The "Redtail Black Shark", "Epalzeorhynchos bicolour",
is also called "The Red Tail Shark", "Redtail Shark Minnow", "Red-tailed
labeo", "Redtailed Shark", "Red-Tailed Black Sharkminnow," and the "Fire
Tail". The scientific name used to be Labeo bicolour. The genus is
sometimes misspelled Epalzeorhynchus.
Of
course it is not a true shark, being more closely related to the
loaches and barbs. This fish was native to Thailand, being found in the
river basin of the Chao Phraya. It was in the streams and wetlands of
this river area. There were also reports of it in the Mekong.
The Redtail Black Shark can grow to about 7 inches (18 cm) long and can live for up to about 15 years.
Extinct
The Redtail Black Shark
is probably extinct in the wild. It is uncertain why it became extinct.
Although collecting of wild fish for the aquarium trade has been
suspected, it appears more likely that changes in its habitat are the
real cause.
The Redtail Black Sharks available now are captive bred fish, being mainly produced in ponds in Thailand.
Water Conditions
The Redtail Black Shark
prefers reasonably soft water, but will adapt to neutral water with a
moderate hardness. This is a tropical fish and a temperature of between
22 and 26 degrees C (72-78 degrees F) is ideal although the fish will
survive for a while in higher temperatures.
This is a big fish,
so it needs a big tank. Although they can certainly be kept in a 3 foot
(90 cm) long tank, a bigger one than this is recommended. Plenty of
hiding places made of such things as rocks or drift wood should be
provided as well as plants.
Food
The Redtail Black Shark
is an omnivore, eating plant material as well as animal food. Its mouth
is on the lower part of its head so they are more adapted to eating
pellets or wafer type fish food on the bottom than flakes on the water
surface.
Companions
The Redtail Black Shark
is territorial. This means that in most cases you are better to have
only one of this species in your aquarium. If you have two, they will
squabble and eventually the dominant fish will probably end up killing
the weaker one.
In aquarium shops (including ours) you will
often see quite a lot of small Redtail Black Sharks together; living in
apparent harmony. While they are small, they will tolerate the presence
of reasonable numbers of their own kind for a while. However, if the
number drops to less than 4, one fish will become dominant. This
antipathy to their own kind also applies to related fish of similar
appearance.
They will tolerate different types of fish better,
but you should choose ones that are vigorous and not too small, so
avoid the smallest of the tetras, barbs and Rasboras. The larger
tetras, barbs and Rasboras are better.
Disease Susceptibility
The
Redtail Black Shark, like its relative the Clown Loach, is quite
vulnerable to white spot, or Ich, caused by the parasite
Ichthyophthirius multifilis. This is readily curable as long as it is
caught early on. Use one of the dye type treatments at the half rate.
Breeding
The
Redtail Black Shark is very rarely bred in aquariums. The fish sold
commercially are generally bred in ponds, often with the aid on
hormones.
Sources
http://freshaquarium.about.com/bio/Shirlie-Sharpe-3357.htm,
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-RedTailShark.htm and
http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/freshwater/cyprinids/rts.html,
An Aquarium Fish Extinct in the Wild
Photo above By Caveman99 at de.wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0
(www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons See GNU Licence.
