As a rule, red tail sharks require larger aquariums, and should be housed in aquariums 29 gallon aquarium or larger. As it reaches maturity, it should ideally be placed in a 55 gallon aquarium, with other types of semi-aggressive fish.
Since the red tail shark is a noted jumper, any tank containing them should be well covered, with all the spaces between the lid and the fish tank covered with breathable materials (plastic mesh or sponges work best).
This fish can also be extremely aggressive, and should never be housed with another red tail shark, or any other fish with a “shark-like” body. Docile tank mates with large bodies should also be avoided (like Molliesand Platys).
With that being said, it is occasionally possible to house a group of red tail sharks together, but it usually requires a very large aquarium and a minimum of five sharks are needed. When there are this many sharks, a hierarchy usually emerges, and no one shark will be singled out and bullied to death.
While the red tail sharks can be very aggressive to tank mates, it rarely bites or does any damage to the other fish. But it will chase some fish relentlessly, and prevent them from feeding. If nothing is done, it will chase them until they eventually die from stress.
Red tail sharks don’t have any special filtering requirements, and a good HOB (hang-on-back) filter will normally be more than adequate. However, on the larger fish tanks, a canister filter works best if you can afford one.
If choosing an HOB filter, I would strongly recommend choosing an Aquaclear Power Filter for a red tail shark tank. This filter combines excellent filtration with a durable design, and it will keep your tank sparkling clear for years to come. You can also read the Aquarium Tidings Aquaclear Filter Review here