I have one that I raised from 2.5 inches about 8 months ago to about 8 inches currently. They don't grow quick like south American red tail so honestly don't think they get huge in captivity. They do seem to be shy as you said it was hiding in cave in the local fish store. Mine spends all his time in his cave and only comes out when I drop sinking shrimp pellets in front of opening. He is happy in a 55 gallon tank with two lima shovelnose cats and two 4 inch Oscars. I tried moving him to 125 tank but he wouldn't eat for several days and moved him back to the 55.
Asian red tail cat a monster?
- Thread starter Dragonfirehead
- Start date
Yes sir, I had a rtc before and she ate everything and she wasn't afraid of anything and not shy at all. She grew huge in a few months. That's when I had a 240. This is the first time I own a artc and she's kinda shy but hella mean.
I'll find an old picture on my phone and upload in a moment, that looks to me like a true artc, from what I read before when I had first got mine they only got confused with wyckii, which to the untrained eye is understandable, but I think they're easy to tell apart, first off the barbels on wyckioides is much longer in comparison to wyckii which only extends down about half its body while wyckioides extends more like 2/3 of its body maybe more if you wanna be exact. I've read of some people having slow growths out of theirs, and some like me experiencing fast growths. I believe they're farmed in Asia if my memory serves me right, which means that's where most will come from usually. But doesn't mean most are, and whose to say there aren't any wc ones? Maybe that is the key to the differences, maybe people are mis-IDing them. I personally don't think you should put them together, that was around the size mine were and he but a chunk out of the mala, which mine wasn't aggressive but wasn't easily pushed around either. And he ran from the artc. I wouldn't say their growth is as fast as the South American rtc, but they aren't a slouch either. You'll have better chances housing tank mates with the aimara, if you want to do so, I say set up the 240 add lots of dithers that aren't snack sized, and add the tank mate(s) you want let them settle then add the aimara. Also where I'm located in ct they are common and cheap a 3-4 inches and around 6-8 dollars. Wyckii, I've never seen one in person, I would love to own one someday though. Hopefully.
That piece of dw is 4-5 inches across next to his head. He was maybe 16-18 inches in this pic. The wolf was 12. It was a 120 standard 4x2x2. Also some other key differences between the wyckii and wyckioides is wyckii when they get some size are mostly black where as wyckioides are more of a dark grey. Also there's a difference in the dorsal fin I can't remember, I had the pcf download on a phone of the description of the family. I think it was so,etching like the wyckii had a double spine or something and the wyckioides only had one, also the size compared to the overall body I believe. And idk if it's just me but I feel wyckii are more brutish, or maybe I've only seen subadult wyckioides. Cause well the big guys on Google aren't as thin as say a 20 inch one, but a 20 inch wyckii would be thicker than a same size wyckioides imo.
The fish in the photo does look like the real McCoy - ARTC = Hemibagrus wyckioides.
I've bought four 3" "artcs" per label $5 each in Waterbury CT (btw) which turned out to be all wyckii. Until small and / or in a large tank they are ok, even shy.
After sexual maturity in a small tank, they are most usually very aggressive. I've had two 1.5'-ers in a 4000 gal - never bothered anyone but always sat in their clay pots.
The biggest ones I've seen in a video on YouTube ~3'.
I've bought four 3" "artcs" per label $5 each in Waterbury CT (btw) which turned out to be all wyckii. Until small and / or in a large tank they are ok, even shy.
After sexual maturity in a small tank, they are most usually very aggressive. I've had two 1.5'-ers in a 4000 gal - never bothered anyone but always sat in their clay pots.
The biggest ones I've seen in a video on YouTube ~3'.
Really? Where? Because I was looking for one some time back, maybe one day I'll be able to check there when i feel I can keep one again. I only go to one store for fish, don't know of any others, but I've been going there since I was 10 maybe younger. I'm only 16 now. But that's a good part of my life time lol. The ones the store gets I've ID'd as wyckioides the tails were slightly red,and like I stated before the easiest way for me to tell are the barbels. Idk if this isn't the case when young maybe? But from all the ones I've seen it has worked. Maybe wyckiis grow into their barbels? And 3' wyckii or wyckioides? Wyckii rarely reach 30 inches from what I know. But lucky you getting wyckiis wish I could've. I love how they're jet black with white strips edging their fins and streamers. I think I read about yours, and they found each other one day and kept fighting after that right? Or I'm thinking of someone else's experience maybe.
