Asian Red Tail Cat True Captive size?

[jprp]

Hi guys,
Could keepers of Asian Red Tail Cats give me some stats on how big they ACTUALLY get and what size tank you have or had them in at that size and the age they reached that size?
Thanks.
I know most sources claim about two feet but there are some pictures of wild caught ones that look as big as Amazon RTCs!

 

[Fishman Dave]

I don’t think there are many keepers with Asian redtail cats over 30”. Largest I have kept reached 2ft and my most recent attempt failed as my 26” Wykii took a disliking and killed the Asian rtc’s.
I think they are somewhat of a mis understood fish. You can get them to co habit with tank mates if the tank is large and the tank mates are too large to be eaten. You will struggle to raise more than one with any other hemibagrus. The three 8” ones I have currently were part of a trial and have all had to be separated.
Feeding is easy in an established tank with other fish and they put on weight well, however if you do end up keeping solo fish they tend to sulk, hide and go on hunger strikes.
Up to 12-14” you may get away with one in a 6x2x2 with other large tank mates but as they get to that size the tank will not be big enough for their territory so more problems could start. My Wykii was fine solo in a 6x2x2 up to 16” and I would suggest at that point any larger hemibagrus needs a pond or very large tank. In my opinion an 8x3 would house an Asian redtail for “life” or at least 10 years of it due to their nature of staying put under their cave and venturing very little. Note however that they have a strong habit of redecorating, so everything has to be very sturdy. Ideally a pond though. With a happy one I think 2 years from 3” to 16” and a further 3-4 years to 24” then things slow down

 

[Rocksor]

thebiggerthebetter would know

 

[krichardson]

I don’t think there are many keepers with Asian redtail cats over 30”. Largest I have kept reached 2ft and my most recent attempt failed as my 26” Wykii took a disliking and killed the Asian rtc’s.
I think they are somewhat of a mis understood fish. You can get them to co habit with tank mates if the tank is large and the tank mates are too large to be eaten. You will struggle to raise more than one with any other hemibagrus. The three 8” ones I have currently were part of a trial and have all had to be separated.
Feeding is easy in an established tank with other fish and they put on weight well, however if you do end up keeping solo fish they tend to sulk, hide and go on hunger strikes.
Up to 12-14” you may get away with one in a 6x2x2 with other large tank mates but as they get to that size the tank will not be big enough for their territory so more problems could start. My Wykii was fine solo in a 6x2x2 up to 16” and I would suggest at that point any larger hemibagrus needs a pond or very large tank. In my opinion an 8x3 would house an Asian redtail for “life” or at least 10 years of it due to their nature of staying put under their cave and venturing very little. Note however that they have a strong habit of redecorating, so everything has to be very sturdy. Ideally a pond though. With a happy one I think 2 years from 3” to 16” and a further 3-4 years to 24” then things slow down

Good info to consider as I have a young six incher that I purchased about three months ago.It hides in a sunken flowerpot most of the time but will dart out and snatch up a few pellets before returning once it detects them.

 

[Fishman Dave]

I had two at seven inch in a divided 50/50 4 ft tank and one jumped the divider 4" out of the water just to get to the other side and beat the crap out of the other one. Hence they are now in separate 3 ft tanks to grow on.
This is not my first experience of this with hemibagrus when they take a dislike to something.
one other thing to note is that they like their caves to be low and tight fitting, hence darker. Mine tend to 're decorate if the cave roof is too high off the gravel.

 

[jprp]

Thanks guys, very helpful, i had intended to keep it alone or with something like a big Gibbiceps but i don't think i will bother based on your information.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

The story of mine: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...emibagrus-wyckioides-mr-crankypants-16.678397

 

[kno4te]

Think there’s a vid of an import of a large asian red tail by pred fins. It was massive.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Thanks guys, very helpful, i had intended to keep it alone or with something like a big Gibbiceps but i don't think i will bother based on your information.

I had one before I know anything about fish keeping and before I joined mfk and ime the fish was extremely aggressive and would eat any and everything, the artc I had was the catfish version of the horror stories uou hear of piranhas.

edit: I’m pretty sure the catfish is still alive happily living in a 600g at around 3ft

 

[jprp]

The story of mine: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...emibagrus-wyckioides-mr-crankypants-16.678397

Great looking fish but other than looks there is not a single thing you guys are telling me that sells it as a good idea for my situation, just on realistic size alone i am best off resigning them to the "No you can't have one " list.
Thanks all for your input, you have helped me avoid a lot of frustration.