Red Tail Shark
Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
Red Tail Shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) is a freshwater species with an adult-size reference of about 15 cm. It needs at least 200 litres and one individual, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
6.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
15 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 200 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
GH
5 - 15 dGH
KH
2 - 7 dKH
TDS
95 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
148 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Epalzeorhynchos bicolor; the verified classification records genus Epalzeorhynchos, family Cyprinidae, subfamily Labeoninae, order Cypriniformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Red Tail Shark is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The minimum reference is one individual; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Red Tail Shark needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of one individual. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a freshwater species; the card's reference values are 22–26 °C, pH 6.5–7.5. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is a species to combine with caution, with a generally territorial temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “not routinely documented in home aquaria”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Use a secure cover and close escape gaps. Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Origine et répartition géographiques
A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Origine
Asie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Territorial
- Red Tail Shark has a generally territorial temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are omnivorous scavengers that spend their time grazing on algae, biofilm, and small crustaceans in the wild. In the aquarium, they will readily accept a wide variety of foods, including sinking pellets, algae wafers, and high-quality flakes. Their diet should be regularly supplemented with frozen or live foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia to ensure vibrant coloration. Providing blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach is also highly beneficial.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 15 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- Red Tail Shark is normally kept as a single individual and does not require conspecifics. The reference minimum is one individual and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Once daily
- Feeding them once or twice a day is sufficient to maintain their health and energy levels. They are active foragers and will spend the entire day picking at the substrate and decorations for leftover food and algae. Overfeeding should be avoided to prevent degrading water quality and to encourage their natural algae-grazing behavior. Ensure sinking foods are provided so they receive their fair share.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- The Red-tailed Black Shark produces a moderate bioload in the home aquarium. As an active, fast-growing fish that reaches about 6 inches in length, it generates a fair amount of waste. A robust canister or hang-on-back filter is necessary to keep water parameters stable. Regular vacuuming of the substrate and bi-weekly water changes are required to prevent nitrate accumulation and maintain pristine water quality.
- Courant
- Strong
- Originating from flowing rivers and streams in Southeast Asia, they appreciate a moderate to strong water current. Powerheads or strong filter returns can be used to simulate this highly oxygenated, fast-moving environment. Good water movement also helps keep the substrate clean, which they prefer as active bottom foragers. However, there should also be calmer resting areas behind rocks or driftwood where they can retreat.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Red-tailed Black Sharks are notorious and highly capable jumpers, especially when they are first introduced to a new tank or when escaping aggression. Their powerful, torpedo-shaped bodies allow them to easily clear the rim of the aquarium if startled. A heavy, tight-fitting lid with all equipment gaps securely covered is absolutely essential. Many aquarists have lost these beautiful fish due to inadequate covers.
- Reproduction
- Impossible (hormone-induced)
- Breeding the Red-tailed Black Shark in a home aquarium is incredibly rare and difficult to achieve. They are egg-scatterers, but their extreme conspecific aggression means that putting a male and female together usually results in fighting rather than mating. Commercial breeding is achieved almost exclusively through the use of hormone injections on large fish farms. For the average hobbyist, breeding is not a realistic goal.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- With caution
- The cohabitation profile is a species to combine with caution, with a generally territorial temperament. Keep at least one individual; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- They are primarily bottom-dwelling fish that will claim a specific cave or piece of driftwood as their exclusive territory. They spend their time patrolling the lower levels of the tank, scavenging along the substrate and defending their home base. They will occasionally swim into the mid-water column during feeding time or to chase away an intruder. A long tank footprint is more important than vertical height.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3 ± 0,34 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5625
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00871, b = 3.09
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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