Help rainbow shark
 

I was doing good spending days researching my fish 3 bala sharks, 1 red tail black shark. I wanted one more fish, and instead of researching I foolishly trusted petsmart and they knowing what I had sold me a rainbow shark. I know that the red tail and bala's will make nice play mates, but I unfortunately didn't know that a red and rainbow will not. I have a second tank but it’s only a 10 gallon I fear that’s too small for the rainbow shark. Any idea's I can try to help them all play nice? I have a 55G tank with 5 small plastic plants and a nice size cave big enough for two fish. Please don't flame me. I have about 1/4 saved up for a 150G tank and hope to have it within a year and a half; I know bala's need it. These fish have been in the tank for a few hours now, the red tail and bala's are very active swimming around, and the rainbow has been hiding in the cave. So basically they are all getting used to their home and no fighting / chasing yet, but I want to avoid that. Any ideas?

Fred McFeeters

One or the other will have to go.

A 10g is much too small for either a RTBS or a rainbow. The 2 will almost definitely never get on and I would suggest rehoming one or the other. Most stores will take fish back. This would be the first thing I wuld try if I were in your situation.

Update
 

After about 18 hours, the fish are active. The Red tail is the mean one, he chases the rainbow shark away from the cave and if he tries to get close to the left bottom end. I will take the rainbow back to the store today, very sad as I think he is very good looking. I would really like to replace him with something else, for some reason 5 is the number of fish I want in my tank. Do you have any suggestions?

Obtain another bala or start saving for some loaches. Yoyos and Clowns are great for a bala and red tail setup esp when you upgrade tanks.