@ Asainleful for saying "Okay, he has some minor problems, the fish isn't going to die rapidly or something."
Sadly though they do in the hobby. Ive heard vets say more then 50% die within in the 1st 18 mnths when sold to private owners. But lets not speculate I'll share an actual story. At my LFS "Pet Zoo" in commack, ny they had a 3" baby RTC. I remember staring at it and thinking how it was near the same as mine wishing I could buy another. Within in 2-3 days it was gone. About 4 weeks later I saw it was back but skinny as could be with its gill completely curled outwards to the point he could not close his gills. The owner told me someone bought it with a 29 gallon tank which had a couple of pleco's and loaches. Planning to get a bigger tank he put the RTC in the 29. Two days later he bought a new c160 marineland filter and was doing water changes ever other day. He also like most people do put about 5 feeder goldfish, which only 2 got eaten. The owner warned him about over-feeding, like most though he did not listen. With his biological load increased by the goldfish and the hungry RTC his ammonia spiked. Even with the better filter not haven bacterial colonies established caused the ammonia to become deadly. Though everything in his tank was fine but ammonia kept rising. When he came in to test his water and return the fish "screaming it was sick" his ammonia was higher then the API charts could read and his PH was below 6. The RTC produced a ton of toxins from constant feeding and acid from regurg'n parts of the goldfish, so even though his tank was cycled it couldnt handle the bio load being inceased by the RTC and goldfish. 99% of people who buy them small end up feeding them for enjoyment and growing them big. Which in the right environment is alot of fun, but in a small 40 gal is deadly. To buy a baby RTC ideal would be to have a 100 gal cycled fishless with ammonia to ensure it can handle high levels. Along with sometime of plant growth to absord nitrates and raise ph. Not only is it way better for the RTC but you cant powerfeed it wory free and have time to set-up bigger. I went to make a video of the RTC today but was too late, tommorrow I will post a video so you can see for yourself the damage inproper care can do to these awesome fish. BTW the owner said most likely the RTC wont survive and cracked a joke " I see every RTC is sell twice, when they sell it and when it gets given back. No other fish in the guys tank died, but the RTC most likely will without surgery and extensive care. I decided to buy and pay for the surgery which is 420$ by a well known vet who makes house calls. Since the LFS is only selling it for 10$ it obviously would be put-down if i decide not to buy it. This rtc's pain and suffering could of been avoided by his owner reading a simple book before he bought it. If this is happened near me then it happens ever where. I will post the vid tomorrow and updates on the surgery.
So in short your 100% wrong, RTC die every day by poor maintence with less then 50% survival rate over 18 months. RTC are always at risk of "gill curl" add to the fact they increase toxins and acid at a heavy rate and you got yourself a deadly situation. Espcially when you put them in a small tank. Not only does this suck for the RTC but it will make what should be an awesome experience for the owener into a stressful nightmare. I can only imagine the extreme arogance and lack of care for animal well being when people like YOU buy these fish with out educating yourselves about them. It amazes me how irresponsible people are when it comes to the dedication keeping a monster fish requires. How do you justify it? Do you think your doing something good for the fish? STOP ASKING FOR ADVICE AND READ A BOOK. The difference between a "novice" and a "fish guru" is about 3x 300 page books. I mean you bought this fish and you dont even know the facts about its 1# illness. You posted you want to buy arrowana, do you know babies can die from minor ph shifts and are extremely delicate as juvi's. Prob not, though you would of if you would of read a book. But reading a book is hard and boring compared to buying new fish, setting up decor and tank, or going to the LFS. Its not a time factor either, for if you spent 1\4 of the time reading as you did posting or asking people from the LFS you would have twice the knowledge. Asking around other people though is more convient to you as you can reject all advice that doesnt suit you and take in the stuff that does. Really your 90% of your questions will be answered within the 1st book, "The Naturlist Guide to Freshwater". Then you can buy a book specific to keeping larger fish which will tell give you accurate info on how to care and maintence your fish. Literally 90% of question i see asked on this site by people who own "monster fish" can be answered within the first 2 books, but people dont get these fish to care, they get them to entertain. How can you take proper care of a monster fish without the right knowledge, knowledge not found on this site or at the LFS. The only advice you should take whole is from a vet with experience in fish. Though i might be going to hard as a it could be just lack of common sense. I promise that RTC will rip the kiddie pool and not only will his house be a mess but his catfish die. So yes I do object to people like you and him who take on the of owning this fish decpite warnings and then are to cheap to house it properly or to arrogant to pick up a book and educate themselves.
