My new RTC

[blacktip]

Well I finally broke down and let my wife get the little baby RTC she's been dieing to have. She saw some monster ones at an aquarium we went to in Korea and has had to have one ever since (actually she wants 2 or 3.) Anyways, she's given me the go ahead to search for the 240 I've been wanting for a while so he'll have some decent living quarters for a little while. Any idea how long I'll be able to keep him in there? I'm currently working on designing a larger permanent tank for him, but I will not likely be able to build it for 2 years or so. Anyhow, here are some pics of the little guy. He's about 2 1/2" to 3" and he currently is sharing a 100 with my Indo Dat and my wife's rainbowfish and African cichlids.

[Loubard]

I don't have any personal experience with RTC, but I am thinking short! A RTC is growing quick, but I am shure some else can give you more hands-one experience.
Nice lookin' RTC though!

[Nate_N_Nicole]

SWEEET red tail like the Dat also!!!

[FlammingWoodChuck]

i have a couple questions about your dat. 1. Where did u get it and 2, how much was it. Oh ya I have kept a RTC b4 but he was only with me for 3 weeks. grew fast about an inch a week. he loved blood worms gum drops, krill gum drops(both are frozen, and freeze dried krill(hikari)

[blacktip]

I picked up my little Indo Dat about 2 months ago from a lfs in Simi Valley, CA. He was $29.99. He's grown a little over a 1/2" since then and has really flourished since I moved him into my 100.

The store I bought him from has a couple 4" - 5" Indos for $120. They've had them for a while now and will probably be willing to bargain if you are interested. There was another lfs in Chatsworth that had several little Indos for around $30 about the same time that I bought mine. I haven't been there since, but will check it out tomorrow since I am looking for little tsn or marble cats to go with my rtc. I'll let you know what I find.

Is that pet store on Ave J in Lancaster still around? They used to have lots of oddballs. They might be able to order the dat for you if you ask them.

[FlammingWoodChuck]

Not sure if it is havent been there b4. I know there is one in town(lancaster) i go to the one in Pamdale. the guy is really cool. best prices on tanks and most fish. He even get me some fish that i would like. ill have to ask him about the dats

[Oddball]

RTCs are awesome cats. Just be ready for it's growth rate to tank size. Not maintaining regular water changes and proper filtration is the leading cause of death for these cats. Once it hits a foot long, it'll do just fine with feeding every other day. If you feel you must feed it more frequently, give it at least 1 day a week of fasting to clear its system.
My RTC is amost 2 years old and 24" long. He surprised me a couple of months ago by eating the four 1 1/2lb channel cats he was housed with. He's currently in a 450 gal with a flathead cat the same size. Pretty soon, I'll be moving the pair to a 650gal once I have the huge wet/dry completed.
Adults will require a huge tank. A 10ft x 4ft tank wouldn't be overdoing it at all. Here's a pic of what that cute little 3 incher will grow to, given proper care.

[Oddball]

BTW, the only indicator you're going to have that the RTC is too large to house with your rainbows will be noticing the rainbows disappearing. At 16"-18", my RTC was eating foot-long fish.

[DeLgAdO]

Well I finally broke down and let my wife get the little baby RTC she's been dieing to have. She saw some monster ones at an aquarium we went to in Korea and has had to have one ever since (actually she wants 2 or 3.) Anyways, she's given me the go ahead to search for the 240 I've been wanting for a while so he'll have some decent living quarters for a little while. Any idea how long I'll be able to keep him in there? I'm currently working on designing a larger permanent tank for him, but I will not likely be able to build it for 2 years or so. Anyhow, here are some pics of the little guy. He's about 2 1/2" to 3" and he currently is sharing a 100 with my Indo Dat and my wife's rainbowfish and African cichlids.

careful now, those tank mate will be lunch soon.

[sohfatfish]

Say bye bye to his tank mates in a few weeks time.... i think you will need a heated pond rather than a large tank to house adult sized ones comfortably.

[wazza]

just make sure you keep the food up to him,it keeps the hunting reflex at bay,bought mine 3mths ago at 8to10in is and is now 15in and is like feeding a bottomless pit

[blacktip]

Thanks guys for all of your input. My wife didn't believe me when I told her how big his mouth is. She saw him chasing some of her rainbows and got a bit upset. He's probably just large enough now to eat them, but fortunately he didn't do any grubbing last night.

I'll be making a divider for the tank today to be certain that none of her beloved fish get eaten.

Oddball, I've seen that picture. I can't wait to have that swimming around in my future living room. I've been working on designs for a permanent home for the guy when he gets bigger. The dimensions would be roughly 12' x 8' x 4', although if I decide to build it oustide, I would like to make it larger.

[Oddball]

Even the little ones can surprise you. As a joke, I put a "Splash Zone" boundary 4 ft out from the tank. Yesterday, I slapped the surface with a couple of large tilapia and both cats rushed up to grab them. The water from their attack splashed out over 7 feet from the tank. Could have gone 8 to 10ft but, I blocked most of it (again).

[snogard]

congrats on your new RTC. you'll enjoy this cats forever, they're very personable. one of my favorites from my collection. check out the vid gallery, we have a 3 foot RTC on there. (i believe c/o KIDO1

[Point De Riz]

I so agree, they need careful feeding, excellent filtration, big tanks and a lot of small water changes to keep them in good health.

Chris.

[mon]

RTC grow very fast... u gotta be fast too ... get a bigger tank soon

[blacktip]

RTC grow very fast... u gotta be fast too ... get a bigger tank soon

I'm way ahead of you. I picked up a used 200 yesterday. I need to do some work to the stand and build a light hood for it before I set it up. But it should be ready in a week or two. This ought to hold him for a little bit longer.

[joeytoe]

the RTC looks nice I was going to get one but the place i went to was out so I got a Marble cat instead. The Dat looks great as well. An congrats on the new however used tank. :thumbsup:

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Save your dat while you can, they grow to slow to be with a rtc. :)

congrats on the new tank and fish!

[blacktip]

Save your dat while you can, they grow to slow to be with a rtc. :)

congrats on the new tank and fish!

I was planning on leaving the dat in the 100 until such time that I am ready to move the RTC out of the 200, or until I buy another 200+ for the dat and whatever new friends I may desire for him.

[Gr8KarmaSF]

sounds like a plan, dont forget more pics! :)