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Red-tailed Catfish

Flat-nosed Catfish - Antenna Catfish Family: Pimelodidae

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Phractocephalus hemioliopterus Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Red-tailed Catfish is quite an attraction. The beautiful red tail and the white belly are unmistakable characteristics of this fish!

   This fish gets really large. They are only able to be kept in a smaller aquarium as juveniles. Being fast growers they will quickly need a larger and larger aquarium. As they reach up to 3 feet or more (there are some reports of specimens reaching up to 5 feet!), they will ultimately need a very large tank. For the largest sized ones that could be 1500 gallons or more. This is a huge tank, making them not really suitable for most home aquarists.

   They are not real active and would prefer a large cave or den to hang out in. They can't be kept with smaller fish as they will become lunch sooner or later. This fish has a big mouth and a hearty appetite. Even though the Red-tailed catfish is one of the larger fish in the Amazon, this is not a food fish for the natives. It has a dark colored flesh and the natives will only eat white flesh!

  There is only one species in the genus Phractocephalus, the Red-tailed Catfish and a unique phenomena with this fish, as stated by author Hans A Baensch in Aquarium Atlas Volume 2, is that "...the red colored tail fin secrets a substance which colors the hands an intense red on contact"!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Red-tailed Catfish are found in South America in the Amazon river, Rio Negro, Venezuela and Guyana. Prefers deep pools in rivers.

Size - Weight:
   These fish can generally get up to 36 inches (90 cm) in an aquarium, though there are reports of some being up to five feet (150 cm)!

Social Behaviors:
“ The Red-tailed Catfish are generally a good community fish with tank-mates their own size. Not much is known about keeping more than one in the same aquarium. Don't keep with fish that are much smaller since they are predaceous.

Sexual Differences:
   Not known.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the bottom of the aquarium. As they get older, they may stay motionless for long periods of time.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: to 10° dGH
   Ph: 5.5 to 6.8
   Temp: 26-28° C

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Red-tailed Catfish have not been successfully bred in aquariums.

Availability:
   The Red-tailed Catfish is available from time to time and is usually expensive.

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Latest Comments
I have a 24inch redtail. I just noticed mine doesn't eat much during winter months even tho temp doesn't change. They seem to sense it. If the water isn't clean enough they won't eat also. I live up north in CT. If amonnia goes up their appetite goes down. Keith 2009-05-17
I am new with the RedTail Catfish, but I did find they grow very fast. I'm wondering if a RTC live in colder water than 68 degrees. I am considering putting it in my pond, that is well maintaned and all tests of the water are great. But it's the winter I'm worried about, any thoughts on that... RGR 2008-07-20
I wonder what is the best filtration system to use for a rtc. I think either a wet/dry filter or canister, but question which one is better and is a 370 gallons good enough. tkong 2008-06-07
My Boyfriend & I have a 13" red-tailed Catfish called Reno. I still have the pictures of him when we brought him home in his little petshop fish bag at about 3" long, approxs 10 months ago. We have just gotten him an 8foot x 2 x 2foot tank to play in, but he's still wondering where his old 4foot home has gone! Bless him - I'm sure he'll do some exploring soon to see the rest of his buddies that he lives with. Reno is Amazing and we're happy that he's got more room to play in now. But now he looks teeny in the massive aquarium, but that won't last long I'm sure! He does take food from our hands but after reading other peoples experiences with their RTC's I'm a tad jealous as I'd love Reno to be as playful and have toys etc.... SO, I would like some advise pleeeeeeease!! We would like to know: - what sorts of Fruits and veggies people feed RTC's? - What sort of Toys do you put in the tank for the RTC's to play with? One person said his played with a ball - does the ball sink or float? How big is it/what type of ball is it? Hope someone can help me! Many Thanks. Donna-Marie 2008-05-05
I have a rtc, his name is Felix, he is approx 8 months old and is already over 2ft in length. He is in a 5ft 570 ltr tank. He lives with my Oscars and Silver Dollars very peacefully. As everyone else says; a fantastic pet, beautiful to look at, and will feed from my hand. Visitors to my house find this amazing. I feed him white fish steaks and whole mussels every couple of days or so. I can see me having to get a bigger tank just for him at the rate he is growing. Great fun! andy smith 2008-02-12
Some of the coolest comments:
I bought a 3 inch redtail catfish in march, he has grown extremely fast. We started off feeding him bloodworms, nightcrawlers, and live feeder goldfish.. He is currently in a 125 gallon tank and has officially outgrown it. The width of the tank is 19 inches and he has a tough time turning around in it. But we are fixing the problem and are currently building a indoor pond that is 6ft long, 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep. My math may be wrong but that is just under 1,000 gallons. In the pond there will also be his friends that are a Tiger Shovelnose that is 21 inches long, albino channel thats 12 inches, and the oscars that are all over 12inches... And when i fed him last night he ate a whole shad that was just under 12 inches long... FMF 2008-12-29
I own 2 RTC and have had them for about 1.5 years. I have them in a 220 gal tank with a Florida gar. They are big red (2ft) and little red (16 in), and get a long ok. They were housed with 4 Oscars, the gar and each other in a 125 gal tank before I moved them into the 220g. I love these fish because they grow so fast and eat anything. I feed them pellets, hamburger, shrimp, feeders, crayfish and earthworms which is their favorite. RTC are great fish to own but need very big aquariums to be housed in. Delshawn Christian 2008-08-24
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I got a 200 litre fish tank complete with one 25cm redtail, one 15cm pleco and a smaller pleco also. I have just added 4 parrot fish and so far they all seem to get on. When I just added my parrot fish the redtail used to like chasing them around the tank but now he leaves them alone. I feed him koi pellets every morning and I alternate between bloodworms and algae waffers every evening. He gobbles up his food and then tries to eat all the other fishes food as well. He is a wonderful fish and I only hope he does not get too big for the tank. I just want to know if I'm over-feeding the redtail. You have a wonderful site full of great info Rene 2008-12-13
This is one of the most fantastic website. Finally my dream come true. Thanx alot Regards Abdullah H. AlAmir aalamir2@swcc.gov.sa Abdullah H. AlAmir 2006-06-25
Hello love the site. I have a Redtail catfish as well, he is quite big at almost 3 feet long. Hes the best fish I have ever owned and is very clever. He is like one of the family and eats allmost 90 Goldfish a month. Im going to start feeding him trout soon as well as fruit. Hes in a tank which is 6 foot long, 2 and a half wide, and 2 and a half deep but he seems happy for now. Adam 2004-06-02

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Author: David Brough. CFS.