Tank mates for red-tail sharks

We checked red-tail sharks against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for red-tail sharks include betta fish, nerite snail, dwarf gourami, angelfish, tiger barb and assassin snail. Avoid cherry shrimp, discus and electric yellow cichlid: red-tail shark eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Red-tail sharks: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 12 cm (4.7 in), minimum tank 75 gallons (284 L). Full red-tail shark care guide.

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Good Compatible tank mates (44)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (94)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase common plecos, which use the same area.
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Guppy · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller guppies.
Neon tetra · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller neon tetras.
Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar may eat red-tail sharks, especially young or small ones.
Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
Zebra danio · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra danios.
African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cardinal tetras.
Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller celestial pearl danios.
Cherry barb · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller cherry barbs.
Chili rasbora · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller chili rasboras.
Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase chinese algae eaters, which use the same area.
- Chinese algae eater is aggressive. Red-tail sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Chinese algae eater defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown loaches, which use the same area.
Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase convict cichlids, which use the same area.
- Convict cichlid is aggressive. Red-tail sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Convict cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dojo loaches, which use the same area.
Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase electric blue acaras, which use the same area.
- Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Ember tetra · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller ember tetras.
Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase firemouth cichlids, which use the same area.
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glowlight tetras.
Harlequin rasbora · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller harlequin rasboras.
Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase hillstream loaches, which use the same area.
Honey gourami · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller honey gouramis.
Jack Dempsey · 55+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
- Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Red-tail sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
- Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller julii corydoras.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase julii corydoras, which use the same area.
Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kribensis, which use the same area.
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
Otocinclus · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller otocinclus.
Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase pictus catfish, which use the same area.
Pygmy corydoras · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pygmy corydoras.
Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase rainbow sharks, which use the same area.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rummy-nose tetras.
Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase siamese algae eaters, which use the same area.
Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller white cloud mountain minnows.
X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller x-ray tetras.
Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, which use the same area.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase black ghost knifefish, which use the same area.
Black neon tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller black neon tetras.
Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller black phantom tetras.
Bloodfin tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bloodfin tetras.
Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Bolivian rams, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
Clown killifish · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown killifish.
Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown plecos, which use the same area.
Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase cockatoo cichlids, which use the same area.
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dwarf chain loaches, which use the same area.
Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Red-tail shark may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase emerald green corydoras, which use the same area.
Emperor tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller emperor tetras.
Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Endler's livebearers.
Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller forktail blue-eyes.
Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Green terror · 80+ gal
- Green terror is aggressive. Red-tail sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
Head and tail light tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller head and tail light tetras.
Kubotai rasbora · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kubotai rasboras.
Lambchop rasbora · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller lambchop rasboras.
Lemon tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller lemon tetras.
Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller marbled hatchetfish.
Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda garras, which use the same area.
Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peacock gudgeons, which use the same area.
Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller penguin tetras.
Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
Rosy loach · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rosy loaches.
Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rosy tetras.
Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller scarlet badis.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase scarlet badis, which use the same area.
Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sparkling gouramis.
Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
- Red-tail shark may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller threadfin rainbowfish.
Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
Zebra loach · 29+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra plecos, which use the same area.
- Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller checkerboard barbs.
Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf rasboras.
Flame tetra · 15+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller flame tetras.
Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glowlight danios.
Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller green neon tetras.
Least killifish · 10+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller least killifish.
Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller silvertip tetras.

Avoid Bad tank mates (11)

Cherry shrimp: Red-tail shark eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
Discus: They need different temperatures: Red-tail shark 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.
German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Red-tail shark 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
Pea puffer: Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.
Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.
Crystal red shrimp: Red-tail shark eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.
Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.
Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Red-tail sharks don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with red-tail sharks?

Good tank mates for red-tail sharks include betta fish, nerite snail, dwarf gourami, angelfish, tiger barb and assassin snail. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat red-tail sharks.

Can red-tail sharks live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can red-tail sharks live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can red-tail sharks live with bristlenose plecos?

Sometimes, with care. Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.

Can red-tail sharks live with bronze corydoras?

Sometimes, with care. Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.

Good Compatible tank mates (44)

Angelfish

Betta fish

Dwarf gourami

Nerite snail

Tiger barb

Assassin snail

Bala shark

Black skirt tetra

Blood parrot cichlid

Denison barb

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Malaysian trumpet snail

Molly

Mystery snail

Pearl gourami

Platy

Ramshorn snail

Silver dollar

Three spot gourami

African butterfly fish

Bleeding heart tetra

Buenos Aires tetra

Congo tetra

Diamond tetra

Gardneri killifish

Giant danio

Glass catfish

Golden wonder killifish

Jewel cichlid

Kissing gourami

Odessa barb

Red rainbowfish

Scissortail rasbora

Serpae tetra

Severum

Swordtail

Tinfoil barb

Turquoise rainbowfish

Upside-down catfish

Black ruby barb

Keyhole cichlid

Pearl danio

Thick-lipped gourami

Variatus platy

Caution Possible, with care (94)

Avoid Bad tank mates (11)

Frequently asked questions