Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
- Adult size
- 100 cmabout 3 ft (39 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 500 cmabout 16 ft (197 in)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 21–27 °C70–81 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- Diet
- carnivore
Reaches over a metre and swallows any tankmate that fits; only realistic in a custom tank or pond of several thousand litres.Reaches over a metre and swallows any tankmate that fits; only realistic in a custom tank or pond of several thousand litres.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Redtail catfish may eat Acei cichlidRedtail catfish may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Redtail catfish may eat African butterfly cichlidRedtail catfish may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Redtail catfish may eat African clawed frogRedtail catfish may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Redtail catfish may eat Agassiz's coryRedtail catfish may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Redtail catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishRedtail catfish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpRedtail catfish may eat Amano shrimpRedtail catfish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Redtail catfish may eat American flagfishRedtail catfish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Redtail catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfishRedtail catfish may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Redtail catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfishRedtail catfish may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailRedtail catfish may eat Assassin snailRedtail catfish may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Redtail catfish may eat Banded gouramiRedtail catfish may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Redtail catfish may eat Bandit coryRedtail catfish may eat Bandit cory
Sources
| temperature | 21–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
| gh | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Amazon and Orinoco basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Reaches over a metre and swallows any tankmate that fits; only realistic in a cu | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #3A3A3A, #F2F0E6, #C0392B | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.01,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 500 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | catfish | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |