Can red tail sharks live with apistogramma?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and apistogramma can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

Red tail shark72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Apistogramma75–84°F · pH 5–7

What to watch

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

Both are fine at 75–79°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Red tail shark	Apistogramma
Temperature	72–79 °F	75–84 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	5–7
Adult size	5.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	One per tank	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for red tail sharks

All red tail shark tank mates

Better tank mates for apistogramma

All apistogramma tank mates

Questions

Can red tail sharks live with apistogramma?

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and apistogramma can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What temperature suits both red tail sharks and apistogramma?

75–79 °F. Red tail sharks need 72–79 °F, apistogramma need 75–84 °F.

What size tank do red tail sharks and apistogramma need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the red tail shark. Add space for each extra fish.