PlanetCatfish.com

I was just wondering which catfish is easyer to raise and easyer care for, which is also cheaper$$$ South American Red-Tail catfish or Asian Red-Tail ???

They both cost so much to adequately house that the purchase price of the fish is pretty inconsequential overall.
Youngsters of either species can probably be found for $15 upwards (bit more for the Phractocephalus), but they will require an investment within 2 years of a four-figure sum for filtration, indoor pond/huge aquarium etc. etc., followed by ongoing high maintenance and feeding costs etc. for the next 20 years or so.

indoor pond ???
could it be out door w/ a 75 gal.heater

Albino Catfish,

Read the Big Cats Sticky at the top of the SA Everything Else forums.

No, a 75 gallon would not be sufficient.

I understand the fact of some people not haveing a big enought pond or tank for these giants. but i don't see why not my 6 inch Red-Tail cann't stay in a 75 gal pond in the month of aug when it warm out side. He is currently in a
25.gal tank because it is simply to cold outside for him to be it the 75.gal
I just can't see how some people can aford 150.gal tanks in there homes for the red-Tail catfish and other catfish. i currently have 2 25.gal tanks, 1 50.gal pond, 1 75.gal pond
which i go for free. if i were to have bought all this plus the filters, pumps, etc. it would be a pretty pennie. so my Red-Tail will just have to live with what is given.

So, why not choose from the huge range of wonderful fish species available through the trade that won't outgrow the aquaria you have?
With a small pond you can keep all kinds of fascinating fish outside during the Summer in the US, they will breed and by the time it gets to early October or so when you need to bring them in, any young should have grown to the point where you can trade them with your local dealer for food, equipment etc.
Saying that any fish will just have to put up with what it gets, regardless of whether that meets minimum basic requirements, is not responsible, mature fishkeeping.
The guidelines in the Big Cats Sticky that Paul mentioned are there for very good reasons, to protect the welfare of the fish and to ensure that we get pleasure from seeing fish correctly cared for for the duration of their lifespan.

Ok, so in Houston, the weather is fairly warm all year around, so if you have the land to build a BIG pond, and I'm not talking about a couple of hundred gallons, but something the size of a mid-size swimming pool, but with no chlorine in the water.

For a fish that grows to five feet long, it's going to be necessary to have a pond that is around ten feet deep, ten feet wide and twenty feet long. And a good filtration system. You could perhaps keep more than one fish in this size pond tho'. Just make sure the other fishes don't fit in the mouth of the RTC - very small fish will be fine because the big fish will not be bothered to eat them.

That size pond would have around 15000 gallons of water.

You may need to cover the pond when it gets REALLY cold, but it should be fine most parts of the year - if anything it's probably more of a problem to keep it cool in the summer than keeping it warm in the winter. A shady place in your garden would be fine.

If you start planning now, I guess you could have it done by the time the fish is too big to live indoors in a large tank.

[Of course, a much easier solution is to NOT buy the RTC, and get some fish that is reasonable size for an hoom aquarium.]
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Mats