Red-tailed Catfish - care and maintenance in an aquarium

Red-tailed catfish is also called flat-headed, fractocephalus. The main name of the fish received for a saturated orange tail. Catfish belongs to large predators, lives preferably in South America and Peru. Today we will look at the basics of keeping, feeding and everything related to the catfish of this group.

Special features

Fish prefer hot climatic regions, it is met in South America in the diverse and dangerous Amazon River. When the catfish lives and hunts in its natural environment, it can reach 180 cm in length with a body weight of 75-80 kg. Agree, impressive, but aquarium varieties are not so huge.

Judging by some data, catfish are so powerful that they lead mammals or birds that have come to drink into the water. Local residents believe that children should not be allowed near water sources, otherwise a strong catfish will carry off a child.

Do not dwell on folklore. Despite its size and quality of the predator, catfish is in demand among aquarists. Usually such fish can be found in zoos, but experienced people get catfish at home.

Since the content in the conditions of the aquarium itself suggests isolation, soma does not grow to such an impressive size. But even this fact requires a special aquarium with a size of 300 liters — 6 tons.

Description

Catfish have three pairs of whiskers. Two of them are located symmetrically on the lower lip, another pair of antennae rises above the lip. The whiskers in the upper section are much longer than the lower ones.

The tail may be different in color, but the main tone is red. Actually thanks to this highlight, the individuals got their name.

It is impossible not to notice that the catfish quickly grow up and, accordingly, grow. As a rule, in the conditions of the aquarium contains young.Farmers breed catfish, as they say, for slaughter, because the meat of these fish is considered a delicacy.

Feeding

1. Fishes eat everything, even eat up food behind other cohabitants. Soma eat a lot. No matter how large a portion you give the fish, it will eat everything. Obesity and health problems are developing on this basis.
2. Keep in mind that catfish can not be overfed. As for food, give preference to frozen, live and dry food. But soma will prefer fresh meat to the rest.
3. Juveniles are fed with moths, shrimps, fish fillets, squid. Adult pets are given chopped capelin, a lively small fish, as well as chicken hearts and a liver.
4. It is important to carefully monitor the diet and make it diverse. Eat soma by the hour, so teach them to split meals. Some teach fish to eat from the palm of their hand, but carefully.

Compatibility

1. Catfish of the presented species belongs to active predatory fish. Already from a young age, such an individual will seek to exterminate all who will be in the aquarium. It is worth noting that such a catfish's mouth is really very big.
2. Do not worry ahead of time, such catfish are not bloodthirsty at all. They eat everything in their path only because they have a brutal appetite and a constant feeling of hunger.
3. That is why such a catfish should be kept with large fish or alone. The red-tailed catfish can easily get along with the Arwan, pseudoplatistomas and astronotus.

Content

1. Do not forget that the catfish are predators and at the same time quite voracious. In no case do not share with him individuals of small size. Sooner or later, the catfish will simply swallow everyone up. It is also worth noting that the individual in question is not recommended to be kept alone.
2. With such catfishes large representatives of cichlids get along well. In addition, you can catch other catfish and big fish. Individuals should not be placed in the mouth of the soma. In this case, no problems and conflicts will arise. One should not underestimate the fact that catfish can eat their relatives.
3. The most active activity of fractocephalus is precisely at night. Therefore, such a catfish in the aquarium should build shelters in which they will hide during the day. Also, individuals do not like bright light.Therefore, in advance, take care of ambient lighting.

Considered soma are dangerous representatives of fish. They can eat all the inhabitants of the aquarium, who are inferior in size. Therefore you should take care that you have representatives of large fish. As the soil in the aquarium is better to pour sand. In it the catfish will often burrow. Also, the individual must have its own hole.

Video: red-tailed catfish (phractocephalus hemioliopterus)