Why did my juvenile red tail catfish die..?

RTC probe 3

Jack Dempsey
Apr 22, 2018
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36
:(Hello,
Yesterday I bought a baby red tail catfish and put it in my 5 gallon tank ,thinking of putting it into my pond after it grew. As soon I put it went under my ship and stayed there the whole day. I tried to give it some small sausage pieces but it didn't eat them. Then , today morning it was floating on the water, dead.
I have 2 red parrots ,2 bala sharks, 3 carps (juvenile), 4 tiger barbs, 1 Chinese algae water and 2 corys.could any off them have done anything my RTC....? Or did it die on its own?
Please tell me a reason for the RTC's death. Here are some pic of it after it died.........

IMG_2815.JPG IMG_2816.JPG IMG_2817.JPG
 

RTC probe 3

Jack Dempsey
Apr 22, 2018
161
43
36
Pls help me as I'm going to buy another one and I don't want it dying as well. Please help me.....!!!
 

piranhaman00

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Sep 15, 2009
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1. Dont feed fish sausage or any greasy foods like that.

2. You have all those fish in a 5 gallon tank?
 

RTC probe 3

Jack Dempsey
Apr 22, 2018
161
43
36
IMG_2838.JPG:
Yes, but they're small and I intend on putting the carps, bala sharks and the algae eater in my pond when they grow. Anyway they fit in nicely in the tank. Here is a pic of it.

:And, what else should I feed it?
 
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krichardson

Bronze Tier VIP
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Jun 19, 2006
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My guess is that the rtc succumbed to some kind of stress,shock from water quality perhaps.
If you do get another one stay clear of hot dogs,sausages and other processed human foods.You could give it earthworms,slices of raw fish fillet and sinking pellets.
 

kendragon

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Mar 23, 2009
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Do you have a filter on this tank?
 
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RTC probe 3

Jack Dempsey
Apr 22, 2018
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No. But I do have an air pump. Many sites say that RTCs need clean water and that thats the same with oscars, but my oscar has lived in a lot of dirty and turbid water(thats very rarely as i change the pond water every week). so, it won't matter if the water is a bit dirty right?
 
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justarn

Arapaima
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May 24, 2011
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If you get an RTC to live it will eat every fish in that tank within two months then everything in your pond within a year.
They grow 2 inch plus a month in clean water and can hit 2 foot in a year. It will out grow everything.
You should have a filter, at least get a doing and make a home made sponge filter out of your are pump, lots of how to videos on youtYou.
Don't buy an RTC till you have more money, experience and a larger grow out tank like a 180g minimum, they can hit 5 foot and weigh 100kg.
 

justarn

Arapaima
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May 24, 2011
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Look and think about it, is your pond even big enough?

Screenshot_20180424-105051.png
 
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davemal

Piranha
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May 15, 2007
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Fish are cold blooded and cannot break down animal fats. Beef heart is ok to feed as it contains very little fat. Your red tail looks pretty thin and might have been on its last legs when you bought it, seemed to die very quickly.
 
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