e.g., Rainbow Shark, Bala Shark)

• Perform weekly water changes (25–30%)

• Rearrange décor occasionally to reduce territorial dominance

🐣 Breeding

• Breeding in Home Aquariums: Extremely difficult

• All aquarium specimens are commercially bred via hormone induction

• No reliable home breeding documented

• No parental care — eggs are scattered and often eaten

🤝 Tankmates

🧠 Best housed with active mid-to-top dwellers in tanks with lots of territories and hiding spaces.

⚠️ Common Health Issues

💧 Stable water parameters are essential to prevent disease.

🧠 Fun Facts

• Not a shark at all — the name comes from the body shape and fin structure

• Went extinct in the wild in the 1990s, mostly due to habitat loss, but survives in the aquarium trade

• Can jump when startled — use a tight-fitting lid

• May become a “bully” if kept in tanks under 50 gallons

🏁 Summary

The Red Tail Shark is a hardy, striking freshwater fish suited for intermediate aquarists who can provide enough space, structure, and smart tankmate choices. While it’s relatively easy to care for, its territorial behavior makes tank planning crucial. When kept well, it's a long-lived, visually bold centerpiece fish.