One of the most sought after catfish are Phractocephalus hemioliopterus the redtail catfish. This freshwater cat is found in South America in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo river basins. Locally in Brazil this fish is nicknamed cajaro and in Brazil this fish is called pirarara. While this fish is common in the hobby and can be found in most local pet shops at varying sizes. The larger the fish the more money it will cost is the general theme. Redtail catfish are known to reach lengths near five feet and could weigh up to 180 lbs. Keeping this in mind make sure you keep these in a fairly large tank.

 

Like many other tropical fish that serve as pets, redtail catfish are also popular among sport fishermen who fancy game fish at least that's what the anglers call them. These catfish should be kept with larger fish like Red Devils, Oscars and keep in mind they are known to shallow small fish or fish that can fit into their mouths. Some catfish hobbyists suggest keeping something substantial on the hood as redtails are known to be active fish and could jump out of the tank. With time these fish will become large and dense in weight.

 

Besides the minimum tank size of 300 gallons, rocks, plants, and large driftwood should be used to enhance and simulate a natural environment. Since the Redtail Catfish is a highly active fish, a tightly covered aquarium should be used to prevent it from jumping out of the tank. They mature into a very heavy fish and should be maintained in a reinforced aquarium. Feeding P.hemioliopterus is rather simple they are carnivores and will eat just about anything. Watch the video below which shows a redtail catfish eat two small mice.