Is it fuzzy looking? Could be fin rot or some type of fungus.
That is completely normal on a RTS, you dont need to worry. As long as it’s only on the tips of the fins and it doesn’t look fuzzy and the fins don’t appear torn or frayed in anyway, it’s just part of their coloring. Most rtbs have this when they are young. It will sometimes stay. Sometimes it will disappear as they age. The females are more likely to keep the white tips. Males usually don’t.
I have had a red-tail for a year now. I assume it's a female, since she has a gray belly and the very tips of her fins are still white
Same with mine! Mine has a gray belly too, how do you determine gender of a RTBS?
The females usually have a grayer belly. Males are typically solid black (there are exceptions though). I would guess you had a female.
My shark will also turn grayish white sometimes when she’s stressed. But it goes away. I try to keep this from happening.
Some important things about rtbs:
Make sure you have a large enough tank. Otherwise, your shark will get stressed. This leads to greater illness susceptibility and aggression. Even if it’s not a problem now, it will be if you don’t have a large enough tank.
Make sure you have some caves and plenty of hiding places for your shark. They need hiding places! It’s in their nature.
And a tight fitting lid. They are jumpers! Trust me on the lid. It’s an absolute must. I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from people coming home to find their shark dead on the floor from jumping out of the tank.
Regular water changes are important for rtbs. They don’t tolerate ammonia or nitrites well. So you should always know your water parameters. The best way to monitor this is purchasing the api freshwater master test kit.
Good luck! They are wonderful fish, and don’t deserve their bad rep.
Hi, this is completely unrelated but do you plan on getting an even larger tank than 55 gallons? That would be pushing it with just a pair of angels because they get so territorial when paired up. Also Baka sharks get huge, like 12"-16" and love to have buddies to school with so you would definitely need a larger tank than 55 gallons and they are very active. Other than that sounds like you are going to have some beautiful fish grow up