Red Tailed Catfish!

[Paradise3]

Hi what's the smallest tank i can keep a red tailed catfish in without being cruel? It's just a random question as i really like them but i know they cost alot and need alot of care. I would obviously do hours and hours of research before even considering getting one. But like i said it's just a random question as i know i wouldn't even fit a baby in my 2ft tank lol. Thanks in advance for any help.

I really like them but i'm not hasty i will wait till i can afford a tank big enough then do hours on end of research.

 

[Wills]

I think minimum is considered 10x4x4 - they really are not a fish for the home aquarium in my opinion, just best off left in the wild they really are a beast of a creature.

Also I think that one in your pic is red tail x shovel nose cat

 

[Paradise3]

I think minimum is considered 10x4x4 - they really are not a fish for the home aquarium in my opinion, just best off left in the wild they really are a beast of a creature.

Also I think that one in your pic is red tail x shovel nose cat

I'm ok with that i know they eat other fish and grow big. I've wanted one since i saw a breeding pair at my LFS it was £80 for the pair.

 

[Nick16]

shoyldnt be kept in home aquaria. they grow to around 120cm's. maybe keep one or two in public aquaria but definately a no no for home aquaria.

 

[Paradise3]

shoyldnt be kept in home aquaria. they grow to around 120cm's. maybe keep one or two in public aquaria but definately a no no for home aquaria.

I really do understand your reasons and was kind of thinking that about 5 mins ago before i checked what people were saying so i think that's one less red tailed cat coming out of it's natural habitat unless someone else buys one.

 

[dave_oddballs]

yeah its a shame that they are even sold to the aquarium hobby, they are gorgeous cats, and in a way its a shame they get so big, but they do. thats a red tail cat in the pic not a shovelnose cross.
id be more inclined to say that the tank would have to be closer to 12 foot long, 4 foot wide, height not half as important so anything from about 30" high, this is not really possible in your average home, people that do keep them normally have tropical ponds in a fish house or big conservatory etc, its the only way people can keep them as it costs no where near as much as a tank alternative. but even then you still need the space available.
best left where they are!!

 

[Paradise3]

Yeah so there goes another idea soo all i have left for big fish ideas at the mo is the red Arowana that i loved once again lots of research if you want to coment about my idea of keeping a red Arowana then look in predatory fish > Arapaima. I was thinking of an Arapaima but they get to big and are possibly endangered.

 

[Nick16]

have to got the knowledge to keep arawana's? its an expensive mistake to make if you havent!

 

[Paradise3]

I haven't got one.

 

[Nick16]

but you should do hours of research if you are thinking of getting one. cheapest you will find one in a shop is about £600 ish but for a real nice one your looking at £1200+

clearly you havent done much as you dont know the tank sizes for them. google is your friend as well

as with your first post, if you want a tank just bigger than the 'cruel' size, then i suggest you look elseware for something to do. big fish need BIG tanks. if i was a metre long catfish i wouldnt want to be penned up in a 10ft tank.

 

[Paradise3]

I'm researching as we speak and have been since last night not thinking of getting one any time soon though was thinking for the future.

 

[indigoj]

I got a redtail with my 6ft tank, it was rehomed to a bloke with a huge tropical pond. I certainly wouldn't keep one in any size 'tank'.

You could look at other hemibagrus - some do stay smaller however they are notoriously aggressive.