Red Tail Catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
The Red Tail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 10000 litres (2642 US gallons), water held at 68-79°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America (Amazon/Orinoco)
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Red Tail Catfish Tank Setup
Plan for at least 10000 litres (2642 US gallons) with soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel - sharp substrate wears down their delicate barbels. Keep the water at 68-79°F with a pH around 6-7.5. They grow to around 135 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Red Tail Catfish Eat?
They're meat-eaters, so feed good-quality frozen or gel foods rather than relying on generic flake. Go easy on portions - leftover protein fouls the water faster than plant foods do.
Red Tail Catfish Tank Mates
NOT a home-aquarium fish: sold as a cute 5-10 cm juvenile but grows to well over 1 m and 40 kg+, needing a pond-sized system of around 10,000 litres. A powerful predator that swallows any tankmate that fits in its mouth - including other catfish and cichlids - and produces a huge waste load. Public aquariums rarely accept unwanted adults; never release one into the wild. The Red Tail Catfish is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Red Tail Catfish Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Red Tail Catfish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Red Tail Catfish need?
Red Tail Catfish need a tank of at least 10000 litres (2642 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Red Tail Catfish need?
Keep them at 68-79°F with a pH of 6-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Red Tail Catfish eat?
Red Tail Catfish are meat-eaters. Feed good-quality frozen or gel foods rather than relying on generic flake, and don't overfeed. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Red Tail Catfish good for beginners?
Red Tail Catfish are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Red Tail Catfish
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 10000 litres (2642 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Adding to a new tank - Red Tail Catfishs need a fully cycled, stable aquarium; ammonia spikes in new setups are usually fatal.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Red Tail Catfish against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Red Tail Catfish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- AngelfishPredator - Angelfish will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Colombian Shark CatfishPredator - Colombian Shark Catfish will eat or injure smaller tank mates
