Red-tailed black shark

Care at a glance

The red-tailed black shark from Thailand is velvet black with a bright red tail, which makes it one of the most striking bottom fish in the hobby. In the wild the species has all but vanished; everything you see in shops comes from breeding farms.

It defends a territory fiercely and tolerates neither its own kind nor similarly shaped bottom fish, so keep exactly one. Give it a long tank with caves, wood and sight breaks, and friction with other residents stays limited.

Good to know

• Territorial

Best not combined with

• Siamese algae eaterCrossocheilus oblongus
• Rainbow sharkEpalzeorhynchos frenatum
• Flying foxEpalzeorhynchos kalopterus

Related species

• Clown barbBarbodes everetti
• Flying foxEpalzeorhynchos kalopterus
• Chinese algae eaterGyrinocheilus aymonieri
• Five-banded barbDesmopuntius pentazona
• Bala sharkBalantiocheilos melanopterus
• Checker barbOliotius oligolepis