Click here to learn more. Red-Tailed Catfish in Home Aquariums Can red-tailed catfish be kept in home aquariums? Q. The owner of my local fish store (LFS) sold me a red-tailed catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus). The fish is growing quickly. I recently learned that the red-tailed catfish could get up to 5 feet long. I have a 225-gallon aquarium. I don’t think that will be large enough. My LFS’s owner told me this fish shouldn’t get larger than 12 inches in a tank the size of mine. Your local fish store’s owner is not correct about a red-tailed catfish growing only 12 inches in your aquarium. These South American fish hail from the Amazon and grow to be humongous. Not only do they get extremely large, but they have voracious appetites and swallow anything they can. This includes fish and tank decorations. I have read about red-tailed catfish that swallowed large pieces of rock and quartz. In some cases, the fish perished and in others the animal’s owner was able to get the fish to regurgitate the unintended food source.

I have been against the sale of red-tailed catfish for a long time. Great Dane Puppies Lake Jackson TexasThey don’t really belong in home aquariums and are best suited for public aquariums that have large Amazonian displays.Hardwood Flooring Decatur Ga Luckily, your situation may not be as dire as you think. Delta Shower Head OperationDepending on how large your red-tailed catfish is now, he should be able to hang out in a tank as large as yours for a while. There is a fish store not far from me that has a 225-gallon aquarium that has housed an adult red-tailed catfish (about 3 feet, 6 inches long) for several years. If you start looking for a future home now, you just might be able to secure one before the fish gets too large for your aquarium.

I would recommend trying local zoos or aquariums, though I know firsthand that they are usually apprehensive about taking fish from private aquarists. The Pittsburgh Zoo, where I volunteer as a diver, gets many calls per week trying to secure homes for large aquarium livestock. Their policy is zero tolerance and they will not accept any livestock from private aquarists. The risk to a large public establishment is too great if the fish were to be infected with a disease that attacked the aquarium’s other inhabitants. Some aquarists have built large indoor ponds to house red-tailed catfish and you could try to find someone with that setting to take your fish once he gets very large. Returning him to the LFS would be an option, though it is likely he would just end up in the hands of someone else with an aquarium far too small to keep him. I wish you luck in your pursuit finding a home for this big guy. It can be tricky to find housing for large fish. I would be very cautious in accepting advice from the LFS that sold you this species.

Unless they are simply unaware of this fish’s biology, it is possible that they gave you this information only to make a sale with no forethought about what was best for you or the animal. Where can I buy one jason    medicine hat, AB martin dunn , do not listen to this guy do some more research, red tail cats do get 5 feet and need huge tanks , most people put them in house hold ponds, i never read more to answer anything else but after reading this idiot ( they only get 12 in) i couldn't stomach andy more, ask your questions in another place this guy dosn't know shit When my son purchased a Redtailed catfish several years ago he was told the tank size realy needed to be 10ftx4ftx4ft, when the fish died it had reached 2 and a half feet in lenght, having had a diet of Rainbow Trout Rob Moorman    St Petersburg, FLI just recently ( 4 months ago ) Purchased this cute little red tail cat fish. He is now 8 inches long and has devoured everything in my tank.

I was also told that he would only get 12 inches. I searched for him on line and realized they get huge!!!!!. My tank is only 55 gallons. I love the fish. He si spoled and hand fed. Also wel cared for. However I am in over my head with him. I have been keeping fresh water fish for 30 years. The pet industry should not carry these animals and then miss inform the customer. Now what do I do with this fish?? Setup of the Week Hi, my tank is Nature in a glass box. Your source for freshwater, reef, and saltwater aquarium keeping information, tips, and species profiles. Error 404 - /forum/viewtopic.php?t=42916 - Page can't be found This isn't the page you're looking for! Sorry, but it appears the page you are looking for has scarpered, click here to go to the main page and start over. Alternatively, ponder a water change for a moment, and we'll re-direct you to the main page to start your journey afresh! SIZE: They can grow over 4 feet RANGE: The redtail catfish is native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo river basins of South America

HABITAT: These freshwater fish can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds throughout the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins in South America DIET: Quite an opportunistic feeder in nature, feeding on fish, invertebrates and fallen fruits ON EXHIBIT:  River Giants exhibit in River Journey The Redtail Catfish is a pimelodid (long-whiskered) catfish named for its red or orange caudal fin. The barbels along their snout are extremely sensitive and loaded with chemical reception cells, acting as another sense of smell for the fish. Due to their large size, the indigenous people in South America utilize these fish as a food source. They have been introduced into Florida, but have not established a sustainable population. It is a slow-moving, bottom-dwelling fish that is thought to attack prey by probing and ambush. Catfish  SiluriformesCatfish species are some of the most popular among aquarium lovers and they are typically purchased to perform fish tank maintenance like cleaning algae.

Catfish are well known for their ability to scavenge for food but they too need their own foods like sinking algae wafers. Some Catfish, like Corydoras, are smaller. Some, like Plecostomus and Shark Catfish can grow quite large. We have several catfish varieties which we think you will find fascinating. Aquarium Catfish are great additions to most tank setups. Acclimating CatfishCatfish CompatibilityShipping CatfishCatfish Videos Panda Long Finned Corydoras Currently Out of Stock Laser Red Cory Catfish Red Tail Catfish (10-12 Inches) Red tail Catfish (3 Inches) Red Tail Tiger Shovelnose Cross Catfish (3-4 inches) Red Tail Tiger Shovelnose Cross Catfish (6-8 inches) Redtail Catfish (5-6 inches) Sailfin Eruptus Synodontis Catfish (2.5 Inch) Spotted Red Tail Catfish 4-5 inches Synadontis Euruptus African Catfish (3 Inches) Synadontis Euruptus African Catfish (7 - 8 Inches) Tiger Shovelnose Catfish Pseudoplatystoma Fasciatum (3 Inches)