Please Help Novice Catfish Owner

[roro]

hi everyone i need some advice please i have just inherited 2 fish a red tailed catfish and a tiger oscar and have noticed they are pretty chewed up esp the catfish its mouth is red and looks sore. i havent seen them even noticing each other but i dont know if prev owner had another fish in the tank theres also a pleco which is small and it seems ok. what can i do to help him(cat) all the pics i see there mouth is healthy and white and his finns have had major damage and also a couple parts look red im gona try and upload a pic of him and oscar in the hope someone ill know what i should do i do however understand the cat will get huge but have tank to accomadate and im in plans for building one myself. please help someone oh and i havent seen him eat yet and have offered a variety thanks for reading.

hi everyone the update i have is sad georgie has died i found him this afternoon mouth open i am so upset as his last days he seemed happy this morning he was whizzing around snatching ham. thank you to all that helped jus wish i could of helped him more.. rip georgie

 

[QuotheRaven]

Well with the three fish you have just gotten you will need a HUGE tank.... and I mean HUGE so you may wish to consider getting rid of the fish however you will need a tank exceding 100 gallons and a hell of a lot of filtration to as Oscars are waste building machines!

 

[roro]

Well with the three fish you have just gotten you will need a HUGE tank.... and I mean HUGE so you may wish to consider getting rid of the fish however you will need a tank exceding 100 gallons and a hell of a lot of filtration to as Oscars are waste building machines!

hello as i clearly stated before i have HUGE tanks ,i dont have a space problem i have a fish health problem but thanks for stating the obvious i need help with the cats mouth nothing else please

 

[BigIan]

some form of antibiotic med should certainly help him to heal.
somethng like myxazin should do the trick, that and a bit of time...


also incase they are bothering each other make sure theres plenty in the tank to break lines of sight. plants and decor ect

 

[roro]

some form of antibiotic med should certainly help him to heal.
somethng like myxazin should do the trick, that and a bit of time...


also incase they are bothering each other make sure theres plenty in the tank to break lines of sight. plants and decor ect

cheers bigian gonna try that i dont know whats up with him and ive only had him 5 days. i bought a tank and he and oscar came with it so i have to now learn about them my thing is piranha. i have read so much on line and have a clean filter good clean water good levels and they are moving around and the oscar is even alittle playful but the cat moves around a little but comes to rest in the same place and just stays there on a bit of driftwood i dont think they fought as i now see they spend alot together jus chillin i am shocked as i type this the oscar is doing tricks rolling in gravel then a loop hes pretty cool.. the mouth of the cat doesnt look so red raw today but i fear the guy told me porkies and had other viscious fish in with them as both are messed up but gonna try with the help of you guys to bring them around and have them as healthy as the piranha are oh and i have a happy plec too. i took pics but they are the wrong size for upload so sorry

 

[fishfishfish]

the reds need tanks larger than 100 gals.add maybe another 0 to that.

 

[roro]

the reds need tanks larger than 100 gals.add maybe another 0 to that.

hello people ITS NOT A SPACE ISSUE ITS A HEALTH ISSUE I AM VERY AWARE OF SIZE AND HAVE A LARGER TANK THAN 100G FOR HIM PLEASE DO NOT REPLY WITH SIZE BUT WITH ACTUAL HELPFUL ADVICE.

 

[smithrc]

just to play devils advocate...

To avoid criticism and avoid getting a rep for lying,
You might want to remove any details from your profile...

it says its in a 70 Gal...

 

[roro]

just to play devils advocate...

To avoid criticism and avoid getting a rep for lying,
You might want to remove any details from your profile...

it says its in a 70 Gal...

OK I GET IT .IT IS NOW IN THE 70G AS IT ONLY ABOUT 8INCHES LONG HES STILL SMAL BUT I AM IN PROCESS OF BUILDING MASSIVE CUSTOM SIZED TANK AND IF IT OUT GROWS THAT MY UNCLE HAS BIGGER TANKS FOR HIM BUT FOR NOW HIM AND ONLY 1 OSCAR AND 1 SMALL PLECO THANKS SMITHRC WONDERED WHY I KEEP GETTING SIZE QUESTIONS. OH TANK WASNT FOR HIM BUT DECIDED IF IM KEEPING HIM ID BETTER GIVE IT TO HIM

 

[andywg]

The problem is that many people get RTC and say they will build a bigger tank, but few ever end up with that 12 foot by 6 foot tank (as an absolute bare minimum) that they really need. Most people's ponds don't fit an adult RTC, let alone a tank.

