Jean moore - 2019-10-06 We have a red tail cat fish in a large tank and indoors,who is out growing the tank, he is regularly banging up against the glass, and we are getting concerned that at some stage he will break out. We are looking to re house him as we can’t extend his tank. He’s over 3 foot long, approx 25 pounds, and 28 years old. I would appreciate any suggestions on trying to re house this beautiful cat fish. Look forwards to he airing from any one who can maybe help. Many thanks mr & mrs c.p. Moore.
curtis - 2014-07-21 Hello, I purchased a red tail catfish that is very small at the moment (1 inch). When I put him inside my 120 gallon tank he immediately swam to a corner and tried to bury himself in the gravel. Is this normal? I also have 5 bala sharks, 3 clown loaches and a african catfish. I put him in a breeding container for now so he can actually get food. He doesn't move to much but occasionally swims frantically like he's trying to escape. The water quality is good and there is plenty decorations and hiding places but he kept trying to bury himself forcing me to place him in the breeding container within the tank. I do plan on upgrading tanks as he gets bigger and willing to build a pond.
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Clarice Brough - 2014-07-22 I'm guessing he's getting acclimated. Your pond idea sounds great. I've used indoor ponds for large freshwater fish (as well as large marine fish) with great success. I currently only have an outdoor pond (1300 gallons) for my koi and Red-eared Sliders however, but it is working great too. So good luck to you and keep us posted!
Anonymous - 2018-06-01 Look mine went from 1 inch to 16” in 4 months - he swam up a rock in one spot - It’s normal once he gets some size he or she will act diff
brian - 2011-01-22 Hi I have a red tail cat fish and it won't stop swimming up on the glass rapidly swimming back and forth I don't know what to do he in like in a 56 tank it is a new one just got him in it but he was doing the same in the old one just started doing so I got a new tank 56 and he still is doing it what do I do? Is it the hp of the tank what do I do he barely ever stops swimming on the back on the glass looking like he wont's out of the tank lol ? plez help me
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Editor's Note - 2011-01-22 It sounds like it may be flukes. One of the characteristics of this disease is unusual racing around the tank. See this link: Flukes disease
Chris - 2011-05-27 I have a 14 inch and he swims up and down during feeding time....but my retail shovelnose is smaller and I do notice him doing what you describe...but what worked for me is throwing in some dry baby shrimp and he eats and calms down....but it should be okay these fish are sometimes playful
amanda - 2011-11-12 This is exactly what my lungfish was doing before he died. Sounds like its cotton wool disease. It effects them from the inside out. But not to worry! My etc was in the same tank and he was able to recover from it with the help of medication I bought at the pet store. I used maricyn 1 and 2. Try to get the liquid form it works better than the powder. He will likely lose his appetite for a week or 2. Just give him feeder gold fish he should eat them. Make sure you take everything out of the tank and clean it really well. Best of luck to you and your fish!
Jeremy Roche - 2012-04-19 Any other symptoms?
Hank - 2014-10-12 mine did the same thing, i was told by an exotic fish dealer. This is them searching for food they have a voracious appetite. once its lil belly gets filled he'll calm down.
Anonymous - 2018-06-01 That’s what they do - There is nada wrong with him - Once he is big enough he will act diff
dean f\'do - 2015-11-21 Pls! Guys help me. . . My new bought 2 red tail cat fish aren't eating why is that? Pls. . Help me guys one is 3to 4 inch and other one is 4 to 5 inch. . . Pls help me i try to gave him meat, fish ,fish food nothing eating. . . And i note the smaller fish's belly is like a ball. . . Pls help me why are they eating?
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prodosh - 2016-02-23 Don't worry they will ready up whenever they feel like eating... And according to Me feeding large amounts is not good.... Sometimes starving is a good way to secure healthy appetite
Chance - 2016-05-14 You can buy a garlic extract and soak a worm in it for about 2 min then try to feed it to the catfish worked with mine had the same problem
MICHELLE MARYELLEN SMITH - 2018-02-27 I have found that hand feeding them when they are babies works as they age they are able to feed on live fish ect.
Kobe - 2016-03-25 Does anyone know much about keeping electric catfish? I have one now and he's doing fine but is growing pretty quick. Like what size tank for max size, any tank mates if possible, and best food. He is a dwarf from what I know. All help is appreciated. Thx
EFFER - 2013-04-10 I have 14inches RTC (5 months) and for the last 4 days he is not eating, his last meal was last Sunday - 2 gold fish, after that he don't eat at all. his color is remained like before black with spots, im just worried coz I already put Tetra General medicine, change water on a daily basis and yet no good progress. Should I change the water again and put Melafix? is aquarium salt is good for RTC? coz I read so many forum some said it is ok, some said it is not. I really appreciate your help. thanks.
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-04-11 Not advisable to add salt to their water.
