Aggressive Rainbow Shark?

Hi

I've had my 120L community tank for about 5 and a half months now. Recently I have noticed a change in the behaviour of my fish in that they don't appear to swim out much in the open - this also occurred around the same time as death of a platy (mysteriously died but all the other fish are okay). I am beginning to suspect my rainbow shark as it chases the rest of the fish (apart from the neon and black skirted tetras) when they are in the open or amongst the plastic plants.

Any suggestions? anyone in the Johannesburg area want a free Rainbow Shark?

B.

 

hmm - what else do you have in the tank? Anything breeding?

I have two of these in my community (I know I should not have two - other 1/4 insisted that 1 would get lonely) and they only chase each other. Now I also have a killer gourami that has killed all other gouramies.

Later Ferdie

 

Hi f-fish

I have two rams which also spend a lot of time hiding nowadays, another platy, the neon tetras, the black skirted tetras, a pleco and three mollies. Nothing breeding as far as I know.
Gosh, I don't think I could deal with TWO rainbow sharks. This one just annoys me.

Oh, I started off with three dwarf gouramis - none of which made it past the 1st month. So I never bought those again.

B.

 

Do you have loads of plants and hiding places in the tank and a few big peaces of driftwood?

I hear you on the dwarf gouramis ... not sure they never seem to last long. I also have a single albino red tail in my lucky13 tank ... and it does not bother anybody - but that tank is packed with plants and driftwood.

Later F

 

Rainbow sharks are known to become aggressive as they get older. They aren't the most aggressive fish you'll come across but it's something to be wary of. They're best kept amongst other fish which can 'hold their own' against this fish, faster moving fish and generally larger fish.

 

I have plenty of rocks and plants in the tank - but the rainbow shark chases the fish through them. I read that the albino rainbow sharks are not as aggressive as the normal rainbow sharks.

 

The albinism won't affect the fish's behaviour - while it's all good to say that rainbow sharks are mildy aggro fish, it's not a hard and fast rule. As with any fish (or other species of animal), there are some deviations to the norm. I have kept a rainbow shark that was perfect for the community tank, and one that was a nightmare to behold.

Adding decor to define territories and break lines of sight help a bit to lower aggression in this fish, but regardless of what you do the rainbow shark will always have a tendancy to chase other fish from 'its' home. In the confines of a fishtank, this becomes quite clear.