Minimum tank size?

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I'm also a plant buff and would like to utilize the space above the pond/pool to grow some tropical plants ect... and hydroponics concepts to add filtration. Very much akin to what Energy has for his ray/gar ( you can find his 1800 iir set-up in the gar sub-forum and probably the diy) as they say "different strokes for different folks" My point being I think.. you are making a very serious commitment to a pet.

And yes... It is sooo worth it!
 
No one can say they get to enjoy the cats to the full in this kind of ghetto pond as you only really get to view the cat from above

A good bit of a RTC is its diamond white belly and as the name states red tail which can't be views well from above

It just seams that by keeping large fish in the throw together ponds that its just a case of doing anything to keep them

Just my opinion


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People on Monsterfishkeepers ALWAYS tend to blow red tail catfish requirements out of proportion... there is no way you need b10,000 gallons for ONE catfish... yes, it would be one happy catfish but, the OP asked the MINIMUM space required... 100+ pound red tails are rare in the WILD let alone in the aquarium! Until I actually see a 100 pounder in a aquarium on a scale then i do not think they exist. the max weight on a large aquarium specimen is most likely around 65 pounds and unless you have a EXTREMELY largee outdoor pond or tank that will not likely happen either...I also think that 1000 COULD work if that was all you had but 1500-2000 Range sounds like a good sized tank for a single RTC. But, in this hobby bigger is always better :D
 
ratedBforBeau said:
Hey guys, I fell in love with Red Tail Catfish. I really want one.
In dont plan on it anytime soon, but what would be a not minimum, but suitable comfortable size tank for a RTC?
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FuriousFish said:
...the max weight on a large aquarium specimen is most likely around 65 pounds and unless you have a EXTREMELY largee outdoor pond or tank that will not likely happen either...
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And why do you think that is not likely to happen? I think you might have just shot yourself in the foot :) I'd say simply that the vessel was not big enough.

And why do you think that those 1-in-a-million RTCs that survive to adulthood/maturity mature at a smaller size and do not live more than 10-15 years usually and hence never get close to the 100 lb mark? May be for the same reason. An RTC with average genes should be over 4' and 100 lbs at 20-30 years of age.
 
You can't go on all of them monster size cats you see fishermen holding up as you have no idea how old they are they could be 50 years +
I can't see anyone keeping one for 50 years that would mean they would need to have a 10,000 gal tank at the age of 20 making them 70 by the time the cat is 50 years old

In all honesty the cat should live well beyond 50 in a tank as it will be king of the tank with only the owner to blame if it does from bad water or powercut

I think 36-40" would be a good size in a tank and I have a 30" Asian aro in my 8ft long x 6ft wide x 3ft deep glass tank and it has loads of room
I think I could keep a red tail in my tank for along time but I know my limits so wouldn't buy one


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OP there are really lesser size catfish, just sayin. You may have a all time favorite triginus.<<<< :topic:
 
T1KARMANN said:
No one can say they get to enjoy the cats to the full in this kind of ghetto pond as you only really get to view the cat from above

A good bit of a RTC is its diamond white belly and as the name states red tail which can't be views well from above

It just seams that by keeping large fish in the throw together ponds that its just a case of doing anything to keep them

Just my opinion


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I actually compleately disagree with this .... I absolutely enjoy my fish far more then just by looking at their pretty colors ect.. I enjoy the interaction with them ect.. But then I also have retic rays (plain brown) and gar ( boring by most peoples views) I find my cats have actually become much more active/curiouse ect w/ all the extra space they have now vs in a glass box. Not to mention they aren't bashing their noses into said glass... I enjoy my cats "fully" because they are healthy and well cared for.. not because they look cool :irked: They are pets.. not paintings to go on my wall. Maybe YOU wouldn't find the same enjoyment I do from my set-ups.. but then that's why we keep different fish to begin with. Would a viewing window be nice? sure, but if my cats where bashing their faces into it like in a tank.. I'de remove it. Space/Husbandry will always beat out Aestetics for me. And I'm not about aesthetics in any fraction of my life.... Most the things that "look good" are garbage.. I want something built good, if it looks good it's a bonus.
 
E.C. said:
OP there are really lesser size catfish, just sayin. You may have a all time favorite triginus.<<<< :topic:
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;) good point.. there are plenty of "big cats" w/out going with the "King"
 
I love the interaction with large catfish from a pond. IMO RTC are gorgeous from above as well as all angles. :) Much easier to interact with the fish when it is in a pond. I also believe this puts the fish in a more "natural" environment. I say more, because you will never get there short of living beside the amazon and have a glass panel on the side of your house that edges the river lol. :) There will always be limitations in our hobby. You either overcome those or move on. these fish are in the hobby and bred for the hobby. They are cheap to get and we are not going to be able to change that. If someone is going to get one anyway we need to educate them and let them know how they can keep the fish rather than tell them it's impossible and have them run off and get it anyway and doom it to an early death. For all we know this person ran away from the concepts put out and listened to their LFS person.....(scary most of the time) bought the fish anyway and will have to learn the hard way. i've seen on other forums where people do this and then they get sub par advice from lesser known forums and ultimately we know what that means for the fish. :( If someone really wants to keep this fish I for one believe they can. they just need education on it, and don't have to build a 10,000 gal aquarium. that is ideal, but unrealistic for the average keeper of any fish. You can upgrade your body of water over time. fast at first for sure, but once the fish is 3' it will be many years before an upgrade is needed. You will then have a better understanding of how to take care of this fish and what that means. ;) Enjoy your pets as you see fit. this one is a challenge for sure. i believe everyone here has given good advice based on what they know individually. Next time though we should probably let the op speak up a lil before we start another RTC war......
 
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