I NEED HELP ON RedTail Catfish

[crazx86]

Hi,


I recently bought a RTC and i am having doubts if it will outgrow the tank it is in. Will they outgrow the tank or will the confined space stop the growth of the fish. Thanks for any info given!!

[Martin S]

Do you mean the Asian Redtail (

Hemibagrus wyckioides

) or the South american Redtail (

Phractocephalus hemioliopterus

)? Either way, the fish will outgrow your tank unless you have a pond of at least 12' x 6' x 6'.
Both these grow to over 3', the SA redtail can get over 4' and can live for many years. Keeping either in an enclosure which is too small for it will just mean it will have a shortened, miserable life.
The saying that keeping it in a small tank will stunt it's growth is untrue.
Martin

[crazx86]

Thanks For the Info!!

i will probably have to get a new tank for it soon. i heard its life's span reaches to 15 years or more. so i guess a outdoor pond the best solution??
Just Another question. i have two 6" bichirs. One saddled and one is Senegal. The RTC is a SA and about 3" now. how long before it outgrows them..?? i am housing them in a 3' tank currently. Advise Please. Thanks martin for your generous INFO!!

[Richard B]

Thanks For the Info!!

i will probably have to get a new tank for it soon. i heard its life's span reaches to 15 years or more. so i guess a outdoor pndis the best solution??

SA RTC can live to 50 years, Asian RTC maybe 25 years, perhaps a little more

[crazx86]

Woah!


Wonder where i will be in 50 years. Thanks For the INFO !!! gotta start Making plans for its new home. Just a question. Growth rate depends on diet and tank size right..??


Regards
Crazx

[Richard B]

tank size can restrict growth a little but this is a bad thing generally. Diet has a direct relationship to growth & good feeding gives good growth but you wouldn't like to feed badly would you?

generally RTCs are quite quick growing fish compared to a lot of others - comparable to pangasius & clarias.

Ultimately, growth rate is influenced by diet, space & water quality, but all these are linked.

[MatsP]

The only influence of tank-size is the amount of toxins in the water that will restrict the health and apetite of the fish. If you were sitting in a sewer, you may not feel too hungry either, right?

I moved this subject to the South American section where it belongs.

--
Mats

[crazx86]

Mat And Airplane,


Thanks for all the help and info. i am really more confident with my new RTC now. But how long will my tank last him..?? he is a 3 incher feeding on small feeder fishes living in a 3x2x2half.



Regards
Crazx

[MatsP]

About 12-18 months, I suppose.

--
Mats

[arapaimag]

Even a growth stunted RTC will be 12" or more at 12 months. So your tank is really too small for even that period.
please look for a larger tank asap.