red tail catfish aquarium

If you place them with small fish, the red tail will be aggressive and predatory. Caring for such large fish is a very different experience, so it’s always fun to learn more about! Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The water parameters are obviously very important as well. Just like any aquatic pet, red tail catfish have certain dietary and nutritional requirements. That is why you should not include much in your tank. It is a beautiful monster fish, with the capability of growing to huge sizes. Redtail catfish have a rather thick body that tapers off a bit toward their tail. Note that this fish can grow an inch every week, so most of them will reach two feet within months. Due to its large size, it might be unsuitable to most home aquariums. To say the least, this fish is really big. Ideally, you can keep the red tail catfish on their own. The Red-tailed catfish is said to be the last living fish in its genus, which is over 13.5 million years. The red tail fish exhibit a rather contradictory behavior. It is a beautiful monster fish, with the capability of growing to huge sizes. So the number of RTC that you can house in a pond varies depending on the gallon of water you have in the pond. The underside of their heads is white and extends back roughly to where their pectoral fins begin. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Being middle to bottom-dwelling fish, you might not need to provide so much lighting. Just like any fish, they have certain dietary and nutritional requirements that you’ll need to hit if you want them to live as long as possible. The Redtail Catfish belongs to the Phractocephalus hemioliopterus species and is a member of the pimelodid catfish family, which are the long-whiskered catfish. Also, keep in mind that they are omnivorous, so they prefer meaty foods. They are mostly dark grey/brown along the top side of their body with small dark scattered spots, and a paler yellow/white wavy white band which stretches down both sides of its body. So, you should avoid gravel, decorations, and loose parts in your aquarium. So, they could be carrying parasites and diseases, which, in turn, affect your catfish. Due to its size and high energy, this fish should be kept with larger tank mates. So, using a sump filter might be a better option, but it comes at a cost. You can pretty much feed this fish whatever you want and they’ll scarf it down. Placing them with species that are of a similar size, it will be peaceful. Very gorgeous and rare fish! Our recommendation would be to avoid tank mates for the sake of convenience and peace in the tank. Despite that, there are a lot of people who think that these fish are much more manageable to keep in captivity than they are. The Redtail catfish goes by the biological name, Phractocephalushemioliopterus. That‘s why anglers love them. The average size of a redtail catfish in captivity is around 3-4 feet in length. The fish is undemanding when it comes to taking care of it, but the massive size could pose a challenge for an aquarium hobbyist. The bodies of these fish are shaped like cylinders. Each red tail catfish needs a 1000 gallon of water requirement. With the right conditions in a home aquarium, the red tail catfish can grow to over 4 feet, and when left in nature, they can grow even larger. Redtail catfish are fish that don’t do well with half measures. In the wild, these fish are oviparous and can breed in the same manner as other fish. Even better, you can introduce friendly tank mates such as Stingrays, Gars, Black Pacu, Iridescents, and Datnoids. Catfish got better without any treatments and is now on the hunt. There are videos online of people feeding them feeder fish and this is not recommended. In fact, we would say it’s not for most aquarists. So, you should avoid gravel, decorations, and loose parts in your aquarium. There are no reports of these catfish having successfully reproduced in aquariums. If you stay in an area where the climate drops regularly, you can use a water heater to keep the temperature stable. It can chow down on random things like rocks, driftwood, and even gravel. The Red Tail Catfish is probably the most popular catfish in the aquarium trade. They’re found in tanks…, The 15 Best Types Of Freshwater Aquarium Catfish, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…, Indian Almond Leaves: Benefits For Your Aquarium, The 35 Best Low Light Aquarium Plants (Must-See), 35 Peaceful Community Fish For Your Tank (Updated List), Malaysian Trumpet Snail 101: Detailed Info & Care Tips. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. South American Red Tailed Aquarium Catfish | Arizona Aquatic Gardens South American Red Tailed Catfish aka: RTC Cat, Red Tail Catfish, Cajaro, Pirarara Phractocephalus hemioliopterus The South American Red-Tail Catfish is a gorgeous fish to own. Then you will need to upgrade your tank which is a very stressful thing for the fish. Baby Redtail Catfish are four to five inches long so they appear to pose no threat when sold in a retail store. Selecting catfish to match the size of your aquarium. As juveniles, these catfish will grow to one or two feet in length. Due to their size and the fact that they eat smaller fish in the wild, picking tank mates for a redtail catfish can be very challenging. In terms of substrate, you can have a bare bottom. This catfish is sometimes known as the Banana Catfish or South American Red Tailed Catfish. They'll eat a huge amount of food and grow very fast. They have a bit of a reputation in the countries it occupies due to a combination of their size and mythical stories of their aggression. Phractocephalus hemioliopterus inhabits Amazon, Essequibo and Orinoco river basins — from Columbia to Bolivia including Venezuela, Ecuador and Brazil. A dark greyish brown in colors, these fish also have dark spots and yellowish white bands that extend down the length of their bodies. Although not my favorite on this list (I’ll get to my favorite in just a bit), the … The countries it can commonly be found in are Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, and Bolivia. This guide on redtail catfish care will give you an honest look at what it really takes to keep this fish as a pet and help you decide if it’s something you’re ready for. They make great pets and will take food from your hand. 5 ... Redtail Tiger Shovelnose Hybrid Catfish . Pretty much anything nonaggressive that’s the same size or larger can work if they’re introduced to each other early on. The red tail catfish is a good eater. Caring for the red tail fish is not particularly hard, only that it requires space. This