How to keep and care for the redtail catfish
The scientific name of the redtail catfish is Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. It is also known as the redtail duckbill catfish and the dogtooth whale. The lower half of its body is white, while the back and head are grayish-black, with dark spots. The dorsal fin and caudal fin are orange-red or blood-red. Today we will explain how to keep the redtail catfish.
1. How to keep the redtail catfish
1. Water quality
The redtail catfish has relatively low water quality requirements. They can survive well as long as the water temperature is kept at 22-28°C. They prefer soft, weakly acidic water with a pH of around 6.0.
2. Environment
The redtail catfish needs a sufficiently large space. It can be kept together with carnivorous fish larger than itself, such as the clown knifefish, the gar, and the zebra shovel-nose catfish. It cannot be kept with fish smaller than itself, because when the redtail catfish is hungry, anything it can swallow will become its food.
3. Feeding
Keeping the redtail catfish is likewise not difficult. The redtail catfish is omnivorous, but it prefers foods such as small fish, small shrimp, loach, and chicken. It can be fed sinking pellets as a supplement, which makes it grow quickly and develop better coloration.
2. Notes on keeping the redtail catfish
1. It is best to raise the redtail catfish from a young age, so that it will form a bond with its owner and can play with the owner, making it very interactive.
2. A newly purchased redtail catfish must not be placed directly into the aquarium. The water temperature at the fish store differs from that of your own tank, so it is best to float the redtail catfish, together with the bag, in the water for a dozen minutes, then poke a few holes in the bag. This lets the redtail catfish go through a process of adapting to the water quality and makes it more likely to survive.
Compared with other fish, the redtail catfish is still relatively easy to keep. They like to eat small fish and shrimp, have a large appetite, and grow rapidly, but this type of fish is rather difficult to breed.