Anonymous - 2013-04-29 feed it blood worms
spring - 2014-10-28 We have a rtc almost 2 feet. We always use salt in our tanks. We got him at about an inch big and hes grown this much in less than 2 years. We use salt in all our fresh water tanks. 2 gold fish is a very small meal. We feed ours 20 to 40 every week. Once they reach a good size they normally only eat once a week.
dean f\'do - 2015-11-22 hey, my red tail fishes are with 4 cat fishes and 2 koi carps thay all are like 5 to 6 inch and my 2 cat fish are like 4 to 5 inch they aren't ratting why is it pls help me the tank size is hight is 11 inch and length is 25 inch and breath is 11 inch pls help me
Anonymous - 2015-09-09 I have a 150 gallon tank with African cichlids, a few south american cichlids, brittle nose algae eater and some big community fish. Are there any plants that well not be messed with or dug up?
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Clarice Brough - 2015-09-24 You could try some Java Fern. It is hardy and will root onto driftwood. I've kept it successfully with Jack Dempseys and catfish.
justin kevin ipal - 2015-09-09 i bought a redtail catfish a week ago, it's about 11 inches and it's not eating ever since... i tried giving him fish meat, and some pellets... can you help me?
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Clarice Brough - 2015-09-24 I suggest you try worms, like nightcrawlers or earthworms. Worms often work great for stimulating fish to eat.
thushara - 2015-02-05 My red tail cat isn't eat anything... pls help me... I hv 2 rtcs 6inch n 7 inch both don't eat anything... no matter about water quality I hv cleaned tha tank well once a week.. my tank is 210 gal.. what could be the reason not to eat
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Clarice Brough - 2015-02-14 It could be the environment. These fish are intolerant of their own kind and the tank is too small. These are usually good feeders, so I'm thinking you may be dealing with territory issues; with the two in the same tank they may not be comfortable enough to eat. You may want to separate them and then see if you can get them feeding. Also, even though they are not yet full grown they are pretty good sized, and very soon each fish will need 1000 gallon tank of its own.
thushara - 2015-02-18 UMmm yes they are fiighting always when they meet each other..they hiding the coners of the tank..I try to keep both in same tank to make more beauty.. thanks for the informations.soon il l make a big tank..thank u n your site very helpfull for us...
Clarice Brough - 2015-02-18 They are beautiful fish! but yeah... territorial and incompatible with each other. Good luck to you:)
carlos - 2015-09-04 I have a red tail catfish and he's been acting the same way to. He hasn't ate anything for about a week now. I've looked up tons of videos and came up with a couple good answers. 1. He might have ate something and couldn't digest it right, mayb its stuck inside his belly. 2. They can get sick very easily! If you put any type of metal they can get sick off of that to. 3. Make sure to always keep the water clean which you said you do. None of these was my problem. No matter what I did my catfish wasn't eating his food at all and I was giving him his pellet food. My last attempt to keep this sucker from dying was tuna fish!! I threw some in with a little of the oil that come with it so he can smell it, and he started eating again! :) hope I helped you incase you still have any red tail catfish you still currently own. Hope it helps other ppl as well when they read this, take care..
Big and beautiful, the Red-tailed Catfish is an enormous attraction!
We have a red tail cat fish in a large tank and indoors,who is out growing the tank, he is regularly banging up against the glass, and we are getting concerned that at some stage he will break out. We are looking to re house him as we can’t extend his tank. He’s over 3 foot long, approx 25 pounds, and 28 years old. I would appreciate any suggestions on trying to re house this beautiful cat fish. Look forwards to he airing from any one who can maybe help. Many thanks mr & mrs c.p. Moore.
why does my redtail catfish doesn't eat raw food
Hello, I purchased a red tail catfish that is very small at the moment (1 inch). When I put him inside my 120 gallon tank he immediately swam to a corner and tried to bury himself in the gravel. Is this normal? I also have 5 bala sharks, 3 clown loaches and a african catfish. I put him in a breeding container for now so he can actually get food. He doesn't move to much but occasionally swims frantically like he's trying to escape. The water quality is good and there is plenty decorations and hiding places but he kept trying to bury himself forcing me to place him in the breeding container within the tank. I do plan on upgrading tanks as he gets bigger and willing to build a pond.
I'm guessing he's getting acclimated. Your pond idea sounds great. I've used indoor ponds for large freshwater fish (as well as large marine fish) with great success. I currently only have an outdoor pond (1300 gallons) for my koi and Red-eared Sliders however, but it is working great too. So good luck to you and keep us posted!