Rather than hitting caps lock the moment size is mentioned, why not give an idea of what you are actually building? Many people think a 500 gallon will do for these, and are sadly mistaken.

So, what are the plans for the monster tank?

As to the catfish, I would guess if he is starting to heal up he should be ok. Frequent water changes to ensure the water is in top condition will be very conducive to a swifter healing.

Expect some serious growth on it though. Anything from 1-2" per month is expected and some grow even quicker, meaning any giant tank plans need to be instigated swiftly (though their rate of growth appears to start to slow down at the 2 foot mark). It is highly likely the catfish will need to be seperated from the oscar as he grows.

 

[roro]

The problem is that many people get RTC and say they will build a bigger tank, but few ever end up with that 12 foot by 6 foot tank (as an absolute bare minimum) that they really need. Most people's ponds don't fit an adult RTC, let alone a tank.

Rather than hitting caps lock the moment size is mentioned, why not give an idea of what you are actually building? Many people think a 500 gallon will do for these, and are sadly mistaken.

So, what are the plans for the monster tank?

As to the catfish, I would guess if he is starting to heal up he should be ok. Frequent water changes to ensure the water is in top condition will be very conducive to a swifter healing.

Expect some serious growth on it though. Anything from 1-2" per month is expected and some grow even quicker, meaning any giant tank plans need to be instigated swiftly (though their rate of growth appears to start to slow down at the 2 foot mark). It is highly likely the catfish will need to be seperated from the oscar as he grows.

hi thanks the caps lock button was sticking and i was too lazy to sort it out after visit to my local shop the guy wants him and has other big cats so he and i have agreed for me to keep him till hes a little bigger and completey healed then he would tank the massive tank is for piranha the plans were10ftlx4fthx3.5ftw i think thats massive but maybe not as ive been reading the other topics and some of you guys have bbiiigg tanks..i am planning for it to go into the garage on its own as theres no need for the garage. i have always wanted to build but was afraid about the job have written plans and glass and glass cutter but i am pregnant and thats why i said the end of year i cant physically do it and hence need guys so rely on family for time and works in theory its built in reality its just glass. hope that answers this is quite a strange site and feel my honesty has been put more to the test than the advice and help that i actually needed.you guys seem quite into your hobbies so maybe this site is better left to you profs i should find somewhere more suited sorry everyone and goodbye to those who helped thanks

 

[andywg]

The main problem is, even what you think is massive, is ultimately too small for a red tail catfish. These things get to 5 feet in captivity, and are seen at 6 feet long without the heads in South American fish markets. Those osrts of sizes just aren't available to 99.99% of fishkeepers.

That is why the RTC automatically brings up responses warning of their size. A tank with a surface area of 10x3.5 feet would do for a few years, but will ultimately be too small.

At least you have done the right thing and looked into the actual requirements rather than some who just say "I can manage" and almost certainly set off to keep them in a 6x2x2

 

[stang1]

It's not just professionals on this site Roro, there are plenty of people new to the hobby.
People will always be concerned when they read that someone owns a red tailed catfish, they really do get huge. You only have to look at a local Oceanarium to see what size tanks they are kept in.
Don't take offence, people are just trying to help.

 

[roro]

It's not just professionals on this site Roro, there are plenty of people new to the hobby.
People will always be concerned when they read that someone owns a red tailed catfish, they really do get huge. You only have to look at a local Oceanarium to see what size tanks they are kept in.
Don't take offence, people are just trying to help.

i appreciate your words stang and will check closer into the site i was getting peed off as in all the remarks only one person actually gave me advice about his illness which was my original question i felt that was being ignored for the size issue i can happily say that his mouth is better most all the red has gone and he has eaten i was worried as i have no knowledge of these catfish so just asked a simple question have decided as im pregnant anyway im gonna give him to the local aquarium shop as soon as he is feeling better thanks people im not an ogre just was concerned about this poor cat thanks anyway xx

 

[Miss Wiggle]

glad he's better and is going to a decent sized home.

i'm sorry you didn't get much response to your original question but i hope you understand that any other posts made were only because these people care about the fish and want him to be kept in the best possible home.

i know i personally find it very difficult when i see things like RTC and pangasius catfish, they quite simply shouldn't be in the fish trade as the amount of people who can house them properly is minute. Even the people on here with monster tanks would struggle. However people should not take they're frustration out on you, especially as you didn't even buy the fish in the first place.

anyway good luck finding him a nice home and I hope you don't think we're all monsters