After ending my previous thread with some good news I contemplated the idea of keeping the thread alive, however seeing as it was years old and based around my previous group of Cats i thought rather start fresh! A big thank you to the members who commented (thebiggerthebetter and jwd), It seems silly but it felt like a great welcome back to the community!
To keep the past short my country completely banned fish importation in 2014, previous to that only goldfish and koi were allowed in. Oscars, cats, arowanas would all be immediately refused entry. Now this as you may expect was very disheartening especially when you browse through threads of the amazing fish many of you all have here. By 2014 My previous RTC who was pushing around 22 inches or so tried to swallow a large Iredescent shark. This didnt go well and the next morning i found my beloved sumo dead in my pond. I am in no way the best fish keeper around and we all make mistakes. Needless to say i quit the hobby believing i would simply never have access to these fish again. Fast forward this year, after a split from a long term GF I thought why not dip back into things that used to make me happy, hence fishkeeping.
The only species available to purchase where angels, tetras the odd small community fish that were inbred from gene pools brought in post 2000 when the authorities didnt care less about this hobby and all species where abundant. Either way I got my tank, set it up and joined the small community of fish keepers around. Fast forward this November a good friend of mine who owns the only store where you can buy fish food, has successfully acquired a fish importation permit (This took two and a half years and relentless nagging) The authorities opened the ban and finally for the first time we have a variety available!
Knowing my love for bigger fish I got a message from him last week about 7 red tails he was allowed in. Literally only 7 in the whole country! Which he was told to only make available to responsible clients who won't let these guys go in rivers around here (we live in a tropical climate with plenty of small endemic species of fish/frogs/turtles) So A few of these guys in our ecosystem would be an absolute disaster!
Hence i present to you my little baby Red tailed. This thread Is my hope to document my journey back into keeping catfish, (I've placed my order sheet for a TSN and RTC/TSN) for the next batch due in February. Also have three ID'S right now that I hope will keep up with his growth. Final housing will be a concrete pond But until then i plan on moving him up and up in bigger tanks. I have 2 375 gallons in construction (one for my cichlids, also finally back in my hands) Pond is scheduled to be built in the coming months but i do have another sitting at home full of cons incase he grows quicker than expected. I know their needs and i will in no way treat my fish poorly.
I know i dragged on but the backstory was essential to realise how special this little guy is to me! He is living off fresh cut fish and sinking pellets for now but I know he will be growing quickly! Instagram photo is all i have left of Sumo (previous RTC) so attached just for the feels lol
Oh and i'm happy to be back!
To keep the past short my country completely banned fish importation in 2014, previous to that only goldfish and koi were allowed in. Oscars, cats, arowanas would all be immediately refused entry. Now this as you may expect was very disheartening especially when you browse through threads of the amazing fish many of you all have here. By 2014 My previous RTC who was pushing around 22 inches or so tried to swallow a large Iredescent shark. This didnt go well and the next morning i found my beloved sumo dead in my pond. I am in no way the best fish keeper around and we all make mistakes. Needless to say i quit the hobby believing i would simply never have access to these fish again. Fast forward this year, after a split from a long term GF I thought why not dip back into things that used to make me happy, hence fishkeeping.
The only species available to purchase where angels, tetras the odd small community fish that were inbred from gene pools brought in post 2000 when the authorities didnt care less about this hobby and all species where abundant. Either way I got my tank, set it up and joined the small community of fish keepers around. Fast forward this November a good friend of mine who owns the only store where you can buy fish food, has successfully acquired a fish importation permit (This took two and a half years and relentless nagging) The authorities opened the ban and finally for the first time we have a variety available!
Knowing my love for bigger fish I got a message from him last week about 7 red tails he was allowed in. Literally only 7 in the whole country! Which he was told to only make available to responsible clients who won't let these guys go in rivers around here (we live in a tropical climate with plenty of small endemic species of fish/frogs/turtles) So A few of these guys in our ecosystem would be an absolute disaster!
Hence i present to you my little baby Red tailed. This thread Is my hope to document my journey back into keeping catfish, (I've placed my order sheet for a TSN and RTC/TSN) for the next batch due in February. Also have three ID'S right now that I hope will keep up with his growth. Final housing will be a concrete pond But until then i plan on moving him up and up in bigger tanks. I have 2 375 gallons in construction (one for my cichlids, also finally back in my hands) Pond is scheduled to be built in the coming months but i do have another sitting at home full of cons incase he grows quicker than expected. I know their needs and i will in no way treat my fish poorly.
I know i dragged on but the backstory was essential to realise how special this little guy is to me! He is living off fresh cut fish and sinking pellets for now but I know he will be growing quickly! Instagram photo is all i have left of Sumo (previous RTC) so attached just for the feels lol
Oh and i'm happy to be back!
