Golden Redtail

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StiffMeister

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 14, 2006
2,490
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Netherlands
Guys, as you might know im still on the lookout for my first aro. But i want something special so i wasthinking about either green, gold or red. But now i might have the ability to buy a Golden Redtail (SCLEROPAGUS FORMOSUS) of around 25 cm. Its not sure or anything but if it happens i want to be ready.
So i am looking for some good info:
What do you need to look for when you buy such an aro. I mean, ive seen pics which doesnt show much gold on the body or red in the tail. At what size should these colors become really clear? Does it depend on food and lighting? Do these aro's come with a CITES paper and a chip? How do you know its the real deal?
And last but not least, does such a fish mix with my plecos (smallest around 18cm), eels (around 30 cm now) and bichir (40cm).
Any info is well appreciated.
Also, can the members who have a golden redtail show some pics of there fish??
Thanks in advance.
 
StiffMeister;514611; said:
Guys, as you might know im still on the lookout for my first aro. But i want something special so i wasthinking about either green, gold or red. But now i might have the ability to buy a Golden Redtail (SCLEROPAGUS FORMOSUS) of around 25 cm. Its not sure or anything but if it happens i want to be ready.
So i am looking for some good info:
What do you need to look for when you buy such an aro. I mean, ive seen pics which doesnt show much gold on the body or red in the tail. At what size should these colors become really clear? Does it depend on food and lighting? Do these aro's come with a CITES paper and a chip? How do you know its the real deal?
And last but not least, does such a fish mix with my plecos (smallest around 18cm), eels (around 30 cm now) and bichir (40cm).
Any info is well appreciated.
Also, can the members who have a golden redtail show some pics of there fish??
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Redtail Goldens are commonly known as RTG. They originate from Indonesia but is widely bred in Singapore, Indonesia & Malaysia currently. The upkeep of such a species is similar to the rest of the Asian aros so there is no specific special requirements.

RTGs will have a gold shine up to the 4th level. The tail will show reddish tones. In Asia, we classify a RTG above the 4th level gold shine to be a HRTG or high back RTG. Most RTGs will have no pearls or very little pearls but there has been exceptional specimens from time to time.

The fish should come with a cert. Check to see if the LFS who is supplying u the fish can scan the fish to verify the tag number matches the cert. Some farms will have the RTG name stated on their certs. I got a few RTGs but unfortunately they are all in pond having an orgy. :D
 
StiffMeister;514619; said:
thanks! do you have a link or article to where i can read up about the grades in golden shine?
Click to expand...

Not sure what u mean by the grades in golden shine.

OK. Let me try to explain what we mean by levels of gold/shine. A RTG if look at the fish & count the scales from the bottom up will normally only achieve 4th level gold/shine. If the gold/shine is more then 4th level, we classify the fish as a high back RTG. This should not be confused with xbacks. Is that any clearer? If you can find a pic of a RTG and look at it, perhaps u would understand a little more :).
 
thanks, much clearer. But is this golden shine already visible on a 25 cm fish. or at least, should it be visible. i can imagine that the fish, stressed from shipping etc, will be a bit paler and doesnt have a nice shine. how to check if its really a redtail?
 
StiffMeister;514635; said:
thanks, much clearer. But is this golden shine already visible on a 25 cm fish. or at least, should it be visible. i can imagine that the fish, stressed from shipping etc, will be a bit paler and doesnt have a nice shine. how to check if its really a redtail?
Click to expand...

Even though the colour may look abit paler, the scales should still have rim development on them.
 
StiffMeister;514635; said:
thanks, much clearer. But is this golden shine already visible on a 25 cm fish. or at least, should it be visible. i can imagine that the fish, stressed from shipping etc, will be a bit paler and doesnt have a nice shine. how to check if its really a redtail?
Click to expand...

Yes at 25cm it would be very apparent. I would say that taking one look at the fish even after the stress of shipping given the description above should be enough for verification. Is it possible to attain a pic of the fish prior to shipping & from which farm the fish is from? With this info, it would be easier to give u the advice u seek in making the right choice.
 
Stiffi are you getting an arowana!!?? Nice man! I will have to come by to check all your fish for shure!
 
Stiff, just look at pics of RTGs and it should be obvious whether it is one or not.

If you were going to be conned, it would either be a jardini, a green - which both look totally different, or a banjar red. A banjar red is a dull fish without much colour, that looks nothing like the pic above. So you'll know if it's an RTG or not.
 
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