Redtail Cats

[Dempseygunz]

I have been reading about how I really need to pay alot of attention to my water quality. Can anyone explain everything I need to do, and the equipment needed? Also...

Will my florida gar grow big enough to stay in the water with him?

 

[haynchinook334]

FILTRATION & TANK SPACE!!!! and a lot of it. right now i have a fx5 and two cascade 1500 running on a 180gal for my two RTC. Poo factory's is a understatement. They eat a grip load of food. I have built them a pond, 700gals for now....Planning on a 5000gal by the end of this year. But, Food, Tank space and filtration is all you need.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142077


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168929

 

[Gator]

Go buy a master test kit and read the directions. You need to know your Ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte levels. Ammonia and NitrIte need to be at 0 and your nitrAte needs to stay below 20ppm. lower being better. to Keep your NitrAtes low you need to do Weekly partial water changes of at minimum 25% I'd go 50% with that RTC. When you do the water changes you also need to get a gravel vac and clean the gravel. If you do the water changes your water should be fine as long as you have the proper filtration.

 

[Dempseygunz]

Thank you to both of you! Very helpful! I love this Cat Fish and plan on doing whatever I can for it. I have him/her in a 75 gal tank now and already have a 125 gal coming friday! What about my Gar?

 

[svtim]

When i was new in the hobby i had a red tail cat in a 55 gal with a oscar, jack and convict he ate all three, well killed the oscar (i found him in his mouth one morning) eventuallly he was eating over a dozen minnows from the bait shop a week before he and im not jokeing busted the side of my tank 55 gallons on my floor. all n all ihope you have a very big tank i have seen them ovaer three foot long in the aquria.

 

[haynchinook334]

as long as the gar can keep up with the growth rate of the RTC, then you'll be OK.

 

[Gator]

125g tank is no where near big enough for a full grown RTC. Read what haynchinook334 is building for his RTC. RTC is definately one of the fish that LFS should not be selling. You do realize they can grow to over 4' long right?

 

[Dempseygunz]

God I hope he doesn't bust my tank. How in gods name can I avoid that

 

[Gator]

as long as the gar can keep up with the growth rate of the RTC, then you'll be OK.

If you feed the RTC right he'll pass up the gar in no time at all and then eat the gar.

 

[Dempseygunz]

I want to see some pictures of some RTC's you guys have.