Good food options for your redtail are live worms, shrimp. You will also need to feed it large amounts of cut-up fish meat. This will help keep your catfish healthy and will mimic what it would eat in the wild. You can also feed them a variety of pellet or frozen foods, but make sure they sink to the bottom of the tank.
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?
Do redtail catfish live in groups?
In the vast public aquariums, the Redtail Catfish can exist peacefully in large groups, but it’s because they are in tanks that are large enough for the fish to have its own territory. They are not venomous, but they are highly predatory towards anything that is smaller than them, especially shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans.
How often should you feed a red tail catfish?
They don't actually need to be fed much. The younger phractocephalus hemioliopterus need food every other day but full-grown redtail catfish can do well with one large meal a week.
What do red tail catfish eat in captivity?
In their natural habitats these fish will eat worms, smaller fish, insects, and random vegetation they come across. You'll want to keep this in mind when coming up with their diet in captivity....Some of the recommended live food choices for an optimal redtail catfish diet are:Small fish.Worms.Shrimp.Cut up meat.
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.
Can I feed my red tail catfish chicken?
11:2518:51REDTAIL CATFISH - RTC CARE GUIDE - FEEDING - TANK MATESYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause when your fish is small. It's very much challenging to get them a good lifespan because ifMoreBecause when your fish is small. It's very much challenging to get them a good lifespan because if they get sick they can die and if they grow a little bit more than the risk reduces.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are red tail catfish nocturnal?
Social behavior: A large, nocturnal predator that will eat any tank mates that it can swallow. Only combine with large, robust fish. During the day the Red tail catfish remains motionless, but when evening comes, it searches the tank for prey.
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.
Are red tail catfish aggressive?
Temperament: Large Aggressive - Predatory - Peaceful although somewhat territorial. Red-tailed Catfish are highly predatory. Compatible with: Same species - conspecifics: No - They are territorial with their own kind as well as other members of the Pimelodidae family.
How big do catfish get in a tank?
Cory catfish, which grow to be about 4 inches long, can live in 5 to 10-gallon tanks. Larger catfish require at least a 30-gallon tank.
Can you keep a red tail catfish 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.
How can you tell if a red tail catfish is male or female?
The female catfish has shorter and fewer bristles, usually limited to areas around her mouth. The male pleco could have bristles that cover much of his face and can even have some on his pectoral fins. In some types of plecos, the female has no bristles.
How can you tell if a catfish is a male or female?
Look at the openings on the catfish belly. Both will have two openings at the lower belly, one for the anus and the other for the genitals. Male genitals are raised and shaped like a nipple. The female catfish genital area has an opening that is rounded.
Do redtail catfish lay eggs?
What is known about redtail breeding is that they are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs that later hatch, which is like most catfish species. They prefer rocks and weeds for laying their eggs, and water temperatures between 75 and 80-degrees Fahrenheit are needed for success.
Redtail Catfish Natural Habitat
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.
Redtail Catfish Tank Requirements
Caring for the red tail fish is not particularly hard, only that it requires space. As stated above, the red tail catfish is not a small fish, so it needs a huge tank.
Redtail Catfish Water Conditions
Like for any freshwater fish, the red tail catfish requires that you maintain specific water parameters. In the wild, the red tail catfish live in tropical environments, so you need to match these conditions.
Redtail Catfish Diet and Feeding
The red tail catfish is a good eater. Period. It can chow down on random things like rocks, driftwood, and even gravel. That is why you should not include much in your tank.
Redtail Catfish Tank Mates
The red tail fish exhibit a rather contradictory behavior. Sometimes, it is peaceful and at times it is super aggressive. It can also be shy and inactive.
Redtail Catfish Breeding
There are no reports of these catfish having successfully reproduced in aquariums. This could be attributed to the fact that red tail catfish are territorial in nature, plus they are huge fish meaning you need to provide a large enough tank for them to cohabit.
Conclusion
Anyone passionate aquarist can keep a red tail catfish. The major deciding factor is the ability to provide the right conditions, including tank size and water quality.
Redtail Catfish Natural Habitat
The Redtail Catfish belongs to the Phractocephalus hemioliopterus species and is a member of the pimelodid catfish family, which are the long-whiskered catfish. It is, in fact, the only living member of the Phractocephalus species left.
Redtail Catfish Appearance
The South American Redtail Catfish is considered to be the most attractive fish of its species. It’s caudal and dorsal fins have an orange-red color, which gives it its name. Along the sides of the dark grey and brown body, there is a wavy band of pale yellow or white that stretches down the length of the body.
Behavior
When the Redtail Catfish is young, they can be nonsocial, shy even. In order to help them overcome their shyness, you could provide areas for them to hang out in, such as caves and dens.
Redtails Catfish Tank Mates
Redtails Catfish are natural predators who will attack and eat smaller fish. Because of this, they are best housed on their own. However, if you do decide to get another fish, you need to pick one that will not fit into the Redtail Catfish’s mouth.
Redtail Catfish Food & Feeding
The Amazon natives will not eat the Redtail Catfish because the meat is black in color. The natives will only eat white meat according to Aquarium Fishes of the World (1998) by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod. The native Amazonians have been crossbreeding the Redtail Catfish other fish species in order to develop a viable food fish.
Redtail Catfish Breeding
Redtail Catfish juveniles are impossible to distinguish males from females. When they are housed together in a home aquarium, they will not breed. There are no documented cases of these fish are being successfully bred in an aquarium. This might have to do with the Redtail Catfish’s territorial nature when it comes to other Catfish.
Redtail Catfish Tank Requirements
Because of the size, the Redtail Catfish can grow to, the absolute minimum tank size should be 1,000 gallons, which should be 12x4x3. But when the fish becomes an adult and reaches its full size, a 1,500-gallon tank or larger will be needed.
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.
Should I Own A Redtail Catfish?
If you’re still not convinced, here’s the prerequisite breakdown for you:
How To Rehome Redtail Catfish
Listen, because even if you want a redtail and you’re prepared for a redtail, this might become the reality someday. Because shit happens, ‘kay? Maybe you lose your house, maybe it eats your neighbor’s cat and they threaten to sue you, maybe you get sick. Hopefully none of that, but be prepared. And if you’re in the other camp? Well…
Redtail Catfish Classification
Class: Actinopterygii are ray-finned fishes, which is a subcategory of boney fishes. These fish are characterized by the bony structures that support their webbed fins. This group makes up nearly half of all living vertebrates.
What does Phractocephalus hemioliopterus mean?
Phractocephalus comes from the Greek “phraktos” meaning fenced in. Cephalus references the unusual, but well-developed dermal bones.
Distribution & Natural Habitat
Redtail catfish live throughout much of the Amazon and Rio Orinoco basins in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. However, there are a few invasive populations in Asia, as well as in the United States in a few states as a result of aquarists who are unable to keep them or rehome them releasing them into the wild.
Redtail Catfish Diseases
Redtail catfish can come with plenty of issues. The big one people seem to run into is deformities from stunting. While that’s not a disease, and it’s completely preventable, it’s worth a mention here. In any case, it comes from inadequate room to swim, but also from improper nutrition, and bad water quality.
Redtail Catfish Tank Mates
These guys do best by themselves, preferably as the only redtail because it makes everything easier and cheaper. They aren’t aggressive, though they can be territorial with similar-looking or closely-related species as well as their own kind once they’re full-grown.
