RTC and TSN Information

**AttackFish** · 07-06-2007, 4:37 PM

Originally Posted by necrocanis;970860;

You would be fine for 2-3 years depending on the growth of the individual rtc that you get. I've seen some hit 3' in less than 3 years. I don't really know the growth rate of aros, but I do know that several members had rtc that were shorter than their aros and they ended up getting ate by the aros. Just a caution you are going to need to feed the rtc very well so that he doesn't view the aros as lunch!

Haha, the RTC will be fed plenty, I am also afraid of him seeing the aro's as lunch, but I'll watch closely and keep him well fed. 2-3 years is good enough for me, in that time I'm sure I can get a large 750-1000 gallon kiddy pool from walmart or a stock trough.

I'm so exited, I'm going to be an RTC owner!

**Bgonz** · 07-07-2007, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by AttackFish;970314;

I am building an aquarium with the dimensions of 8ft long, 3ft wide, and 2 ft tall. I was wondering how long would an RTC be able to live with the aro's in the 375 gallon tank? So what size and how long could an RTC live in a tank with 4 arowanas with a width of 3ft?

I think that tank would be fine for quite a while. I've kept a near 3' RTC in a 180 for 8 years and he was fine. Your tank should easily give a 3' RTC room to move. Yes we all know bigger is better, but that 8x3 is pretty big. From what I've witnessed a RTC can/will with NORMAL feeding grow to 3' in about 3-5 years given good conditions. Some dont seem to grow much larger in home aquariums. He then will definately eat your Aro's

JMO of course.........

bob

**AttackFish** · 07-08-2007, 3:05 AM

Well, I dont think it would be a good idea then, I would hate to have him eat my aro's, If he did, I would surely destroy him!

**necrocanis** · 07-08-2007, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by plausible;971146;

hmm i was watching people going around fishing for tsn and rtc and theres some question i wanted to ask for sometime now here it goes.
i see people catching then bring them up on the boat and take measurements and weight but what i want to know is what actually happens after that?(i have been thinking wildly if they ate the rtc LOL!

)

Sorry I missed this one. I would say that if the trips are chartered by local fishermen, then the fish are probably sold in market or are eaten. Other than that they are more than likely released. I checked out some trips to SA to fish for these amazing cats, and they all said that you couldn't bring back your catches, but that the company keeps the fish for food. I would be too sad to keep them. I'd rather see them swim off from the boat I catch them from!

**kntrygrl4lyfe** · 07-10-2007, 11:18 PM

I have a question about the rtc. What was the diet that was said to bring the red out in its tail? mine is so picky, all he will eat is bloodworm, beefheart cubes or feeders.

**necrocanis** · 07-11-2007, 8:24 AM

When I first started out I had one that I fed exclusively feeders and night crawlers because I didn't know any better. His tail was a dull red. One's that I have kept since I feed mainly shrimp. This really brings out the brilliancy. I also supplement their diets with color enhancing chichlid pellets. The floating type is always best for me. Blood worms work well for smaller individuals. I feed mainly worms I catch in the yard, shrimp, krill, bloodworms, fish fillets, and the ocasional insect.

**blackjaguar** · 07-11-2007, 7:51 PM

Ditto here. Mine grew from 2" into a 21" chunk of friendly wet pet in just under 12 months. As soon as he (or she?) could handle whole frozen uncooked shrimp his tail became the brightest red orange. Now I feed him shrimp twice a week alternating with fish fillets and night crawlers. He also goes nuts over frozen peas and once week I hide several of the new Hikari Massivore Delite pellets in a rolled up fish fillet.

**kntrygrl4lyfe** · 07-11-2007, 11:04 PM

Oh ok thanks. Yeah I got mine around 1.5 inches, and a month and a half later he was already 7-8

**TLkmDN** · 07-11-2007, 11:06 PM

hi this is my fave topic cause i love catfish. i personally have 2 huge RTC (about 3 feet each but that was 3 months ago), 2 medium sized TSN (about 2 feet each) and 2 three feet knifefish all living in harmony in my 18 foot outdoor pond in malaysia. i have a spare 8 foot by 3 foot by 2.5 deep tank which i want to use for keeping a pair of TSNxRTC hybrid pups to eventually join the big six that i have in the outdoor pond. in a tank of that size how long does it take for them to reach at least 2 foot each?

**TLkmDN** · 07-11-2007, 11:12 PM

i will post pictures of my pond and my fish in the near future because im stuck in perth cause i had surgery on my left foot so im stuck here until the end of my next schooling term.