The PlanetCatfish coolwall thread

[RickE, posts: 438]

The other thing to bear in mind is that not all catfish can be cool and sub zero.

Jools

No, I agree, but I still think the Redtail is a cracking fish. I'd definitely have one if I could house it responsibly. To use the Top Gear analogy, we can't all drive Lamborghinis, but it doesn't stop them being cool.

Edit: Actually, I don't suppose you can really compare a Redtail to a Lambo. Bentley maybe?

[Jools]

Actually, the Lambo was uncool on Top Gear. Anyway, I'd call the red tail a Chrysler myself. Still don't see why you think it's cool rather - that's part of all this - you've got to sell it to us!

Jools

[RickE, posts: 438]

- that's part of all this - you've got to sell it to us!Jools

Yep, it's all good fun!
OK... it epitomises 'catfish'. I think it's an extremely handsome fish, but then 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' which is just as well or we'd all be keeping guppies. It reaches an impressive size, so you win in the 'top speed'discussions.

[Uncool. Has a stupid-looking grin on a stupid-looking face. Fishermen also outwit them all the time so it must therefore be thick as mince.

I think it has a cheeky, amiable (but perhaps not too bright) smile and I don't think there are many (non-suckermouth) catfish that would be difficult to outwit. It quickly becomes hand-tame. You don't know many people (any people?) that have one and it's expensive to run and keep, just as 'supercars' should be.

[mummymonkey, posts: 384]

...I don't think there are many (non-suckermouth) catfish that would be difficult to outwit.

Have you looked at the guy holding the fish in the linked picture? He can't even dress himself.

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

...I don't think there are many (non-suckermouth) catfish that would be difficult to outwit.

Have you looked at the guy holding the fish in the linked picture? He can't even dress himself.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ah quality......

[Jools]

...I don't think there are many (non-suckermouth) catfish that would be difficult to outwit.

Have you looked at the guy holding the fish in the linked picture? He can't even dress himself.

BWFWFFW! Well, that's some coffee on the flat screen then! That's the banter we are looking for. And why exactly has someone stocked a lake in Thailand (?) with this thing anyway! I know it's not the fishes fault, but...

Jools

[DutchFry, posts: 730]

I think the redtail catfish is a cool catfish.

here in Holland we have a zoo called Artis, they have a huge tank called the flooded forest, which is at least 15 meters in length:

http://www.artis.nl/main.php?pagina=pag ... edbos.html

there are some Pacu and Arowana in there, and of course the red tail catfish. in such a setting it's just a very beautiful fish. Visitors always get excited when they see the catfish.

from a 'normal' keepers point of view, it's just unsuitable. but I think for many of us this is a real fish to dream about!

edit: oh, and then the fisherman pic I didn't even noticed the first time i clicked the link, but hahaha that's just priceless.

[Jools]

Yeah, but there are sooo many cooler big cats.

Jools

[DutchFry, posts: 730]

I know, but aren't we discussing the red tail now?

It's not my favorite either, I would choose B. tigrinum or B. yarelli in the category of monster catfish. But I can understand why the red tail is so popular among many fish keepers!

[catmar, posts: 53]

They have a rescued redtail at my local MA, I'm not a massive fan, but in a very large tank I agree they do look special. On balance, cool.
My wife looked at the fisherman pic and didn't even notice the fish, which is a bit worrying.

[RickE, posts: 438]

I've looked worse than that after a week's carp fishing

Jools - maybe the two walls should be split into separate threads? And are you counting votes as we go along or is there going to be a big vote at the end?

[Jools]

Yes, I think we'll run with just the species one for a while. However, the vote thing is far too democratic. I will (with an open mind, honest) listen to the debate on a species until it dries up and then decide in a Clarkson-esque dictatorial fashion!

Right now, mummymonkey has it well in the uncool spot!

Jools

[MatsP]

They have a rescued redtail at my local MA, I'm not a massive fan, but in a very large tank I agree they do look special. On balance, cool.
My wife looked at the fisherman pic and didn't even notice the fish, which is a bit worrying.

In both of the MA branches I visited yesterday, they had "rescued" RTC's. (And in St. Albans they had a large Leiarius species as well).

--
Mats

[Deb, posts: 416]

Have you looked at the guy holding the fish in the linked picture? He can't even dress himself.

Sadly, there is a photo of Heiko Bleher on the web that reminds me of this one.

[andregurov, posts: 101]

For me, the easiest way to determine if it is cool or uncool is to think of its human analog. It has a huge mouth, grows to excessive weights, follows food blindly (or via the sense of smell), seems to be everywhere, is represented in collections overmuch by neophytes, and its red fades as it gets older. It seems quite obvious to me the fish is Bette Midler. And thus quite un-cool.

[racoll, posts: 4473]

Priceless. I wonder if he has any idea?

Using the car analogy, RTCs are a bit like an XR3i - cheap, chavvy, and so 1985.

[catmar, posts: 53]

Familiarity has bred contempt with this fish and we're applying anthropomorphic qualities to it. Imagine if it had just been discovered, we would all be wetting ourselves with excitement!

[L number Banana, posts: 2140]

RTC = Cool.

a. It's well dressed in a tuxedo.
b. It's instantly recognizable by newbies and 'experts' alike. "An unmistakable species" according to PC...
c. It's doesn't have a silly look on it's face in the photo above, looks kind of mean.
d. It's not a fish that can be easily forgotten, "Like me, hate me, but you won't forget me". EVERYONE has learned about this fish.
e.It changes as it ages, gracefully like David Attenborough.
f. Helps some people feel manly.

[wrasse, posts: 729]

My vote is - cool cat!

No, it's not cool to keep one; they're just too big.

But its a beautiful catfish. Why shouldn't a catfish be black, white and red, garish etc etc? Mother Nature saw a gap and filled it with this whopper. Other fabulous animals a RTC might compare with - panda, giraffe, beluga. You couldn't dream them up, and to me that's cool.

I can't think of a car to compare it with. Maybe a bulldozer? (and no, I wouldn't want one parked on the driveway).

[wrasse, posts: 729]

By the way Jools, I've met you a couple of times and - thankfully - you are nothing like Jeremy Clarkson.