Red tail question

[jsodwi]

I have a problem I have grown a few redtail cats at different times from the size of a half dollar but soon as they get about 15 inches or so I lose them. Any ideas or suggestions?

[piranha45]

what filtration/tank size/water change quantities do their setups feature at 15" size?

[stratos]

Most likely a tank size and/or water quality issue. Perhaps you are getting amonia spikes as the fish eats more and poops more once it gets large? If the tank is not big enough or the water changed more frequently, you could be looking at long term nitrate poisoning which finally catches up to the RTC.

[rayman45]

over feeding
at that size they only need to be fed one a week untill there stomaches get big

[Oddball]

My first RTC was fed daily (didn't know any better 30 years ago). He died the same as you describe. I didn't get another RTC until I could afford to set up a 300gal for it. I kept him for 4 years, feeding it only three times a week, until he started showing lip scarring from turning in a 30" wide tank (he was 39" then). I gave him to someone with a 2500gal indoor pond. I recently got another RTC and keep it in a 450 with a 1200 gal bead filter. I also feed it only 2 or 3 times a week and am still amazed at its growth rate. In 3 months he's grown from 15" to 18+".

[jsodwi]

Thanks for the info the tank is a 150 with 2 eheim canister filters but I was only cleaning it once a month and feeing him once a week