Red tail shark Tank Mates
Short answer: the best red tail shark tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra. Red tail sharks need 68–79 °F (20–26 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 75 gallons.
Same species: Keep only one red tail shark (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
Red tail shark care at a glance
| Adult size | 4.9 in (12.5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Keep one male per tank |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (41)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Angelfish
- Nerite snail
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Black skirt tetra
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Zebra danio
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Three spot gourami
- Pygmy cory
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
- Upside-down catfish
⚠️ Possible with caution (12)
- Bristlenose pleco — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase bristlenose pleco.
- Fancy goldfish — Goldfish are coldwater fish that produce a lot of waste; they are usually kept only with other goldfish.
- Otocinclus — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully otocinclus.
- Panda cory — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully panda cory.
- Bronze cory — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase bronze cory.
- Kuhli loach — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase kuhli loach.
- Clown loach — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
- Sparkling gourami — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sparkling gourami.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive; red tail shark may get into fights with it.
- Peppered cory — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase peppered cory.
- Sterbai cory — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase sterbai cory.
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller red tail shark (12.5 cm), especially at night.
❌ Not recommended (18)
- Cherry shrimp — Red tail shark will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat red tail shark (12.5 cm).
- Pea puffer — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Amano shrimp — Red tail shark will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Red tail shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Kribensis — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for red tail shark.
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Red tail shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Rainbow shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Siamese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Convict cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Red tail shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Bolivian ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than red tail shark; it will bully or injure it.
How many red tail sharks per tank?
75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with red tail sharks?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra. They share a temperature range with red tail sharks (68–79 °F (20–26 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with red tail sharks?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Oscar, Pea puffer, Amano shrimp, German blue ram, Kribensis.
What size tank do red tail sharks need?
We recommend at least 75 US gallons for one red tail shark, more if you add tank mates.
Can red tail sharks live alone?
Yes. Keep only one red tail shark (or one male) per tank — males fight, often to the death.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.