ARTC HELP PLEASE???

[BIG_ONE]

Is there much known about these asian red tail catfish? my LFS happen to carry them quite commonly but seems a bit more expensive than regular RTC.

Heard they are smaller than RTC, so in this case...what would be the appropriate tank size for these little fella. How aggressive are these guys???

[headbanger_jib]

if its a hemibagrius wyckioides u are talking about then these guys grow huge in the order of 3'+ (some say more, but i am not sure about it )
but in terms of aggression, i have a 7" fellow which i have been keeping since it was 1.5"
eats sparcely
grows slow but has the aggression of a monster
has killed E. carpintes bigger than itself and a GT twice its size and many more known to be aggressive chiclids
even plecos aren't safe along with it

one hell of a fish that likes to hide and will not be out at anytime longer than a few seconds even during feeding time

[zenyfish]

I only know these by reputation. Once full grown, will kill any other fish in a tank with it. One of the most, if not the most, aggressive fresh water fish in the world.

[cjohll]

there has been one of these at my lfs for a month or so i think they want less than $10 for it

[BIG_ONE]

I see, so...

are they good with their own kind???...

[sterling_mcdaniel]

I see, so...

are they good with their own kind???...
no they are not...

[BIG_ONE]

awww dang it, oh well...imma get it anyways. :)

maybe...if i can afford a bigger tank 2 yrs from now after i get it :p

would sand substrate do best or gravel? also about power heads...do they need power heads?

[artemis1]

Sand, because gravel may be accidentally swallowed during feeding. However, it is rather hard to clean.

[BIG_ONE]

Sand, because gravel may be accidentally swallowed during feeding. However, it is rather hard to clean.

aww dang it, why the good stuff always got to be hard. how do you guys clean sands substrate anyways, i've never deal with sand substrate before.

besides, would planting be a good idea with the ARTC??? or would the ARTC be like many cichlids and dig them up and move them around...

so is there really any possible tank mates with the ARTC???

[le patron]

awww dang it, oh well...imma get it anyways. :)

maybe...if i can afford a bigger tank 2 yrs from now after i get it :p

would sand substrate do best or gravel? also about power heads...do they need power heads?
you'll find yourself in need of a bigger tank before 2 years

[BIG_ONE]

what, i thought they grow slow...a 4-6" won't outgrow a 90 gallon in 2 years would it??? :nilly:

[BIG_ONE]

besides, since they are carnivores and so vicious, do they take on pellets???

[headbanger_jib]

besides, since they are carnivores and so vicious, do they take on pellets???
mine eats massivore delight

[rook45]

It's not your average catfish.....capable of biting chunks out of other fish.

[BIG_ONE]

taking bites out of other fish huh, sounds like this guy is just like a full grown snakeead :)

makes me want to even get it more!!! :p

[ctoychik]

sizewise ARTC is comparable to RTC. Temper is also similar. Mines grew slow but that was because they were with RTC who killed ARTC eventually

90gallons? Errr you will need an upgrade in wayy less than a year ^^

[cambo01]

the best way i have heard these described is

"an rtc with false teeth"

where an rtc only eats anythin it can fit in its mouth an artc will eat enythin it can fit in its mouth and bite anything it cant into pices small enough to eat lol nothing is safe with them

[Mystus Redtail]

In two years mine is nearly 2 ft long.

[BIG_ONE]

what...darn it. so a 90 gallon wouldn't handle it before 2 year comes by being that of getting them between 4-6"....grrr

i guess i can always make a meal out of them LOL! jk...

im still going to get it anyways, might as well buy a used 300-500 gallon within 2 years(I usually buy brand new ones) :)