Catfish – South American Red Tailed Catfish RTC Cat Tank-Raised

Description

South American Red Tailed Catfish

aka: RTC Cat, Red Tail Catfish, Cajaro, Pirarara

Phractocephalus hemioliopterus

The South American Red-Tail Catfish is a gorgeous fish to own. It will make a marvelous pet that requires a bit more care and commitment that an average fish owner may be used to. This fish has the ability to grow about an inch per week when they are young, and can sometimes grow to be about 24” at a year old.

The Red-tail Catfish not at all picky about foods that will often eat out of their owner’s hands. Good quality pellet foods and bloodworms will offer these fish a fine life.

Redtail Catfish need good filtration to keep water perfectly clean as they are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. This is the biggest challenge people have keeping these fish, as they are messy, and they may occasionally throw up a meal in the aquarium. If this happens, you must clean it up immediately by doing a water change.

This fish can live in a community with other fish, however they should be larger than the Red-Tail Catfish’s mouth. Many people keep their fish with Pacu, Peacock Bass, other large cichlids and catfish, Rays, and even turtles.

Native to: The Amazon, Orinoco, & Essequibo Rivers. The redtail catfish is a pimelodid catfish. In Venezuela it is known as Cajaro, and in Brazil it is known as Pirarara. It is the only extant species of the genus Phractocephalus

Temp: 75 and 83. Warmer temps will speed the growth of your fish.
Max Size: The world record caught in 2008 was 60″ and weighed 121lbs, however, 70 “/170lbs in nature is common.

We ship youngsters about 2 – 3”
Lifespan: 20 yrs