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would a one red tail catfish be ok in 55 gallon

Certainly not, and here's why: The red-tail catfish can grow well over five feet long! They are actually fished for and eaten in their native South America, since they get so large. These fish should not be housed in a tank of any size, since no normal fish tank can hold one.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

No, no question and there nothing else to say except no.

Ah, I see kkens has already posted my favorite image to post in topics dealing with this fish...

The Red Tailed Catfish can get at LEAST 3 feet long in captivity, but measurements of upwards of four and near five feet are recorded in the wild. The few appropriate captive environments for this fish in private homes are mostly all ponds (one keeper with these ponds has the cash to afford a pool cleaner!); rarely can people afford fish tanks that can hold this fish.

If you purchase such a fish and place it in a 55 gallon tank, it will outgrow it in about 6 months. The Red Tailed Catfish is a fish of extraordinarily high growth rate and is able to grow at least an inch a week in juvenile stages, especially if well fed. If a 55 gallon is to be the home of this fish, it can only be a temporary home.

Last edited by Shinigami at 02-Feb-2005 16:03

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

i think he ment red tailed shark

here is a few more pics.

[link=http://
www.acuteangling.com/Reference/ECatJen.jpg]http://
www.acuteangling.com/Reference/ECatJen.jpg[/link]
http://www.dreamlake-fishing.com/gfx/news_20040102_7_full.jpg

Here is one that swallowed a 18" black colwn knife.

http://www.aquamojo.com/Redtail.html

There's an article in the February 2005 Tropical Fish Hobbyist -- they recommend a tank with a footprint of 12 feet by 6 feet. They don't say how tall it should be. So, I think a 55 gallon (4 feet by 1 feet)would be a bit on the small side!

http://www.qamla.com/fish.html



http://www.deathbydyeing.org/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

It amazes me how many LFS's actually cary fish like the red tailed cat and Pacus on a regular basis and sell them to unsuspecting customers. Completely selfish and inconsiderate, not to mention unprofessional.

At the LFS, we feed our 3' and 4' long redtail cats full-grown [14"] oscars. Oscars get way too big for 55 gallon tanks.


I think that explains it right there...

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

my lfs has two in a 265g but they never move. as i was still there they decided to feed it a 13" oscar. the first half of the oscar went down pretty good, but the tail end was giving him some trouble so he started raming into the side of the tank forcing the oscar to the back of his throat!

these guys are beasts