- Ideal food for red tail catfish. For a long-lasting, healthy aquarium, Redtail Catfish need a diverse diet. ...
- Flaked foods are only suitable for juveniles. RedTail Catfish are omnivores that eat everything from crustaceans and fish to fruits and seeds. ...
- Live feeds are not necessary. While some people think that live feeds for red tail catfish are essential, they are not. ...
- Sand is the best substrate. Among all types of aquarium substrate, sand is the most natural. ...
- Plastic or silk plants are not suitable as substrates. When selecting a substrate for your tank, consider how large your fish are. ...
- Red tail catfish communicate with each other by clicking their fins. Red tail catfish are very sensitive to their environment. ...
What do red tail catfish eat?
Just like any aquatic pet, red tail catfish have certain dietary and nutritional requirements. Also, keep in mind that they are omnivorous, so they prefer meaty foods. In their natural habitat, these fish eat insects, smaller fish, worms, and even random vegetations that come their way.
What should you not feed a redtail catfish?
You should avoid feeding your Redtail catfish with fatty foods (like chicken, pork, beef, etc.) to put obesity in check and also prevent the emergence of other health complications. The rule when providing Redtail catfish with food is to ensure a balanced diet; having a good mix of the feeds will be beneficial for their well-being.
How to take care of a redtail catfish in an aquarium?
These fish like to swim around the aquarium, so plenty of swimming room is required, and as they develop, you’ll need to move your redtail catfish to a larger tank, if not a pond. Since they are nocturnal, low lighting will be beneficial. How Do You Take Care Of Water Lettuce In An Aquarium? Are Crystal Red Shrimp Hard To Care For?
Are red tail catfish good tank mates?
The good thing is that red tail catfish can be trained to accept food from your hands. Even better, you can introduce friendly tank mates such as Stingrays, Gars, Black Pacu, Iridescents, and Datnoids. Oscar’s and Sailfin can also make good tank mates mainly due to their armored defense.
How do you take care of a baby red tail catfish?
13:4418:51REDTAIL CATFISH - RTC CARE GUIDE - FEEDING - TANK MATESYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlease make them eat baby shrimps that winds up miniature size films are very good for their colorMorePlease make them eat baby shrimps that winds up miniature size films are very good for their color because when my fish was around of 2 months they called their color.
What do redtail catfish eat?
Red-tailed catfish are territorial fish. Diet: They feed on fish, crustaceans and fallen fruits.
How quickly do red tail catfish grow?
While most pet stores will sell juveniles that start at 2 inches (5 cm), they grow at a rate of one inch per week. The redtail catfish can grow to 3 to 4 feet in length in captivity.In the wild, they can grow up to six feet long, easily weighing 80 pounds.
How long can red tail catfish go without food?
A well-grown and healthy Redtail Catfish can live around three days to one week without consuming any food. Some fish species can live more than two weeks.
Can you overfeed catfish?
Caution: NO NOT OVERFEED. To much feed may cause a fish kill from decomposition of the uneaten food. This is extremely important during hot summer days.
Do catfish need oxygen pump?
Yes, cory catfish need a bubbler. Even though cory catfish can swim up to the surface and gulp oxygen in order to breathe, a bubbler or air pump will provide consistent oxygen in the water. Too little oxygen in the water might eventually cause your cory catfish to become stressed or even fall ill.
How much room does a red tail catfish need?
around 1,500-2,000 gallonsTank Size. The minimum tank size for an adult redtail catfish is around 1,500-2,000 gallons (yeah). This will give them enough room to swim around and be active without feeling cramped and unhappy. This huge tank size is obviously quite a lot compared to most freshwater home aquariums.
How do you tell if a red tail catfish is male or female?
Males are elongated and narrow, while females have a rounded shape in the abdomen so they can carry eggs. A female about to spawn will become very round and will have a reddish tinge to the area around her vent where the eggs will emerge.
How long can a red tail catfish live out of water?
Most people wouldn't think that a fish can only live for a certain amount of time out of the water, but it's an essential question if you want to keep your catch alive. Catfish can live about three hours or less without water.
Can red tail catfish survive cold water?
Can Red Tail Catfish live in cold water? Despite the hardiness of the redtail catfish and their origins in lakes and ponds, they cannot survive in cold water. Their natural habitats are large rivers, streams, and lakes in South America; their natural habitats never get cold, so they aren't prepared for it.
