Aggressive fish

Question
I have a 38 gallon tank with 4 neon tetra, 2 sunset platy, 3 veiled angel, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 small pleco, 1 cherry barb and 1 rainbow shark. The rainbow shark has been fairly peaceful until recently. Now, it is stressing my platys out by chasing nonstop. I am setting up another aquarium but it is not ready yet. What can I do to keep the shark from chasing until I can move him?

Answer
Hello Kim,

Rainbow Sharks are known to be extremely aggressive fish.  I would rate them an 8 on the scale of 1 to 10.  I don't keep them myself for that very reason.

They start out ultra adorable, as youngsters, but as they grow, they get very malicious.

There isn't a lot you can do to stop him from chasing them, except to perhaps separate them all from each other, and you can do that with the aquarium you are setting up.  I'd get that done asap.

It sounds frustrating.

I'm so sorry he's being a bad fish, but it's not his fault.  It's the nature of his breed.  Perhaps he can live with some cichlids in the future and won't be the one in charge anymore. :)

Please post a followup if I can be of any more assistance.  

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee