Well, I did the right thing today and took my redtail catfish back to the store after reading everything about them on this site. I had one as a kid, and he got taken back to th store when I moved to college at 18 inches and a year old. He was being kept in a 45 gallon and looked happy and healthy at the time, so I figured why not get another? The other one was cool, right? I must have either been ignorant to his problems, neglecting the fact that he couldn't turn around in his tank, or just being selfish and possessive. Either way, I had read to much to be a bad pet owner this time. I had wanted to take him back a month ago, but the day before I was going to do so, he was almost murdered by my Zonata. He had no top fin or tail left after being in my 135 over night and being the same size as the other fish. I immediately took him out the next day and nursed him back to health (also learning stuff on this site). I wish I could have kept him because they are so interesting, but I didn't want to own a fish I couldn't care for.
I was kind of torn however, knowing that in all likelihood someone else, with likely an even smaller tank, will purchase him and he may face a worse fate than being with me, but I didn't want to be part of his problems and thought the small chance that he would find his way to a large enough body of water be it huge tank or pond was motivation enough to let him go. I hope I did the right thing.
I love catfish though and want to get another one. I have a 135 (6X18inch base) and considered a lima, even though they could outgrow the tank as well. They grow slower however and might be a better option, but I thought I might face the same issues at some point. What do you think?
I also saw some other people posting about bullheads. Do you think my cichlids and bullheads would be happy at any common temperature? I saw arguments for both positions throughout the forum, so some more detailed answers would be awesome. I really would like to have a catfish in the tank again, but to be honest I haven't seen that many that wouldn't outgrow my tank that I think are interesting at all, so I am kind of thinking bullhead, lima, or nothing. I think the catfish harming Zonata would have to go to get one of these in there, but if would work, I think I would really like to do so. Thanks for any feedback!
BTW, I will recapture my RTC dreams one day, but that is a long time and lots of water away.
I was kind of torn however, knowing that in all likelihood someone else, with likely an even smaller tank, will purchase him and he may face a worse fate than being with me, but I didn't want to be part of his problems and thought the small chance that he would find his way to a large enough body of water be it huge tank or pond was motivation enough to let him go. I hope I did the right thing.
I love catfish though and want to get another one. I have a 135 (6X18inch base) and considered a lima, even though they could outgrow the tank as well. They grow slower however and might be a better option, but I thought I might face the same issues at some point. What do you think?
I also saw some other people posting about bullheads. Do you think my cichlids and bullheads would be happy at any common temperature? I saw arguments for both positions throughout the forum, so some more detailed answers would be awesome. I really would like to have a catfish in the tank again, but to be honest I haven't seen that many that wouldn't outgrow my tank that I think are interesting at all, so I am kind of thinking bullhead, lima, or nothing. I think the catfish harming Zonata would have to go to get one of these in there, but if would work, I think I would really like to do so. Thanks for any feedback!
BTW, I will recapture my RTC dreams one day, but that is a long time and lots of water away.
) are ussually too aggressive to be kept with tank mates.