Why is my red tail catfish swimming upside down?
The impaired buoyancy in fish is caused by a malfunction of their swim bladder. When affected by Swim Bladder Disorder fish will often lose the ability to properly swim. They will float uncontrollably to the top of the aquarium, turned upside down, while still being alive.
Why is my red tail catfish swimming sideways?
The most likely cause of a fish's swimming at odd angles is swim bladder damage or disease. The swim bladder consists of a gas-filled sac, which fish can usually control to varying degrees. When fish like catfish get a damaged swim bladder, they will typically swim at odd angles, or struggle to swim at all.
Do red tail catfish eat fruit?
Redtail catfish are omnivores that require a protein-rich diet. In the wild, redtail catfish eat anything they can find, including crustaceans, small fish, insects, and fruit. Ideal foods for the redtail catfish include sinking pellets and both live and frozen foods like shrimp, crayfish, small fish, and worms.
Can a red tail catfish live in a pond?
If you have at least a 1000-Gallon pond and you live in a country with sunny and rainy seasons, then yes, Redtail catfish can stay in your pond.
Are red tail catfish Hardy?
Even though redtail catfish are considered hardy, we always recommend doing everything you can to make sure the water situation is as good as it can be. pH levels: Somewhere between 6 and 7.5 is fine, but staying below 7 is ideal.
Are red tail catfish good to eat?
But these fish grow large and they do so very fast. As an adult, a redtail catfish will be anywhere from four to six feet long. Are Red Tail Catfish Good to Eat? Redtail catfish are indeed edible and as delicious as any other fish.
What is the best treatment for redtail catfish?
Treatment of red pest disease may be achievable with the use of a combination of medications monacrin, acriflavine, and tetracycline. Besides the disease discussed above, Redtail catfish are also very much prone to constipation due to their voracious eating habit.
How hard is water for redtail catfish?
They will hardly survive if the temperature drops below the minimum conditions set for them. Water hardness: Redtail catfish will thrive in moderately soft to medium-hard water which puts the range for the degree of water hardness between 3dH – 12dH.
How many eggs can a redtail catfish lay?
Plus, they can lay up to 150- 200 eggs [or more] during a spawning session. As an aside; feeding the juvenile with crustaceans is beneficial for the development of their coloration. And, it is worth stating here that breeding Redtail catfish in the home aquarium is not advisable.
What is the biological name of a redtail catfish?
The Redtail catfish goes by the biological name, Phractocephalushemioliopterus. They are also known by names such as flat-nosed catfish, banana catfish, and South American Redtail.
How long does it take for a redtail catfish to hatch?
The eggs should be hatched within 4 – 5 days , and you should expect to see the free-swimming juvenile in no time- they can grow 1 inch every week. Despite the information [on the breeding of Redtail catfish] shared here, a limited success rate has been recorded by aquarists who attempted breeding them in the home.
What is the best treatment for fin rot?
Antibacterial medications like fish doxy and amoxicillin have been found to be effective in the treatment of fin rot. 2. Ammonia poisoning: Redtail catfish are not so tolerant of ammonia, and as such, their health can be adversely affected whenever there is a spike (in ammonia concentration) in the aquarium.
How long do red tail catfish live?
Still on the appearance; the Redtail Catfish has a massive head and large mouth, and can grow up to a length of 180 cm in the wild- but around 50-100cm in the home aquarium – weighing between 56 – 82 kg; they can live for up to 15 – 20 years.
What happens if you put a red tail catfish in a small fish tank?
If you place them with small fish, the red tail will be aggressive and predatory. Placing them with species that are of a similar size, it will be peaceful. Redtail catfish are known as territorial fish, not only with its one special but even with other fish in the Primelodiae family.
What temperature do red tail catfish like?
In the wild, the red tail catfish live in tropical environments, so you need to match these conditions. They prefer water that is between 20 and 26o °C (68-79 °F).
What is the most attractive catfish?
The red tail catfish stands as one of the most attractive catfish species. As a member of the Pimelodidae family, the red tail catfish is long whiskered, with a beautiful white belly and red tail. It is the only member of this genus that has this distinct appearance.
What are some good fish to have in a tank?
The good thing is that red tail catfish can be trained to accept food from your hands. Even better, you can introduce friendly tank mates such as Stingrays, Gars, Black Pacu, Iridescents, and Datnoids. Oscar’s and Sailfin can also make good tank mates mainly due to their armored defense.
How big can a red tail catfish grow?
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. In terms of substrate, you can have a bare bottom. The red tail catfish eat literally anything that can fit in its mouth.
Where do red tail catfish live?
The Red-tailed catfish is said to be the last living fish in its genus, which is over 13.5 million years. In the world, the red tail catfish inhabits the streams, rivers, and lakes. It is native to the Essequibo river basins and the Amazon Orionoco of South America.
How many eggs can a catfish lay?
In one spawning, several eggs can be laid, sometimes even up to 20,000. Typically, older and larger females tend to lay the most eggs, while younger females tend to lay the lesser number. After the female lays the eggs, the male catfish will spray the laid eggs with sperm for fertilization to take place.
Introduction
What are the things that you know about red tail catfish care? If you haven’t learned that much, this article will answer all your questions about redtail catfish.
Appearance
Redtails are noted for their flattened snouts, protruding whiskers, and their stunning red tail fin and white belly. Banana catfish, Antenna catfish, flat-nosed catfish, and South American red tail catfish are some of its nicknames.
Behavior
Redtail catfishes are noted for being fierce and instinctual hunters. They have a cautious demeanor as juveniles, but as they grow older and begin to hunt on smaller fishes, they gain confidence and aggression.
Maintenance
It is relatively difficult to take care of redtail catfish because the most pressing worry is ensuring that the tank is large enough to accommodate their rapid growth.
Food And Diet
Redtail catfish are omnivores, which means they will consume anything from fruits to dried or frozen fish food to live fish.
Natural Habitat
The redtail catfish’s natural environments are streams and lakes in the northern parts of South America.
Size
A huge redtail catfish swims in a large tank. This fish is enormous, and it takes a lot of space to stay healthy during its life.
Species Summary
Redtail Catfish are native to South America, found in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana and Bolivia. They live in streams, and the basins of River Amazon and the River Orinoco.
Care Guide
To comfortably house this fish you will need a minimum tank size of 1500 to 2000 gallons. Any less and they will be cramped and unhappy- these are large fish that need plenty of space to swim.
Lifespan
They are not easy to look after so it is common for beginner or hobbyist aquarists to drastically shorten their lifespan due to incorrect care and living conditions. If the conditions are correct and the fish have a good diet, they can live up to 15 years in a domestic tank.
Appearance
Their bodies are dark gray with faint white spots and the underside of their head is white long whiskers that stick straight out from their chin. The dark gray color continues by their pectoral fin, and the underside of their tail is white.
Size
Juvenile Redtail Catfish are around 5 inches in length, which is why they are appealing to beginner aquarists who don’t realise how large these fish will get. Pet shops often provide incorrect and misleading advice that your fish will only grow to the size of your tank – this is not the case.
Behaviour & Temperament
Redtail Catfish have strong predatory instincts which can make them come across as aggressive, but if left alone they can actually be a peaceful species. They tend to spend most of their time swimming around the bottom of the tank looking for food, which is why it is important to give them lots of space to swim around.
Breeding
It is very unlikely that Redtail Catfish will successfully breed in a domestic aquarium. Finding a mating pair is challenging as there are no signs or features to distinguish males and females, especially at a young age.
Natural Habitat
Redtail fish are commonly found in South American waters. They inhabit river basins in Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and more. Especially in the Amazon river, Orinoco and surrounding lakes.
Physical characteristics
Basically, the RedTail Catfish is almost like the consumption catfish we know. But what stands out is the tinge of a red stripe on its tail. That’s why it’s called the “redtail catfish“. The bottom or belly of the fish is white, while the body is dominated by grayish black.
How to Keep Redtail Catfish
Before starting to raise, you should first read how to raise the following Redtail Catfish, so that you know how to best care for them.
Tank Mates RedTail Catfish
You can give Tankmates a RedTail Catfish fish that is the same size as or bigger than him. If it is much smaller, they are afraid that they will even be considered prey. It is okay to combine these freshwater predatory fish of the same breed, as long as they are of the same size. But you should only keep one.