Scientific Name: Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
Common Name: Red tail black shark, Red-tailed black shark, Redtail sharkminnow, Red tailed labeo
Adult Size: 6 inches
Life Expectancy: 5 - 8 years
Habitat: Thailand
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
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Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F
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pH Range: 6.0 - 8.0
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Water Hardness: 5 - 15
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet & Nutrition: Omnivore; they will eat any algae that naturally forms at the bottom of the tank. They can also be given algae in tablet, flake, or wafer form if there isn’t enough inside the tank for them to dine on. To balance their diet add protein sources such as frozen bloodworms, fish granules, brinefish, insect larvae, tubifex worms, crustaceans and aquatic insects. For a little variety, you may add bits of chopped cucumber, raw peas, or pieces of spinach as well.
Breeding & Spawning: Egg layers, however, breeding them in a tank setup is virtually impossible because the fish is aggressive toward others of its kind.
Gender: Male adult red tail sharks have brighter coloration, slimmer bodies, and a more pointed dorsal fin than females.
