Is it actual aggression or just being a pig?

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castro1212

castro1212

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 13, 2012
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metairie louisiana
I keep reading that red tailed catfish are aggressive but are they actually aggressive and it's not just the fact that they will eat anything at anytime? I see aggression as attacking another fish for no reason. I wouldn't say a fish that will devour something half its size or bigger was aggressive their just very opportunistic eaters imo

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I agree. I feel that they seem aggressive because of their massive appetites. My hybrid is aggressive as far as racing to the food before others get it but never shows any otger aggression
 
When young imo they are aggressive, makes sense too. competition for food ='s territory is worth holding. most cats I found are this way. and it's entirely plausable they get territorial seasonally ( ie breeding season as the majority of catfish species that I know of are aggressively protective of young/nests) But imo many cats kept in captivity are not fed properly 'nore appropriately fed.... which leads to tank-mate eating, but I agree generally not aggression. most the people around here w/ big ones however as a general rule comm big cats well... but you can never trust a catfish lol. I know I don't trust my hybrid or TSN more then I'm willing to loose/gamble they can't or won't eat it.

ARTC's and i'm sure a few other species are exceptions to this rule it seems, though some people have commed them with limited success.

When a fish kills another fish and doesn't eat it... imo thats aggression. When they consume it or try too, thats predation. pretty simple.. it's the ones that kill another fish... then decide to come back and eat it that are the hard ones imo to figure out, imo that when it becomes tricky.

I've seen "docile" fish kill that I would swear was territriality, and "predetory" species die from starvation surrounded by tank-mates easily consumable.
 
Yea I don't believe they kill or eat other fish due to aggression. I believe it's their natural instinct to eat whatever they think they can. Hence the reason why you can't trust them.
 
UOTE=MonsterMinis;6469430]When young imo they are aggressive, makes sense too. competition for food ='s territory is worth holding. most cats I found are this way. and it's entirely plausable they get territorial seasonally ( ie breeding season as the majority of catfish species that I know of are aggressively protective of young/nests) But imo many cats kept in captivity are not fed properly 'nore appropriately fed.... which leads to tank-mate eating, but I agree generally not aggression. most the people around here w/ big ones however as a general rule comm big cats well... but you can never trust a catfish lol. I know I don't trust my hybrid or TSN more then I'm willing to loose/gamble they can't or won't eat it.

ARTC's and i'm sure a few other species are exceptions to this rule it seems, though some people have commed them with limited success.

When a fish kills another fish and doesn't eat it... imo thats aggression. When they consume it or try too, thats predation. pretty simple.. it's the ones that kill another fish... then decide to come back and eat it that are the hard ones imo to figure out, imo that when it becomes tricky.

I've seen "docile" fish kill that I would swear was territriality, and "predetory" species die from starvation surrounded by tank-mates easily consumable.[/QUOTE]

Well said!
 
i agree 100%. im just always seeing people say their red tails are being "aggressive" because it ate another fish or choked to death trying too which imo is just it being a predatory fish
 
I have a large one that, call it aggression or territoriality, repeatedly beat up my other catfish and made no attempts to eat any. I have another that is as docile and peaceful as can be...it can be hit or miss imo.
 
It can go either way...yes they have big appetites but imo that has nothing to do with being agro. I think they are utter dicks compared to something like a tsn. They do not tolerate their own species unless kept in groups of 3 or more but even then its risky. Ive owned dozens of rtc and they were all very territorial and constant fighters with my other cats. After owning several i wouldnt bring another one home. I house 8 tsn and one marblextsn together with no real issues of fighting. Add one rtc to the mix and he would become the boss of my pond most likely killing some of the others due to stress... in my experience rtc or rtcxtsn are alot less community friendly than pure tsn.

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wednesday13 said:
It can go either way...yes they have big appetites but imo that has nothing to do with being agro. I think they are utter dicks compared to something like a tsn. They do not tolerate their own species unless kept in groups of 3 or more but even then its risky. Ive owned dozens of rtc and they were all very territorial and constant fighters with my other cats. After owning several i wouldnt bring another one home. I house 8 tsn and one marblextsn together with no real issues of fighting. Add one rtc to the mix and he would become the boss of my pond most likely killing some of the others due to stress... in my experience rtc or rtcxtsn are alot less community friendly than pure tsn.
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I agree with this as well...the only possible downside is the tsn I've had are not as friendly as the rtc although perhaps it was just mine. My hybrid on the other hand is the best of the bunch, friendly, peaceful ect....the only problem is he grew much faster than either of the others.
 
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