Can rams live with red tail sharks?
Verdict
No
No. Rams and red tail sharks should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, red tail sharks need 72–79°F.
What to watch
- Deal breakerNo shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, red tail sharks need 72–79°F.
- Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.
- Watch outRed tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
What works
- pH 6.5–7 suits both.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| German blue ram | Red tail shark | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 80–86 °F | 72–79 °F |
| pH | 5–7 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 2.5 in | 5.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal | 55 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Bottom | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for rams
All german blue ram tank mates
Better tank mates for red tail sharks
Questions
Can rams live with red tail sharks?
No. Rams and red tail sharks should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, red tail sharks need 72–79°F.
What temperature suits both rams and red tail sharks?
None. Rams need 80–86 °F and red tail sharks need 72–79 °F, so the ranges do not meet.
What size tank do rams and red tail sharks need together?
At least 55 gal, set by the red tail shark. Add space for each extra fish.