Red Tailed Black Shark Labeo Bicolor 5cm

Overview

The Red-Tailed Black Shark is a velvet-black cyprinid with a blazing red tail and a shark-like dorsal fin, one of the most recognisable fish in the hobby. It comes from the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong rivers of central Thailand, where it is now critically endangered. It suits experienced keepers with a large, decor-rich tank and robust, mid-water companions.

• Adult Size: Around 12–15 cm (5–6 in)
• Lifespan: 10–15 years, sometimes longer

Origin

• Native to: Central and western Thailand
• Habitat: Clear flowing rivers over sand and large rocks, well oxygenated

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous aufwuchs grazer
• Preferred Foods: Sinking pellets, spirulina flakes, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, blanched spinach
• Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily with plenty of vegetable matter; it is a poor algae eater

Tank Mates

• Best with: Fast, robust mid-water fish: larger barbs, danios, rainbowfish
• Avoid: Other sharks, flying foxes, loaches, corydoras, any similar-shaped bottom dweller

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive, increasingly so with age and size
• Territoriality: Strongly territorial; claims caves and chases intruders relentlessly

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Challenges: Aggression grows as it matures; needs space and many hiding places

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, neutral, well oxygenated
• Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
• pH: 6.0–8.0
• Hardness: 2–15 dGH
• Flow: Moderate
• Tank Size: Minimum 250 litres; 120 cm footprint; far larger for more than one

Final Notes

The charming juvenile becomes a territorial adult that can dominate a tank for well over a decade, so plan the community around it from the start. Keep only one unless the tank is very large, and avoid other bottom-dwelling species. It is a jumper, so fit a secure lid, and provide caves, roots and rocks to give it a territory of its own. Well housed, it is a striking, long-lived centrepiece.