Look mine went from 1 inch to 16” in 4 months - he swam up a rock in one spot - It’s normal once he gets some size he or she will act diff
Hi I have a red tail cat fish and it won't stop swimming up on the glass rapidly swimming back and forth I don't know what to do he in like in a 56 tank it is a new one just got him in it but he was doing the same in the old one just started doing so I got a new tank 56 and he still is doing it what do I do? Is it the hp of the tank what do I do he barely ever stops swimming on the back on the glass looking like he wont's out of the tank lol ? plez help me
It sounds like it may be flukes. One of the characteristics of this disease is unusual racing around the tank. See this link: Flukes disease
I have a 14 inch and he swims up and down during feeding time....but my retail shovelnose is smaller and I do notice him doing what you describe...but what worked for me is throwing in some dry baby shrimp and he eats and calms down....but it should be okay these fish are sometimes playful
This is exactly what my lungfish was doing before he died. Sounds like its cotton wool disease. It effects them from the inside out. But not to worry! My etc was in the same tank and he was able to recover from it with the help of medication I bought at the pet store. I used maricyn 1 and 2. Try to get the liquid form it works better than the powder. He will likely lose his appetite for a week or 2. Just give him feeder gold fish he should eat them. Make sure you take everything out of the tank and clean it really well. Best of luck to you and your fish!
Any other symptoms?
mine did the same thing, i was told by an exotic fish dealer. This is them searching for food they have a voracious appetite. once its lil belly gets filled he'll calm down.
That’s what they do - There is nada wrong with him - Once he is big enough he will act diff
Pls! Guys help me. . . My new bought 2 red tail cat fish aren't eating why is that? Pls. . Help me guys one is 3to 4 inch and other one is 4 to 5 inch. . . Pls help me i try to gave him meat, fish ,fish food nothing eating. . . And i note the smaller fish's belly is like a ball. . . Pls help me why are they eating?
Don't worry they will ready up whenever they feel like eating... And according to Me feeding large amounts is not good.... Sometimes starving is a good way to secure healthy appetite
You can buy a garlic extract and soak a worm in it for about 2 min then try to feed it to the catfish worked with mine had the same problem
I have found that hand feeding them when they are babies works as they age they are able to feed on live fish ect.
Does anyone know much about keeping electric catfish? I have one now and he's doing fine but is growing pretty quick. Like what size tank for max size, any tank mates if possible, and best food. He is a dwarf from what I know. All help is appreciated. Thx
I have 14inches RTC (5 months) and for the last 4 days he is not eating, his last meal was last Sunday - 2 gold fish, after that he don't eat at all. his color is remained like before black with spots, im just worried coz I already put Tetra General medicine, change water on a daily basis and yet no good progress. Should I change the water again and put Melafix? is aquarium salt is good for RTC? coz I read so many forum some said it is ok, some said it is not. I really appreciate your help. thanks.
Not advisable to add salt to their water.
feed it blood worms
We have a rtc almost 2 feet. We always use salt in our tanks. We got him at about an inch big and hes grown this much in less than 2 years. We use salt in all our fresh water tanks. 2 gold fish is a very small meal. We feed ours 20 to 40 every week. Once they reach a good size they normally only eat once a week.
hey, my red tail fishes are with 4 cat fishes and 2 koi carps thay all are like 5 to 6 inch and my 2 cat fish are like 4 to 5 inch they aren't ratting why is it pls help me the tank size is hight is 11 inch and length is 25 inch and breath is 11 inch pls help me
I have a 150 gallon tank with African cichlids, a few south american cichlids, brittle nose algae eater and some big community fish. Are there any plants that well not be messed with or dug up?
You could try some Java Fern. It is hardy and will root onto driftwood. I've kept it successfully with Jack Dempseys and catfish.
i bought a redtail catfish a week ago, it's about 11 inches and it's not eating ever since... i tried giving him fish meat, and some pellets... can you help me?
I suggest you try worms, like nightcrawlers or earthworms. Worms often work great for stimulating fish to eat.
My red tail cat isn't eat anything... pls help me... I hv 2 rtcs 6inch n 7 inch both don't eat anything... no matter about water quality I hv cleaned tha tank well once a week.. my tank is 210 gal.. what could be the reason not to eat
It could be the environment. These fish are intolerant of their own kind and the tank is too small. These are usually good feeders, so I'm thinking you may be dealing with territory issues; with the two in the same tank they may not be comfortable enough to eat. You may want to separate them and then see if you can get them feeding. Also, even though they are not yet full grown they are pretty good sized, and very soon each fish will need 1000 gallon tank of its own.
UMmm yes they are fiighting always when they meet each other..they hiding the coners of the tank..I try to keep both in same tank to make more beauty.. thanks for the informations.soon il l make a big tank..thank u n your site very helpfull for us...
They are beautiful fish! but yeah... territorial and incompatible with each other. Good luck to you:)
I have a red tail catfish and he's been acting the same way to. He hasn't ate anything for about a week now. I've looked up tons of videos and came up with a couple good answers. 1. He might have ate something and couldn't digest it right, mayb its stuck inside his belly. 2. They can get sick very easily! If you put any type of metal they can get sick off of that to. 3. Make sure to always keep the water clean which you said you do. None of these was my problem. No matter what I did my catfish wasn't eating his food at all and I was giving him his pellet food. My last attempt to keep this sucker from dying was tuna fish!! I threw some in with a little of the oil that come with it so he can smell it, and he started eating again! :) hope I helped you incase you still have any red tail catfish you still currently own. Hope it helps other ppl as well when they read this, take care..