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Live fish will be delivered only to selected pincodes in Kolkata and nearby areas.

Absolutely! Here's aΒ complete and comprehensive guide to the Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) β€” a massive, powerful, and stunning freshwater predator. 🐟πŸ”₯


🐠 Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) – Full Guide


πŸ“Œ Quick Overview

Feature Details
🐟 Common Name Redtail Catfish, RTC
πŸ”¬ Scientific Name Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
🧬 Family Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered Catfish)
🌍 Origin Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo River basins (South America)
πŸ“ Max Size 3.5–4.5 feet (106–137 cm) in the wild; 3+ feet in captivity
⏳ Lifespan 15–20+ years (with proper care)
🎨 Coloration Grayish-black body, white underside, bright red tail
⚠️ Care Level Advanced – not suitable for beginner aquarists

πŸ” Identification

  • πŸŸ₯ Tail: Bright red or orange caudal fin (main identifying feature)

  • ⚫ Body: Dark grey to black upper body

  • βšͺ Belly: Creamy white

  • πŸ‘ƒ Barbels: Long whiskers (sensory organs)

  • 🦈 Shape: Streamlined, torpedo-like body with a large flat head


🧠 Behavior & Temperament

Trait Description
😌 Temperament Generally solitary, territorial and predatory
πŸ‘€ Smart Highly aware of surroundings, can recognize owners
🍽️ Aggressive Eater Will eat almost anything that fits in its mouth
🐊 Tank Presence Bold, confident, and dominant
🧍 Activity Mostly nocturnal but will adapt to feeding times

⚠️ Will eat fish, invertebrates, and even decorations if small enough!


🏠 Tank Requirements

Requirement Ideal Condition
🐑 Minimum Tank Size 1,000+ gallons (YES, really!)
🌑️ Temperature 72–79Β°F (22–26Β°C)
βš–οΈ pH Range 6.0–7.5
πŸ’§ Water Hardness Soft to moderately hard (2–12 dGH)
πŸ” Filtration Massive biological + mechanical filtration system
πŸ’¨ Oxygenation High (they're big oxygen consumers)
πŸͺ¨ Decor Large rocks, logs β€” avoid small decor they may swallow
πŸͺŸ Tank Type Monster tank, pond, or public aquarium-sized system

🚨 Redtail Catfish outgrow most home aquariums FAST β€” juvenile in a 55-gallon may grow to 2 feet in under a year.


πŸ₯© Diet

Redtail Catfish are carnivorous omnivores β€” they eat everything.

βœ… Ideal Foods:

  • 🐟 Whole fish (feeder fish only if quarantined properly)

  • πŸ› Earthworms, bloodworms, nightcrawlers

  • 🍀 Shrimp, squid, mussels

  • πŸ— Chopped chicken hearts or tilapia (sparingly)

  • πŸ₯« High-quality carnivore pellets

  • 🍽️ Prepared foods (catfish sticks, meaty sinking pellets)

⚠️ Avoid:

  • ❌ Goldfish/feeders from pet stores (risk of disease & poor nutrition)

  • ❌ Fatty red meats (damage liver/kidneys over time)

  • ❌ Overfeeding – RTCs are prone to obesity and bloat


πŸ§‘πŸ€πŸ§‘ Tankmates

⚠️ RTC Tankmate Rule: "If it fits in its mouth, it’s food."

βœ… Possible Tankmates (ONLY in massive tanks or ponds):

  • πŸ‹ Other large catfish (e.g., Tiger Shovelnose, Iridescent Shark)

  • 🐊 Large predatory cichlids (Oscars, Peacock Bass)

  • 🐟 Pacu or arowana (only if similar size)

  • 🧱 Monster fish with equal size and aggression

❌ Should NOT be kept with:

  • 🐠 Community fish – they will be eaten

  • 🐚 Shrimp, snails, crayfish – food

  • 🧼 Small bottom dwellers (Corydoras, Plecos) – eaten or injured

  • 🧘 Docile or peaceful tankmates – will be bullied or devoured


🐣 Breeding

  • πŸ”’ Breeding in captivity: Almost nonexistent outside of commercial fish farms

  • 🧬 Sexing: No reliable method to sex visually

  • πŸͺΊ Spawning: Occurs in massive river systems during flooding season in the wild


βš•οΈ Common Health Issues

Problem Cause / Symptoms Prevention
🦠 Parasites From live feeders; quarantine live food Feed clean, safe sources
😡 Obesity From overfeeding fatty foods Balanced, controlled portions
πŸ’§ Ammonia Burns Huge waste production overloads small tanks Huge filtration and regular water changes
😟 Bloat/Constipation Poor diet or sudden changes in feeding habits Feed varied, natural diet

🧠 Fun Facts

  • πŸ”₯ Named for its striking red tail, which becomes more vibrant with age

  • 🐘 Grows faster than most aquarium fish β€” up to 1 inch per week as juveniles

  • 🧠 Can learn feeding schedules and recognize humans

  • 🌊 Native to the Amazon Basin, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth

  • ⚠️ Can live up to 20+ years β€” a true lifetime commitment


πŸ“Š Quick Summary Table

Trait Detail
Max Size 3–4.5 feet (90–137 cm)
Lifespan 15–20+ years
Tank Size 1,000+ gallons
Diet Carnivore (meaty foods)
Temperament Territorial, predatory
Behavior Smart, bold, active
Compatibility Only with other monster fish
Filtration Needs Extremely high
Breeding Not possible at home

⚠️ Redtail Catfish Warning for Beginners

🚫 Sold at just 2–3 inches in pet stores, but they grow into river monsters requiring:

  • πŸ—οΈ A tank the size of a bathtub or small swimming pool

  • πŸ’° Large budget for filtration, food, and power

  • 🧹 Constant maintenance and high waste removal

  • 🧠 Expert care β€” not suitable for small tanks or casual hobbyists

Many RTCs are abandoned or die prematurely due to poor planning. Please research before buying.


We process orders on all weekdays (Monday to Saturday), excluding public holidays.

To avail free shipping, purchase amount should be Rs350/-(for Aquarium Accessories and Aquatic Plants) or more, less than the above amount shipping charges applicable Rs70/- only. For live fish delivery charges applicable at the time of checkout.

Orders are normally Shipped within 1-2 days and usually take 2-5 working days to be delivered based on your location. However, you will receive an approximate timeline when you place your order.

To ensure that your order reaches you quickly and in good condition, we only ship through reputed courier agencies.

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