Moe: Really? Where?...
TBTB: It's been 7 years ago and I was doing an LFS tour, I didn't live nearby. I don't remember exactly. Could have been "Fins, Skins, and Feathers" or some such.
Moe: The ones the store gets I've ID'd as wyckioides the tails were slightly red,and like I stated before the easiest way for me to tell are the barbels. Idk if this isn't the case when young maybe? But from all the ones I've seen it has worked. Maybe wyckiis grow into their barbels?
TBTB: The red starts coming through (with the right diet) after 5"-6" in true ARTC.
Moe: And 3' wyckii or wyckioides?
TBTB: Sorry, haste makes waste. I meant the true ARTC, wyckiodes. They can reach 3.5' easy, it appears.
Moe: Wyckii rarely reach 30 inches from what I know.
TBTB: That's my impression too.
Moe: But lucky you getting wyckiis wish I could've. I love how they're jet black with white strips edging their fins and streamers.
TBTB: Sadly, I have been wyckii-less for 5 years. Lost mine 6 during the move from NY to FL.
Moe: I think I read about yours, and they found each other one day and kept fighting after that right? Or I'm thinking of someone else's experience maybe.
TBTB:
yes that's the story of my two bigger wyckiis in a 4000 gal. Had to separate them. Good memory.
TBTB: It's been 7 years ago and I was doing an LFS tour, I didn't live nearby. I don't remember exactly. Could have been "Fins, Skins, and Feathers" or some such.
Moe: The ones the store gets I've ID'd as wyckioides the tails were slightly red,and like I stated before the easiest way for me to tell are the barbels. Idk if this isn't the case when young maybe? But from all the ones I've seen it has worked. Maybe wyckiis grow into their barbels?
TBTB: The red starts coming through (with the right diet) after 5"-6" in true ARTC.
Moe: And 3' wyckii or wyckioides?
TBTB: Sorry, haste makes waste. I meant the true ARTC, wyckiodes. They can reach 3.5' easy, it appears.
Moe: Wyckii rarely reach 30 inches from what I know.
TBTB: That's my impression too.
Moe: But lucky you getting wyckiis wish I could've. I love how they're jet black with white strips edging their fins and streamers.
TBTB: Sadly, I have been wyckii-less for 5 years. Lost mine 6 during the move from NY to FL.
Moe: I think I read about yours, and they found each other one day and kept fighting after that right? Or I'm thinking of someone else's experience maybe.
TBTB:
yes that's the story of my two bigger wyckiis in a 4000 gal. Had to separate them. Good memory.
Never heard of them, but googles my friend lol. And they could've been 5", but 6" I don't think I'd confuse for 4" or so. And I believe it, at the rate mines was growing. Who's to say when they slow down without any reports? I liked him but he got to big, I cautiously let him behind his dorsal fin so I could attempt to pull back if he turned on me but he never did, though I don't doubt he would've taken me my finger if it was infront of his face. And wyckiis have gotten less common sadly I believe. And sorry for the losses. Sucks, especially not being able to get another. I wondered if maybe you had to males.
Ok, after seeing and reading the info on here I kinda see the difference between the two. Now I found 6" wyckii for $20. Still debating if I should get her.
I, one day, want to comm a wyckii and specifically an amapa aimara. Cause they both are jet black. I want to try with a 600g 8x4. I love wolves. But the wyckii, along with a few other fish, have my attention. I can't keep any now though. One day hopefully. I'm saying this to let you know if you plan to comm them you need a huge tank. For the aimara alone you will need larger than a 240, because it isn't wide enough once the aimara gets thick and long and less flexible. The wyckii you might be able to get away with it in the 240 cause I've read of them doing fine in a 120. But if it does in fact reach 20"+ you'll need a wider tank(reason I don't have one). And a member here, justarn, has a 19" one, it's growth has slowed drastically but it's still growing nonetheless. So I don't think you can get away with a 2ft wide tank. Just my opinion. Having the aimara, I assume you plan on upgrading passed the 240, if so I say get it, if not I think you should do what's best for both of them and get rid of the aimara and wyckioides and not get a wyckii either.
