red tailed catfish feeding

[dscott14450]

i have a redtailed catfish that is about 4-5 inches long. the only thing that it eats is wardley shrimp pellets. is that ok for it?

[Cliff]

Most bottom feeders like to eat sinking pellets.

Have you tried different types of sinking pellets ?

[Fisharefriends27]

After reading your profile, that tank is way overstocked. Do you know how big hlf those fish get? Also bettas shouldn't be kept in bowls and 5 angelfish in a 10 gallon tank is too much.

Have you tried to get it to eat other things?

[Cliff]

After reading your profile, that tank is way overstocked. Do you know how big hlf those fish get? Also bettas shouldn't be kept in bowls and 5 angelfish in a 10 gallon tank is too much.

Have you tried to get it to eat other things?


Fisharefreinds is correct. If your redtailed catfish is in one of the tanks you have listed in your profile, he will soon outgrow it. Below is some info on them

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/redtailedcatfish.php

[desi911]

all fish do best on a varied diet. try introducing things such as bloodworms, krill, and live brine shrimp. and with him being juvenile, he should be more open to different types of flakes if live and/or fresh foods don't interest him

[dscott14450]

i know that the tank is overstocked but i have been saving up to buy a bigger tank. and yes i have tried different foods but he wont eat them.

[Aeonflame]

What kind of tank do you plan on buying to keep 4' fish in?

[dscott14450]

You can get custom made,tanks

[Aeonflame]

I would dearly love to see your swimming pool size custom tank. Please do start a journal.

[chrisfraser05]

you also understand the CHEAPEST system for a fully grown red tailed catish will be over $4k??

As for feeding it, in a couple of years small rabbits and stuff thumbs2:

[Crispy]

try chopped up raw market shrimp, seems to be a fav of most rtcs. if all else fails, just keep feeding him the pellets until he is larger.

most people with rtcs keep them in ponds. much cheaper than the huge size of tank needed to house them for life. they are also very succeptable to gill-curl/ammonia burn, so be careful keeping him in an overstocked tank. they are easier to grow out alone without tankmates.

[hybridguy]

Agree with crispy,i have had a few rt cats,when they were small i fed raw shrimp and krill,i actually fed them by hand and they always ate at all times,i hope u r doin atleast 1 wc a week,with that many fish u may want to do 1 every 3-4 days. U could build a pond for it for around a 1000 bucks,that would b much cheeper than a tank.

[KuYaWill]

I would dearly love to see your swimming pool size custom tank. Please do start a journal.
Hahaha I love you

Seriously though return that fish. You clearly aren't ready or prepared to take care of a RTC

[dscott14450]

i have been digging up small worms from my yard are they ok for it to eat?

[KuYaWill]

i have been digging up small worms from my yard are they ok for it to eat?

I've heard people doing this but they really really wash them up. I personally would never do that though
Have you even considered rehoming it?

[smaug]

Aquarium 1:
10gal 5 angelfish, 1 ghost shrimp, many snails

Aquarium 2:
29gal heavily planted community tank

Aquarium 3:
65gal 8inch tricolor shark, 7inch shovelnose cat, 9inch and 12inch iridescent cats, 6inch pleco, 4inch redtailed cat, 3 crawfish, 3inch green terror "swimmy"

Other Aquariums:
2 gallon betta bowl

Just so future posters to this thread can have an idea who they are giving advice to I thought I would post this copy and pasted from there profile. This stock you keep is without a question one of the most poorly conceived selection of fish I have seen in quite some time. I will not repeat the advice already given in this thread.

[chrisfraser05]

holy carp!!!!

I've never seen such an irresponsable and ill researched stocking list!!!

I feel sad for the fish :(

[dscott14450]

i will be getting rid of the iridescent catfish and tricolor shark soon and in a year or two i will be getting $25,000 so i will be either getting a pond or a very large custom tank for the red tail

[Fisharefriends27]

Not soon enough. Googled their growth rate. Within 1 yr they will get 24" with is way too big. For a 65 gallon. Even by itself. If you can't get that tank sooner
Then a few months, rehome the catfish.

Trust me rehome it.

[dscott14450]

i might have to do that. i am looking on craigslist because there is a square 200g tank at my lfs and i am trying to find something similar for a good price

[chrisfraser05]

:19: :19: :19:

this looks like you are taking onboard the advice you have been given.

You honestly would not believe the amount of people who come on the forum and ignore the advice of these guys. It can be infuriating at times.

Some guys come on here, listen to the advice then use the "I'll do what I want because I know better" attitude when they here what they don't want to hear.

You've made my night bud :)

Good luck finding the tank :22:

[dscott14450]

thanks. the only problem about the advice was that it did not really answer my question about feeding it :scry:

[smaug]

give the cats to someone with the proper environment for it and let them feed them.:hmm3grin2orange:

[Crispy]

thanks. the only problem about the advice was that it did not really answer my question about feeding it :scry:

I thought your question was answered well regardless of the stocking.

chopped raw shrimp, nightcrawlers, whatever it will eat. make sure to clean out any uneaten food because it will easily foul up your water. you don't have any room for error in that setup. wardley's is not the best brand of food, ever hear of hikari massivore? it specifically has a RTC on the package.

[mommy1]

Our local monster fishkeeper Crispy has given you excellent advice on what and how to feed your rt cat.
Now I would like to suggest you rehome all the stock in your 65 gallon and put the 5 angelfish in there. Put your betta in the 10 gallon and throw the betta bowl away. I'm afraid to ask what is in the 29 gallon community tank.

[smaug]

:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange :