Red tail Catfish

[Dempseygunz]

Get whatever fish makes you happy man. If its a RTC then so be it. You will figure it out from there.

 

[Hayabusa]

Get whatever fish makes you happy man. If its a RTC then so be it. You will figure it out from there.

Sorry but I really have to disagree with this, keaping an animal isnt all about YOU, its about the animal as well.

You should be able to house and feed ANY animal sufficiently, or already have plans in place to feed/house it correctly before buying ANY animal.

Owning an animal is a big responsability and isnt something to be as taken as lightly as you would suggest.

I love sharks, whales and dolphins, should I go get hold a great white because it makes ME happy?

Maybe a little extreme, but I have wanted a RTC for over 10 years, I know I cant house one sufficiently so I wont get one until I can, the same applys to a bird of prey I have wanted since I was a child.

Will I have these animals at some point in my lifetime? most definately, but only when the time is right for me AND the animal, not just because it makes ME happy.

These are living breathing animals we are talking about...

 

[Dempseygunz]

Yeah you are being quite extreme with the great white pal... Were talking about a catfish. I also have one, and currently only have a 180 gallon for him. But when its time it will be upgraded or I will give him away. There are plenty of places I know that will take him. And like I said, he will figure it out as well.

 

[ctoychik]

Yeah, thats what I thought. People who have had theirs for years (15-20) have told me theirs are only 2.5-3 feet.

Also the tank i'm getting will be the biggest in town for atleast 30 miles. I would feel terrible if someone dumped it in their 55 gal.

even though it may not be super happy, could it LIVE in the 300gal??? I am willing to bet that will be the biggest tank it may end up in.

I also, I may be able to get over a 300gal pond in 5-10 years.

Any new thoughts???

15-20years only 2.5-3'?????? good fish keeping skills though - keep alive for very long time indeed

mine is approaching 3' in wayyyyy less time than that (over two years). there are MFK members with 4' i believe.

I have seen in public aquarium bigger than 4' (Siam Paragon in Bangkok, Thailand)

 

[manfromnantucket]

Depends which one you are refering to, if its a pictus then 2' ish is likely, if it is a perruno same about 2' ish (but these are rare) the most common marbled cat is the leiarius marmoratus which gets larger, over 2' anyway.

i have the perruno...ive only ever seen them at about 22" max...im not saying there all only going to get this big im just saying this is the bigges ive ever seen them.

 

[justonemoretank]

In any case, a 180 or a 185 just isn't big enough. And plenty of people say, "Well, I'll upgrade in a year" but in a year, the wife or girlfriend gets pregnant, or you lose your job and take one on that doesn't pay as much, or you get stuck caring for a family member who needs help, or something... No one knows what's going to happen in a year. And, sometimes, that pond never gets built. And, many times, it is difficult to find a new home for a fish that is two or two and a half feet long. Stuff happens. The fish isn't what costs a lot of money -- it's the pond that does. A lot of people are willing to spend out at first, but later, can't come up with the money. So I don't believe in telling people to get the fish, and figure it out, because that rarely works out for the fish.

 

[aidenb]

maybe look at getting a sun catfish, thats what i got as a substitute redtail. they are reported to 18" but 12-14" is more normal and will be very happy in a 185. here's mine.

 

[Hayabusa]

In any case, a 180 or a 185 just isn't big enough. And plenty of people say, "Well, I'll upgrade in a year" but in a year, the wife or girlfriend gets pregnant, or you lose your job and take one on that doesn't pay as much, or you get stuck caring for a family member who needs help, or something... No one knows what's going to happen in a year. And, sometimes, that pond never gets built. And, many times, it is difficult to find a new home for a fish that is two or two and a half feet long. Stuff happens. The fish isn't what costs a lot of money -- it's the pond that does. A lot of people are willing to spend out at first, but later, can't come up with the money. So I don't believe in telling people to get the fish, and figure it out, because that rarely works out for the fish.

Couldnt agree more.

 

[yogurt_21]

In any case, a 180 or a 185 just isn't big enough. And plenty of people say, "Well, I'll upgrade in a year" but in a year, the wife or girlfriend gets pregnant, or you lose your job and take one on that doesn't pay as much, or you get stuck caring for a family member who needs help, or something... No one knows what's going to happen in a year.

by that attitude you should never have any hobbies ever!

yes things happen but there is nothing wrong with getting the fish and having a contigency plan. "your world could end tomorrow" attitude will get you nowhere fast. didn't you read charles dickens?

I mean seriously would you rather that 2" rtc stay in that 20g divider at the chain petstore? a 180g seems liek an adequate start and typically it doesn't matter if he doesn have the finances to build the pond, get a 30$ kiddie pool drop the rtc in there with the 180's filtration and then sell the 180, instant pond financing.

I really an surprised to see how much money people toss into this hobby and shun others who don't have it. 2000g above ground pool is only 200$, filter mods will give you another 100$ or less if you do it correctly. 180g will easily fetch that and more.

 

[Hayabusa]

I mean seriously would you rather that 2" rtc stay in that 20g divider at the chain petstore?

Personaly I think this, in the long term would be a good thing for large catfish.

If people stopped buying them, the petstore would stop stocking them, saving many more future RTC from people who buy them who with all the good intentions of the world never end up caring for them proporly, these fish really arent meant to be kept in the home aquarium.

Make them hard to get hold of, so only serious people source them and own them.

Said this before, but these are living, breathing animals, they deserve better than what 90% of them in the trade get, so many buy them for their "massive 180, itll be fine" and never upgrade, or know they never will even though they say on forums "Oh I'm building a pond" that never happens.

Have seen this countless times.

Also not a fan of "well if it gets to big I'll just get rid of it" ,where to? just whoever will take the problem off you?

Sure keaping fish is great, and we would all love to own these beautiful animals, but we have to think beyond ourselves and consider these living, breathing, thinking animals, and not treat them as mere objects that we own because we like it.

You say sell the 180 later etc etc, why not sell the 180 BEFORE you get the fish? set the pond/pool/whatever up FIRST?