Red Tail Catfish - Profile

Scientific Name(s)	: Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus
Common Name(s)	: Red Tail Catfish
Family	: Pimelodidae
Species Type	: Large Catfish
Maximum Size	: Up to 5 feet
Life Span	: 15 years
Natural Habitat	: Brazil, Rio Negro, Venezuela
Minimum Tank Size	: 300 gallons or above
Tank Region	: Bottom dweller
Temperature Range	: 70°F – 80°F
pH Range	: 6 - 7
Hardness	: 2° - 10°

Possible Tank Mates: 

Whilst it won't hesitate to gobble any smaller fish, it's actually quite peaceful and can be kept alongside other similarly-sized species in suitable surroundings. You'd need a tank approaching public aquarium size in order to do this, though. Most of the usual "tank busters" are too small to avoid being eaten. Possible companions include Doradids such as Oxydoras niger or Pterodoras granulosus. If the tank is also very deep big characins and cyprinids could be added. It's territorial towards both conspecifics and other large Pimelodids, so should be the only fish of this type kept unless space is truly not an issue. 

Description: 

The Red-tailed Catfish is quite an attraction. The beautiful red tail and the white belly are unmistakable characteristics of this fish! It gets really large. They are only able to be kept in a smaller aquarium as juveniles. Being fast growers they will quickly need a larger and larger aquarium. As they reach up to 3 feet or more (there are some reports of specimens reaching up to 5 feet!), they will ultimately need a very large tank. For the largest sized ones that could be 1500 gallons or more. This is a huge tank, making them not really suitable for most home aquarists. They are not real active and would prefer a large cave or den to hang out in. They can't be kept with smaller fish as they will become lunch sooner or later. This fish has a big mouth and a hearty appetite. Even though the Red-tailed catfish is one of the larger fish in the Amazon, this is not a food fish for the natives. It has a dark colored flesh and the natives will only eat white flesh!

 

Breeding Information: 

Not possible in captivity

Sexing Information: 

Unknown

Diet: Carnivorous - Quite an opportunistic feeder in nature, feeding on fish, invertebrates and fallen fruits. In captivity it relishes meaty items such as prawns, mussels, cockle, lancefish or earthworms. Larger specimens can be offered whole fish fillets (use white fish). Try to keep the diet varied or you may find it becomes too accustomed to a particular food and is reluctant to accept anything else. Also take care not to overfeed. It's easy for predatory species to become overweight in captivity, especially when fed a high protein diet. This can lead to health problems in the long term. Feed every other day when juvenile but as the fish grows reduce the frequency. An adult specimen needs only a single meal per week at most. 

It should not be fed the meat of mammals such as beef heart or chicken. Some of the lipids contained in these meats cannot be properly metabolised by the fish, and can cause excess deposits of fat and even organ degeneration. Similarly there is no benefit in the use of 'feeder' fish such as livebearers or small goldfish. Risks involved with feeding these include the potential of disease introduction.

Temperament: Highly aggressive

Extra Note: The Redtail Catfish is arguably one of the most popular and recognizable species of large freshwater bottom dwelling species found within the aquarium trade. Despite their very large adult size, Redtail Cats have been imported from South America into the aquarium trade for some time and have reached an almost iconic position among "monster fish keeping" aquarists. The overall popularity of the Redtail Catfish is due to a combination of its unique appearance and active disposition within the aquarium. Redtail Catfish have a broad head that gracefully tapers back towards its brightly colored red tail. Their body is a dark gray / black coloration with a white underbelly and white stripe on the middle and rear portions of its body. Redtail Catfish also buck the trend of many aquarium catfish species in that they are active swimmers that will patrol the aquarium looking for a meal or just investigating their surroundings.

The first thing to consider when keeping a Redtail Catfish in an aquarium is the ultimate size of the fish. That cute little catfish is going to grow into a monster 4 foot long catfish that is both an active swimmer and feeder. Secondly, the Redtail Catfish is an aggressive species and it is important to keep it with appropriate tank mates. Redtail Cats should be kept with other large (1 foot or more) fish species that can hold their own sharing a tank with a large aggressive catfish. Keep in mind that Redtail Catfish see other fish that can fit into their mouth as food and not a tank mate. It is also important to remember that Redtail Catfish are active swimmers and will need a very large aquarium with plenty of swimming room. While a 300 gallon aquarium is an absolute minimum for this species, they will do much better in an aquarium that has a 4 foot width and 8 foot plus length, usually around 450+ gallons. Redtail Cats will appreciate the presence of some driftwood, some rock formations and a few plants within the aquarium decor in order to provide them with an aquarium setup that is similar to their native environment. Lastly, Redtail Catfish should always be housed in tightly covered aquariums as they are well known for their ability to escape an open top aquarium or an aquarium with a loose or partial cover.

Redtail Catfish are not picky eaters and will essentially consume any meaty food that fits in their mouths. However, not all foods contain the same level of nutrition, thus it is important to feed the Redtail Cat a balanced diet of nutritional foods. Redtail Catfish living in the wild will make up the vast majority of their diet from eating fish and crustaceans. In the home aquarium they can be live fish & crustaceans, worms, meaty based frozen or pellet foods ranging from krill and fish flesh to pellets specifically made for large Catfish and other large freshwater carnivores.