Should I take the plunge?

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strollo22

Siamese Tiger
MFK Member
May 21, 2012
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Datnoid Island
Sooo, I've always wanted a red tail catfish. I'm aware of how large they can grow but I was thinking that since I have my 6x3 300 gallon tank, could/should I finally buy one? I do have plans for a rather large tank in my garage but that won't be for another year or so. Could I safely house the rtc for 12-18 months in the 300? I don't want to hear about how they grow to 4' and how quickly they grow. I'm a responsible person who doesn't just buy something without plans for a proper home, I just want to know if it could live comfortably for 18 months in my tank. Thanks guys


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If you've got the space couldn't you always set up a similar volume but better dimensions rubbermaid stock tub or something when it gets bigger?

Honestly I think RTCs are kinda boring/common compared to a lot of the other big cats.
 
Mount_Prion said:
If you've got the space couldn't you always set up a similar volume but better dimensions rubbermaid stock tub or something when it gets bigger?

Honestly I think RTCs are kinda boring/common compared to a lot of the other big cats.
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I could, but I dislike the whole looking down on the fish thing. I'd rather be able to see it through a glass tank. And a large tank is quite impressive looking as well. I may end up disliking the fish after a month or 2 for all I know but I was just curious what the actual growth rates are of these catfish from people that have had them.
 
I say got for it you could keep one in that tank till about 24" or so till you will have to move it to something larger. Lol they look at this way it gives you an excuse to upgrade ;)


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doomiedee said:
I say got for it you could keep one in that tank till about 24" or so till you will have to move it to something larger. Lol they look at this way it gives you an excuse to upgrade ;)


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I really do want one but I was hoping to hear how fast they actually grow. Like 24" in the first year? Hopefully someone will chime in that has raised one from a small size.
 
Growth rate probably depends on how much you feed and do water changes.
 
strollo22 said:
I really do want one but I was hoping to hear how fast they actually grow. Like 24" in the first year? Hopefully someone will chime in that has raised one from a small size.
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I think it depends more on what and how much you feed it. I got my old rtc in August it was about 5" I kept it for two months and the first month I feed every few days small amounts. Then the next month I found a pouch of carnivore pellets in my bin of fish stuff so I started feeding that every morning and still feeding tilapia and shrimp every few days and it sprouted two inches or so. Last time I talked to the guy I traded him to and he said it's pushing the 10" or so mark now.


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