Using Red-Tail Shark's tail color as health indicator?

[pedzola]

I was told that a red-tail shark's tail will lose color if there is something wrong. In other words, if the water is bad, if the fish is sick, if he's scared or stressed, etc.

And in my experience this has been the case.

However, his dorsal fin is looking a little ragged today. There is a small hole and a couple small "cuts" also. I'm thinking it is more likely disease than an injury....

But his tail is still bright red and he is acting normal.

Does a red tail sharks tail always change color when he is unhappy or sick?

Any ideas? If there is something wrong with him, I want to treat it before it gets any worse.

 

[kooter]

I used to have a RTBS and any sign of bad water parameters or stress he used to dull in color ALL over, not just the tail. They are suppose to be jet black with a brilliant orange-red tail, if they don't show this then something may be wrong. I really noticed a change when he had a good hiding spot he could call his own. As for the cut and "ragged" fin, I would watch it very carefully. I don't know much about diseases for the RTBS. The "cut" is very intriguing though, do you have sharp objects in your tank? What size is your tank and what other mates do you have in with him?

 

[The_Caper]

I agree with kooter. I have had RTBS for many years and if ever one was stressed, sick or otherwise it would normally dull in color all over. As far as cuts and rip in the fin, that could be the shark rubbing up against sharp objects in the tank or mabey a tank mate roughing him up a bit. I have a Gold Severum in with my RTBS and sometimes during feeding the Severum will lunge at him. He has gotten a couple of nicks that just simply repair themselves after time. I would not reccomend medicating the tank. Here is my RTBS at it's top notch health.
Note the snow white tips in the fins as well as the crimson red tail.

 

[pedzola]

Very nice shark The Caper! Mine looks very similar, except maybe a little bit bigger. =)

It is a weird situation... maybe I should give some background. I'll try to keep it brief.

1) Sharkgot his own 20g-long tank because he couldn't get along w/any other fish.

2) Shark was healthy, but became increasingly lethargic and stayed in his cave all the time w/no tankmates.

3) Tried a myriad of fish to keep the shark company. Shark hates everything I put with him - but became more active because he would check out and chase the other fish.

4) I put in my 3 clown loaches (2-3" each), because they were the only fish the shark never bothered when he was "growing up."

5) Clown loaches freaked out and hated the change - posted about this in another thread... they are scared to death of me after I netted them and put them in the smaller tank. They aren't eating much. BUT they were getting along fine w/the shark for a few days, and even "Schooling" with him.

6) I've started to notice the shark become somewhat more aggressive towards the loaches. They still swim into the same cave with him, but he tries to get them to leave, and he will chase if given the opportunity, but the clowns typically aren't interested in being chased... (unlike my yo-yo loaches... the shark did not like these 2 one bit!)


So I'm thinking that it might be possible the clowns nipped at his dorsal fin or something... cause they always try to squeeze into a rock or pvc pipe with the shark... so maybe they nicked his fin a couple times while he was trying to push them out? I dunno... MAybe he got it cut on somethin... the only thing I'd say that would negate that is a very small hole in the fin.

I moved the shark to a small (6g) tank w/his favorite decoration (the shark house) for temporary observation. I will try to get a picture of him so you can see the dorsal fin...

In any case he is still jet black and bright red. I think he likes being in the small tank in his house!!

 

[The_Caper]

Good description pedzola:
If your sharks color is still vibrant than he should be just fine. As far as the hole in the Dorsal and the other nicks they will repair on their own over time. My shark had a torn Dorsal and actuall nicks out of the body that healed completely over about two to 3 weeks. The whole time he was still frisky and eating more than his share.
As far as tank mates go, I know that can be difficult with the RTBS. I like my Gold Severum RTBS combo because the severum is to big and if bothered can be nasty so the shark just keeps the peace with him. In fact they will quite often swim around the tank with one another. The only other tank mates in with them is 3 Otos.

I know most people do not like Red Tailed Black Sharks because of there tempernment but I have enjoyed them for a long time so I hope yours thrives and lives a long 5 years or more Just a note though, please don't leave him too long in that 6 gallon as they can get up to somewhere around 5 to 6 inches. A 30 gallon or more should suffice I think although someone else may say no less than a 75 Gallon.

Take care and happy fish keeping.

Paul.

 

[The_Caper]

P.S
Hope to see a shot of your shark soon.
Take care.

The_Caper

 

[pedzola]

Just a note though, please don't leave him too long in that 6 gallon as they can get up to somewhere around 5 to 6 inches.

I think he is 5 inches already.

He was in my 40g community tank before and like I said he terrorized all the other fish. I didn't have room for another large tank (I'm in an apartment), so I bought him the biggest I could handle. A 20g-long tank. (same footprint as a 30g regular, but only 12" high).

The 6g is my observation/quarantine/hospital tank. I only put him in there so I could check him out and make sure he's eating and stuff. I'm going to put him back in the 20g tomorrow.

Thats the other thing... the shark used to pig out all the time but lately he's been a picky eater, and I dont' see him eat too much. In the 6g tank there is nothing but white gravel and the shark house, so I can clearly see if food disappears or not.

He ate a few flakes earlier so thats good I guess...

Turns out my camera batteries were dead. Put them on the charger about 6:30 so I will try to squeeze out enough juice to take a couple snaps before the lights go out tonight.

 

[The_Caper]

Wow, he's a big guy. My Shark is only 2 and a half inches at best but he is still young yet. By the way, im not sure of the exact life span of this fish but my brother had one for 7 years so, I guess it could be longer.

Can't wait to see that giant.

Cheers.

 

[pedzola]

http://webpages.charter.net/pedzola/shark/

It's so hard to get a good picture of a moving fish, even when he has nowhere to hide and is in a small tank!!!

So anyway, you can see the fin damage in the one picture called "fins" or whatever.

You can also see the shark's house, which he loves... I took it out so I could get the pictures of him, otherwise he would just hide in there all the time. He gets very agitated when I take away his house so it made for about 100 bad shots and these ones you see here were the best... oh well.

Let me know what you think about the fins.

 

[The_Caper]

That is one fantastic shark mate:

The Dorsal fin does not look bad at all. In fact, your shark looks to be in very good shape.
I have had many sharks in the past that have had problems with the Dorsal fin, either by another fish or just some freying from scraping off of obstacles. Keep in mind as the RTBS gets larger and older they do tend to become a little more lethargic and for sure they become more ornary with old age. Just look at how we can get when we get older. lol.

Do you know aprox. how old the shark is? What a nice size he is, I am looking forward to some bulk in my little fella. As far as integrating him with any other fish, the old addage for the RTBS is: As long as the tank mates are as big, bigger and are as tough or tougher, you should not have a problem. A community tank would be fine as long as it's a Darn tough community.