red tail black shark

Question
I read your reply to a previous question, stating that red tail black sharks should be kept alone.... i have a red tailed black shark with an aurora cichlid "think thats how you spell it" x2 tiger barbs, a silver shark, x2 yellow labs, a clown loach and a shark catfish....oh and a plec. the red tail shark does not bother any fish, he will have a look at the barbs, but in general he's busy cleaning the tank ;-) now my aurora cichlid will not bother the red tail, even thou the red tail will invade his cave "very cheeky" but they got on fine, the cichlid seems to not notice him, every now and then he'll chase him out his cave, but the red tail will do a circle an re-enter thru another hole! "FUNNY ;-D" .... now the tiger barbs are very different, the cichlid will chase them in circles the second he see's them,

QUESTION 1: is this because i added them after him? and he leaves my red tail and silver shark ALONE because i added them all together?

dont get me wrong ... every now and then he will move the silver shark and red tail on, but does not pursue them, with the tiger barbs, its like he really wants to catch them, rather than moving them along.

QUESTION 2: AT THE MOMENT MY AURORA CICHLID IS 4INCH, AND MY RED TAIL IS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCH, COULD MY CICHLID BE LEAVING HIM ALONE BECAUSE HE'S SMALL, COULD THE TROUBLE START AS HE GETS BIGGER? TO BE FAIR THE CICHLID SEEM TO HAT ALL THE FISH APART FROM THE SHARK.

ANY INFO WOULD BE GREATLY TAKEN, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

NATE

Answer
Hi Nate,
The Aurora Cichlid is an African Cichlid, but he is one of the less aggressive ones.  He is still territorial, and will defend himself if need be.  The Red Tail Shark, as he gets bigger will become more aggressive.  He might, and I say "might" make it with your African Cichlids, or he might stress them causing disease to your other fish.  When fish are stressed, they get sick.  He is still small, you will have to see his reaction as he gets older.  (He can literally terrorize a tank)  The clown loach is a friendly little loach, and likes to play with his own.  He is out of place in your tank.  The Silver Shark is peaceful also, and he too should be removed.  As for the tiger barbs, they are fish nipping fish, and if you want my opinion are a nuisance in any tank...They really should be kept in a tank with other barbs, but read up on the barbs if you do this, as not all barbs are fish nippers.
It is up to you to make a choice.  Not all fish can live together in a tank, they all have different needs.  It also depends on the size of your tank.. The Red Shark ..keep your fingers crossed!
Lynda