The red tail barracuda is a beautiful freshwater fish that is relatively easy to care for. They are a hardy fish that can tolerate a wide range of water conditions and are not picky eaters.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about red tail barracuda care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
The Red tail barracuda (scientific name: Caranx ignobilis) is a type of jack fish that’s native to the Indo-Pacific region. It’s found in various parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from the Red Sea all the way to Australia.
This fish prefers to live in areas with a lot of coral and rocks. This provides them with plenty of places to hide and ambush their prey.
Red tail barracudas are predators and their diet consists mostly of smaller fish. They’ve been known to attack and eat anything that they can fit into their mouths!
These fish can grow to be quite large, reaching up to 6 feet in length. They are also very fast and agile swimmers, making them a difficult target for predators.
The Red tail barracuda is a popular choice for aquariums because of its impressive size and striking coloration.
Appearance
The first thing you’ll notice about this fish is the large tail that it gets its name from. The tail on the Red tail barracuda is quite long and makes up almost half of their body.
The rest of the fish is long, thin, and streamlined. This gives them a very hydrodynamic appearance that helps them swim quite fast.
Their dorsal fin is large and starts about halfway back on their body. It runs the length of their back and then tapers off at the end.
The Red tail barracuda has a forked caudal fin that is symmetrical on both sides. This fin is very large and helps the fish move quickly through the water.
The anal fin and pectoral fins are both relatively small. The pectoral fins are located low on the body and are used for steering more than anything else.
This fish is silver in color with a few darker markings. The most notable of these is the large black spot that is located on their dorsal fin. This spot is surrounded by a bright red hue that extends into their tail.
Lifespan
The typical lifespan of a red tail barracuda is around 5 years. However, there are a number of factors that can impact this number.
One of the biggest factors is the quality of the water they live in. If the water is too dirty or has poor quality, it can shorten their lifespan.
Another factor is the food they eat. If they don’t have a good diet, it can also lead to a shorter lifespan.
Size
The red tail barracuda can grow to be up to 3 feet long. But, the average size is usually between 2 and 2.5 feet long.
Tank
Tank Size
The recommended minimum tank size for a red tail barracuda is 500 gallons. If you’re looking for a freshwater fish that can fit in an average-sized tank, this is not the fish for you.
Water Parameters
The red tail barracuda is a freshwater fish that is native to the Amazon River Basin. As such, they are accustomed to living in warm, slightly acidic water that is well-oxygenated.
To recreate these water conditions in your aquarium, you will need to maintain a water temperature between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH level should be between 6.5 and 7.5, and the water hardness should be between 5 and 19 dGH.
As for the alkalinity levels, the red tail barracuda is not as particular and can tolerate a range of 3 to 10 dKH.
What To Put In Their Tank
When it comes to setting up the inside of an aquarium for a Red tail barracuda you can be as creative as you want. There aren’t any specific things that this species NEEDS to have, which gives you plenty of options.
We recommend some of the standard decorations that you find in a lot of freshwater tanks. There are a ton of great plants you can include (like hornwort or water wisteria). You can even throw in some floating aquarium plants too!
Rocks, driftwood, and caves are all suitable as well. It’s important to avoid going overboard with this since these fish like some room to swim.
Also, if you’re keeping your Red tail barracuda in a smaller tank then it’s going to be difficult to include a lot of this stuff anyway.
A classic gravel substrate is always a good choice, but you can do with something soft and sandy if needed too (use other species you keep as a guide with this).
Common Diseases
The red tail barracuda is a fairly hearty fish. They’re not immune to disease, but they don’t seem to fall ill as often as some other freshwater species.
One of the most common diseases that affects this fish is parasites. These can be anything from worms to protozoans, and they’re usually contracted from eating infected prey.
The most common sign of parasites is a change in behavior or appetite. Your fish may also scratch themselves more often, or you may see visible parasites on their body.
If you think your fish has parasites, the best course of action is to take them to a vet specializing in fish. They will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate medication.