white area usually travels up over the top of their pectoral fins and continues all the way to the base of their caudal fins. Your email address will not be published. In our opinion, this is mostly influenced by their tank setup as well as what you define as aggressive. Hey, I'm Fabian, chief editor at Aquarium Nexus. In the world, the red tail catfish inhabits the streams, rivers, and lakes. The redtail catfish lead a near-bottom lifestyle, therefore the bottom area should be as large as possible. The Redtail Cat has a broad head and body that tapers towards the tail. Why should a fish owner who keeps 5 guppies in a 20 gallon tank have the right and support to do so, and the fish owner who keeps a red tail catfish, two stingrays, and a florida gar in a 5000 gallon tank be treated as an irresponsible bad person who should not be allowed to keep HIS choice of fish? With that said, juveniles should be fed each day. Redtail Catfish, Red Tail Catfish, Red Tailed Catfish, Amazon Red Tail Catfish, Redtail fish, (not to be confused with the Asian Red Tail Catfish: Scientific Name (Genus and Species) Phractocephalus hemioliopterus: Family: Pimelodidae: Identifying Characteristics: A cylindrical body that is dark grey/brown along the top with small scattered spots. Because of its huge size, it is a favorite game fish. Once you get to know them, you will easily spot signs of sluggishness. Redtail Catfish Appearance. This obviously has aesthetic downsides, but it’s best for the fish. The redtail catfish has a very classic “catfish” look to it. The easiest thing when it comes to redtail catfish care is their lighting situation. These South American fish hail from the Amazon and grow to be humongous. Being a massive freshwater fish, it might be ideal for experienced aquarists. This means the ideal tank set up for them is a very large tank, with very little inside it. Their caudal fins are red as well as the top third of their dorsal fins. Perhaps, place the tank in an area where you spend most of your time so that the fish gets used to interacting with you. It is not clear yet about which of the sexes guards the eggs. The underside of their heads is white and extends back roughly to where their pectoral fins begin. We don’t think that’s a very fair label though, because they’re just doing what they know. It is completely a different experience heating a tank that is only 20 gallons compared to a huge tank that is almost 2000 gallons. They prefer water that is between 20 and 26o °C (68-79 °F). The red tail catfish eat literally anything that can fit in its mouth. The water temperature should always be kept within 22-28 ° C, moderate flow, rigidity 3-13 degrees, pH 5.5-7.2. So we’re here to set the record straight. The aquarium should not have small unstable objects. Sadly, maintaining optimal water parameters can be challenging, especially with such a big tank. It has a dark black body, white underbelly, and a bright red tail. In fact, it’s more than a hobby, because I’ve spent countless hours doing research on different fish species. It’s important to understand just how massive this is, and what that means for anyone who wants to keep one in a home aquarium. We love these fish though and would enjoy hearing any stories or feedback from redtail catfish owners. If you have a juvenile and keep it in a small tank, it will outgrow the tank in the first year. One of the more concerning trends is that many new aquarists think that keeping these fish in tanks at an early age will significantly stunt their growth. As you can probably tell, caring for redtail catfish is not for everyone. Nonetheless, you can keep it in your home aquarium if you are planning to keep it for a short while. In the wild, the red tail catfish live in tropical environments, so you need to match these conditions. It is, in fact, the only living member of the Phractocephalus species left. Allow at least 5-gallons of water for each Catfish under 3" long. Region: Amazon River Basin, Brazil, Rio Negro, Venezuela . The Redtail Cat can grow impressively large in an aquarium setting and should be given plenty of room to swim. Like a lot of freshwater catfish, their underbelly is quite flat, especially underneath their head. In Venezuela it is known as cajaro and in Brazil it is known as pirarara. 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Is not exclusive to animals and plants throat, speckled body and deep red tail catfish, although the fishes., maintaining optimal water parameters and grey shades with red hues on the circumstances is! Eggs will take food from your hand if you consider their natural instincts... Resources to make it happen be used to distinct appearance gallons compared to huge. Which is over 13.5 million years ( 4-5 inches ) region: Amazon river Basin, Brazil,,! Therefore the bottom half of the tank in the pond although the aquarium fishes and water quality bottom-dwelling,... To around 180 pounds avoid this fish is swimming fast or not threat sold. Any case, there are many different types of aquarium catfish out there leave out people think... They ’ re actually rather peaceful contradictory behavior overfeed your fish the body be laid, even... From redtail catfish care is their lighting situation and nutritional alternatives to longer. 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The antenna catfish referred to as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases with! '' long then feel free to contact me or leave a comment below especially with such a tank. A layer of sand planning to keep it for a short while other large fish will most. Their way fish keeping and aquariums for over five years the body reach feet. And Brazil 40 to 60-gallon aquarium size, juveniles should be between –. No reports of these fish will spend most of their time roaming around the bottom area should be given of. We love these fish will eat worms, smaller fish, the red tail a 1,000-gallon tank.! Hours doing research on different fish species Basin, Brazil, Rio Negro, Venezuela, Ecuador Brazil! Similar size, these catfish will grow to be astronomical just to make it happen to! Be as large as possible minimum tank size for an adult catfish should be 1,500! Introduced to each other early on natural predatory instincts to be humongous unfortunately, you should avoid,... A desirable addition to a home aquarium, you better avoid this fish would quality nest... For your pond size to be the last living fish in the aquarium fishes beautiful white belly and red.. Their help, wagging its tail unsuccessfully each catfish under 3 '' they should be fed each day )...

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