Post by MADMIKE on Apr 9, 2007 17:11:29 GMT -5
Red Tailed Shark
Labeo Bicolor
Cyprind
Egg Scatterer
Other Common Names: Red-Tailed
Black Shark; Red-Tailed Labeo
Size: up to 6" (15cm)
Tank: 36 inches, 35 gallon
Strata: Bottom, middle
pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Hardness: soft to medium, dH range: 5-18
Temperature: 73ºF to 84ºF (23-29°C)
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Thailand
Social: Peaceful
Community Tank: Yes
Lifespan: 10+ years
Diet: All foods, tubifex, algae, mosquito larvae, dried food
Breeding: Very difficult
Care: Beginner
Classification
Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: Cyprinoidei
Family: Cyprinidae
Genera: Labeo
General Body Form
Elongated fish with slight lateral compression. The mouth faces downward and two
pairs of barbels are present.
It has a large dorsal fin, usually held upright with its outer back edge concave. Belly
profile slightly curved and the back is very convex.
The female is less colorful and larger. The male is slimmer and has an elongated dorsal
fin.
Coloration
The main body color is black which provides an impressive contrast with the striking
bright red tail.
Specimens kept in unsuitable conditions are paler.
Maintenance
A fish that can be kept easily in the home aquarium for many years. It Can be kept in a
community tank. Keep only one specimen to a tank, because this species is very
aggressive to their own and other similar looking species. Keep more than one
individual in large tanks (i.e. tanks over 50 gallons). The Red-tailed Shark establishes a
territory to defend aggressively. Older fish may become aggressive towards all other
fish.
Use a tank measuring 36" (91 cm) with a capacity of 35 gallons (132 L) is sufficient.
Provide multiple hiding places with caves, wood, roots, and rocks.
Use a fine gravel or sand substrate for this species will burrow. The tank should be well-
planted with robust plants and have dim lighting. They also benefit from frequent water
changes.
Diet should be balanced with a good flake food, occasional live food and supplemented
with some vegetable matter.
Breeding
Breeding is difficult because of their aggressive behavior towards their own species.
They are not bred often, although it has been in accomplished in peat filtered water with
a pH of 6.8.
Use dim light or no light. They spawn in rocky caves and fry hatch after 30 to 60 hours.
The fry are free swimming after four days. Start feeding with small live foods.
Their colors change from silvery to silvery brown, to brown and finally to black. The red
tail develops after 7 to 10 weeks.
Most breeding is done in open ponds in their native Thailand and exported around the
world.
Many natives make a living catching Red-Tailed Black Sharks in their native
countries.
Labeo Bicolor
Cyprind
Egg Scatterer
Other Common Names: Red-Tailed
Black Shark; Red-Tailed Labeo
Size: up to 6" (15cm)
Tank: 36 inches, 35 gallon
Strata: Bottom, middle
pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Hardness: soft to medium, dH range: 5-18
Temperature: 73ºF to 84ºF (23-29°C)
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Thailand
Social: Peaceful
Community Tank: Yes
Lifespan: 10+ years
Diet: All foods, tubifex, algae, mosquito larvae, dried food
Breeding: Very difficult
Care: Beginner
Classification
Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: Cyprinoidei
Family: Cyprinidae
Genera: Labeo
General Body Form
Elongated fish with slight lateral compression. The mouth faces downward and two
pairs of barbels are present.
It has a large dorsal fin, usually held upright with its outer back edge concave. Belly
profile slightly curved and the back is very convex.
The female is less colorful and larger. The male is slimmer and has an elongated dorsal
fin.
Coloration
The main body color is black which provides an impressive contrast with the striking
bright red tail.
Specimens kept in unsuitable conditions are paler.
Maintenance
A fish that can be kept easily in the home aquarium for many years. It Can be kept in a
community tank. Keep only one specimen to a tank, because this species is very
aggressive to their own and other similar looking species. Keep more than one
individual in large tanks (i.e. tanks over 50 gallons). The Red-tailed Shark establishes a
territory to defend aggressively. Older fish may become aggressive towards all other
fish.
Use a tank measuring 36" (91 cm) with a capacity of 35 gallons (132 L) is sufficient.
Provide multiple hiding places with caves, wood, roots, and rocks.
Use a fine gravel or sand substrate for this species will burrow. The tank should be well-
planted with robust plants and have dim lighting. They also benefit from frequent water
changes.
Diet should be balanced with a good flake food, occasional live food and supplemented
with some vegetable matter.
Breeding
Breeding is difficult because of their aggressive behavior towards their own species.
They are not bred often, although it has been in accomplished in peat filtered water with
a pH of 6.8.
Use dim light or no light. They spawn in rocky caves and fry hatch after 30 to 60 hours.
The fry are free swimming after four days. Start feeding with small live foods.
Their colors change from silvery to silvery brown, to brown and finally to black. The red
tail develops after 7 to 10 weeks.
Most breeding is done in open ponds in their native Thailand and exported around the
world.
Many natives make a living catching Red-Tailed Black Sharks in their native
countries.