So i know there are these 2 species of red tails but im just wondering what the differences are. Do these two catfish differ in ultimate size? Which one is more aggresive? Are the colors of one more vibrant than the others? Was one transported to the other location and thrived as an invasive species or did the two develop seperatley and just ended up looking alike. pictures of both species would be great.
South American Red Tailed Catfish v. Asian Red Tailed Catfish
- Thread starter tscharf
- Start date
Very different fish from very different parts of the world. Both just happen to have a red tail. One of the problems with common names is many people think that they must be closely related.
These fish are not very closely related. The Asian red tail is Hemibagrus wyckioides, which is considered to be the most aggressive freshwater fish in the world. It is a dark grey color with a vivid red tail and can get to be about three feet long. These fish are virtual half-brothers to the Black Devil Catfish, Hemibagrus wyckii. This is not a fish you can keep with other fish, they are so aggressive they will attack anything in their tank; other fish, heaters, filter heads, your hand, ect.
The South American red tail is Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. The South American variant is a very common fish in the aquarium trade, and is not very aggressive. It will eat anything that fits in it's mouth, but it won't dismember it's tankmates for the fun of it like the Hemibagrus. If kept with similar sized fish (five feet long in the wild!), it's an OK community fish. This fish is also much more vividly colored, they're black and white with a rust or orangish colored tail. I've seen some fish that where brown with white markings, but I've had two of these now and both of mine colored up really well when fed on Hikari.
I currently have one of the SA ones that my wife named Oreo.
The South American red tail is Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. The South American variant is a very common fish in the aquarium trade, and is not very aggressive. It will eat anything that fits in it's mouth, but it won't dismember it's tankmates for the fun of it like the Hemibagrus. If kept with similar sized fish (five feet long in the wild!), it's an OK community fish. This fish is also much more vividly colored, they're black and white with a rust or orangish colored tail. I've seen some fish that where brown with white markings, but I've had two of these now and both of mine colored up really well when fed on Hikari.
I currently have one of the SA ones that my wife named Oreo.
I used to have one myself. It got itself killed when it tried to annoy the living hell out of its South American counterpart. I wouldnt underestimate both of these fish, they can be real killers.
Ive seen ones in the wild growing up to 6 ft, but that particular individual was around 16 years old, they say.
Ive seen ones in the wild growing up to 6 ft, but that particular individual was around 16 years old, they say.