Can red tail sharks live with flowerhorns?
Verdict
No
No. Red tail sharks and flowerhorns should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Red tail sharks need 72–79°F, flowerhorns need 80–89°F.
What to watch
- Deal breakerNo shared temperature. Red tail sharks need 72–79°F, flowerhorns need 80–89°F.
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches red tail sharks do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive and much bigger than red tail sharks.
What works
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: red tail sharks the bottom, flowerhorns the mid.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Red tail shark | Flowerhorn | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79 °F | 80–89 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 7–8 |
| Adult size | 5.0 in | 12.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 55 gal | 75 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Bottom | Middle |
| Group | One per tank | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for red tail sharks
Questions
Can red tail sharks live with flowerhorns?
No. Red tail sharks and flowerhorns should not share a tank. No shared temperature. Red tail sharks need 72–79°F, flowerhorns need 80–89°F.
What temperature suits both red tail sharks and flowerhorns?
None. Red tail sharks need 72–79 °F and flowerhorns need 80–89 °F, so the ranges do not meet.
What size tank do red tail sharks and flowerhorns need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.