Baby Redtail Cat Question...

[CAnRB]

I've got a baby redtail catfish that's about 2" that I've had for roughly two weeks now. For some reason he doesn't seem to be growing any. I know this must sound strange, but I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me figure out why.

Right now it's in a 10 gallon with a black ghost knife, 3 banded leopaeranus and an unidentified fancy pleco. All the fish in the tank are about an inch to two inches. I have a sand substrate with a few live plants.

Since the RTC has been in there I've put ghost shrimp, guppies, brine shrimp, krill, sinking pellets, formula one cubes, and bloodworms in there for them to eat. I haven't noticed the catfish eat anything yet, but I'm gone for most of the day at work, so if it has been eating it's while I'm gone.

I do partial water changes twice a week and the water quality is perfect. Anybody have any ideas about what might be going on? I really want this guy to grow so I can move it to a bigger tank.

 

[RTCatz]

first off, it might be a good idea to take it out of the 10 and put it into a bigger tank. the ammonia levels in the tank must be high because you have other fish inlcuding the clown knife. ammonia stunts the growth rate of fish. are you actually measuring thr growth of the fish with a ruler? otherwise you can't tell thje growth difference in only two weeks...its too minimal.

 

[rasdbo]

you definitly need a bigger tank like now! that red tail will get to be a serious monster.

 

[T1KARMANN]

you must be joking with all those fish in a 10 gal

what tank do you have set up for the RTC i hope its big like 500 gal

 

[DeLgAdO]

I've got a baby redtail catfish that's about 2" that I've had for roughly two weeks now. For some reason he doesn't seem to be growing any. I know this must sound strange, but I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me figure out why.

Right now it's in a 10 gallon with a black ghost knife, 3 banded leopaeranus and an unidentified fancy pleco. All the fish in the tank are about an inch to two inches. I have a sand substrate with a few live plants.

Since the RTC has been in there I've put ghost shrimp, guppies, brine shrimp, krill, sinking pellets, formula one cubes, and bloodworms in there for them to eat. I haven't noticed the catfish eat anything yet, but I'm gone for most of the day at work, so if it has been eating it's while I'm gone.

I do partial water changes twice a week and the water quality is perfect. Anybody have any ideas about what might be going on? I really want this guy to grow so I can move it to a bigger tank.

with a fish like that with its enormous waste production, that fish alone can alter the water quality alone in that small a body of water in no time.

10 gallons IS to small for a redtail cat fish, you need to upgrade RIGHT NOW! he cant grow because either you have very high nitrate or he has no space to grow
and all those fish with this fella will be luch sooner than you may think.

and by partial water changes, how much water are we talking about?

are you sure water quality is perfect? i have the feeling its far from it.

test the water and show us the results.

 

[CAnRB]

The ammonia levels are at 0, and I always use two different tests just to make sure.

I do have a lot of bigger tanks, but I can't move him out of the 10 until he gets to be about 4" because it would get eaten. As it grows it will be moved next to a 40 breeder, then a 240, then 400, and eventually into the 1200. But right now in the 40 it will be going into I have a 8" florida gar, a 7" clown knife, and two 6" red pacus. I tried putting a 3" TSN in there a few weeks ago and the gar ate it, so I don't want to risk it with the redtail.

A friend of mine mentioned that it might be because I'm keeping it on sand, but I don't see how that could have anything to do with it.

 

[USMCtanker]

first off, it might be a good idea to take it out of the 10 and put it into a bigger tank. the ammonia levels in the tank must be high because you have other fish inlcuding the clown knife. ammonia stunts the growth rate of fish. are you actually measuring thr growth of the fish with a ruler? otherwise you can't tell thje growth difference in only two weeks...its too minimal.

RTCatz i love ur picture anyway ya u for sure need to put it in a bigger tank. how much did u get him for. i have been trying to get one for a while

 

[DeLgAdO]

The ammonia levels are at 0, and I always use two different tests just to make sure.

I do have a lot of bigger tanks, but I can't move him out of the 10 until he gets to be about 4" because it would get eaten. As it grows it will be moved next to a 40 breeder, then a 240, then 400, and eventually into the 1200. But right now in the 40 it will be going into I have a 8" florida gar, a 7" clown knife, and two 6" red pacus. I tried putting a 3" TSN in there a few weeks ago and the gar ate it, so I don't want to risk it with the redtail.

A friend of mine mentioned that it might be because I'm keeping it on sand, but I don't see how that could have anything to do with it.

WHOA!! 1200!!!!!!! THATS STILLL TO SMALL!!!!!















































HA!!!! gotcha!

1200 great for the rtc way ta go bro

 

[CAnRB]

RTCatz i love ur picture anyway ya u for sure need to put it in a bigger tank. how much did u get him for. i have been trying to get one for a while

A friend of mine bought him for me because he knew I've been looking for one. I think he paid $20. (But that's a wholesale price, retail on him would have been like $70).

 

[Oddball]

If the cat must stay in the 10 until he grows out, I recommend 30 to 50% water changes two to three times a week and place a sachet of Chemi-pure in the filter to help stay ahead of that tank's waste generation. Then, upgrade his tank as soon as possible. These big river cats can quickly develop brown-blood disease from any nitrite levels in the tank. This condition lowers the blood's ability to absorb O2 and release CO2. That will lead to immunity deficiency, organ damage, and death. These are awesome cats if you can meet their housing needs.