All fish / Cyprinidae

Red-tailed black shark

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Also known as red tail shark, red tailed shark, redtail black shark, red-tail shark, red tail black shark, redtail shark, ปลาทรงเครื่อง, レッドテールブラックシャーク, 红尾黑鲨, 红尾鲨

A velvety black, torpedo-shaped cyprinid with a bright red forked tail, which makes it stand out in planted community tanks. People keep it for its strong contrast and lively, active behaviour around rocks and roots.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; one per tank

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Thailand (Chao Phraya and Mae Klong basins)

Breeding

It is an egg scatterer that is rarely bred in home aquariums because adults fight so much. Nearly all fish in the trade come from commercial farms in Asia that use hormones to induce spawning.

Good to know

It becomes territorial as it ages and will chase similar-looking or bottom-dwelling fish, so keep only one per tank and give it plenty of cover. The species is listed as Critically Endangered in the wild, but captive-bred stock is widely available.