Of course, the best way to prevent parasites (or any other disease) is to maintain clean and stable water conditions in their tank. A healthy environment will go a long way in keeping your fish happy and disease-free.
Behavior & Temperament
The Red-Tailed Barracuda is an aggressive fish that is not recommended for most home aquariums. These fish are known to be predators and will attack smaller fish and invertebrates. They are also known to be jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is a must.
Red-Tailed Barracudas are active fish that need plenty of room to swim. A minimum tank size of 50 gallons is recommended. These fish are also known to be good jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is a must.
Red-Tailed Barracudas are not recommended for most home aquariums.
Tank Mates
You should only keep one red tail barracuda per tank. They’re large, aggressive, and territorial. They will attack and eat anything that they can fit in their mouth.
For this reason, it’s important to only keep red tail barracudas with fish that are too large to be eaten. They can be kept with other aggressive fish as long as there’s enough space for everyone.
Some potential tank mates for a red tail barracuda include:
- Lionfish
- Groupers
- Moray Eels
- Triggerfish
- Large Angelfish
- Large Tangs
- Large Wrasses
Breeding
Barracudas are not easy to breed in captivity. In fact, it’s only been successfully done a handful of times. If you’re up for the challenge, though, here’s what you need to know.
First, you need to start with a male and a female that are around three years old. They also need to be in good health. This is important because barracudas are very sensitive to changes in water quality.
Next, you need to set up a breeding tank. It should be at least 200 gallons and have a sand or gravel bottom. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places and that the tank is well-filtered.
The water temperature should be between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH should be between 8.0 and 8.4.
Once the tank is set up, you need to slowly acclimate the barracudas to their new environment. This is important because barracudas are very sensitive to changes in water quality.
Once they’re acclimated, you need to trigger spawning. The easiest way to do this is to lower the water level so that it’s only a few inches deep. This will mimic the barracudas’ natural breeding environment.
The female will lay her eggs in the shallows. The male will then fertilize them.
Once the eggs are fertilized, the female will leave and the male will take over. He will fan the eggs with his fins to keep them oxygenated. He will also guard them from predators.
The eggs will hatch in about two weeks. The fry will be very small, so you need to be careful when feeding them. Live baby brine shrimp or crushed-up flake food are both good options.
Once the fry are a bit bigger, you can start to wean them onto frozen foods.
Barracudas are not easy to breed in captivity. In fact, it’s only been successfully done a handful of times. If you’re up for the challenge, though, here’s what you need to know.
First, you need to start with a male and a female that are around three years old. They also need to be in good health. This is important because barracudas are very sensitive to changes in water quality.
Next, you need to set up a breeding tank. It should be at least 200 gallons and have a sand or gravel bottom. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places and that the tank is well-filtered.
The water temperature should be between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH should be between 8.0 and 8.4.
Once the tank is set up, you need to slowly acclimate the barracudas to their new environment. This is important because barracudas are very sensitive to changes in water quality.
Once they’re acclimated, you need to trigger spawning. The easiest way to do this is to lower the water level so that it’s only a few inches deep. This will mimic the barracudas’ natural breeding environment.
The female will lay her eggs in the shallows. The male will then fertilize them.
Once the eggs are fertilized, the female will leave and the male will take over. He will fan the eggs with his fins to keep them oxygenated. He will also guard them from predators.
The eggs will hatch in about two weeks. The fry will be very small, so you need to be careful when feeding them. Live baby brine shrimp or crushed-up flake food are both good options.
Once the fry are a bit bigger, you can start to wean them onto frozen foods.
Conclusion
The Red Tail Barracuda is an absolutely stunning fish that is sure to turn heads when people see it in your tank.
This fish is not for the beginner aquarist, however, as they can be quite challenging to keep alive.
If you’re up for the challenge, though, we think you’ll be rewarded with a fish that is both beautiful and unique.
Just be sure to do your research before you purchase one of these fish, as they are definitely not a “starter” fish.
