My new RTC

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blacktip

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 22, 2005
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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.

blacktip_rtc_01.jpg

blacktip_rtc_02.jpg

blacktip_rtc_03.jpg

blacktip_rtc_dat.jpg
 
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!
 
SWEEET red tail like the Dat also!!!
 
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)
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
blacktip said:
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.
 
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.
 
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