Before you get the fish tank get the tank and knowledge. Would you go into a car dealer with knowing nothing taking all his advice, welll why do you go into the fish store doing the same.
Sadly though they do in the hobby. Ive heard vets say more then 50% die within in the 1st 18 mnths when sold to private owners. But lets not speculate I'll share an actual story. At my LFS "Pet Zoo" in commack, ny they had a 3" baby RTC. I remember staring at it and thinking how it was near the same as mine wishing I could buy another. Within in 2-3 days it was gone. About 4 weeks later I saw it was back but skinny as could be with its gill completely curled outwards to the point he could not close his gills. The owner told me someone bought it with a 29 gallon tank which had a couple of pleco's and loaches. Planning to get a bigger tank he put the RTC in the 29. Two days later he bought a new c160 marineland filter and was doing water changes ever other day. He also like most people do put about 5 feeder goldfish, which only 2 got eaten. The owner warned him about over-feeding, like most though he did not listen. With his biological load increased by the goldfish and the hungry RTC his ammonia spiked. Even with the better filter not haven bacterial colonies established caused the ammonia to become deadly. Though everything in his tank was fine but ammonia kept rising. When he came in to test his water and return the fish "screaming it was sick" his ammonia was higher then the API charts could read and his PH was below 6. The RTC produced a ton of toxins from constant feeding and acid from regurg'n parts of the goldfish, so even though his tank was cycled it couldnt handle the bio load being inceased by the RTC and goldfish. 99% of people who buy them small end up feeding them for enjoyment and growing them big. Which in the right environment is alot of fun, but in a small 40 gal is deadly. To buy a baby RTC ideal would be to have a 100 gal cycled fishless with ammonia to ensure it can handle high levels. Along with sometime of plant growth to absord nitrates and raise ph. Not only is it way better for the RTC but you cant powerfeed it wory free and have time to set-up bigger. I went to make a video of the RTC today but was too late, tommorrow I will post a video so you can see for yourself the damage inproper care can do to these awesome fish. BTW the owner said most likely the RTC wont survive and cracked a joke " I see every RTC is sell twice, when they sell it and when it gets given back. No other fish in the guys tank died, but the RTC most likely will without surgery and extensive care. I decided to buy and pay for the surgery which is 420$ by a well known vet who makes house calls. Since the LFS is only selling it for 10$ it obviously would be put-down if i decide not to buy it. This rtc's pain and suffering could of been avoided by his owner reading a simple book before he bought it. If this is happened near me then it happens ever where. I will post the vid tomorrow and updates on the surgery.
So in short your 100% wrong, RTC die every day by poor maintence with less then 50% survival rate over 18 months. RTC are always at risk of "gill curl" add to the fact they increase toxins and acid at a heavy rate and you got yourself a deadly situation. Espcially when you put them in a small tank. Not only does this suck for the RTC but it will make what should be an awesome experience for the owener into a stressful nightmare. I can only imagine the extreme arogance and lack of care for animal well being when people like YOU buy these fish with out educating yourselves about them. It amazes me how irresponsible people are when it comes to the dedication keeping a monster fish requires. How do you justify it? Do you think your doing something good for the fish? STOP ASKING FOR ADVICE AND READ A BOOK. The difference between a "novice" and a "fish guru" is about 3x 300 page books. I mean you bought this fish and you dont even know the facts about its 1# illness. You posted you want to buy arrowana, do you know babies can die from minor ph shifts and are extremely delicate as juvi's. Prob not, though you would of if you would of read a book. But reading a book is hard and boring compared to buying new fish, setting up decor and tank, or going to the LFS. Its not a time factor either, for if you spent 1\4 of the time reading as you did posting or asking people from the LFS you would have twice the knowledge. Asking around other people though is more convient to you as you can reject all advice that doesnt suit you and take in the stuff that does. Really your 90% of your questions will be answered within the 1st book, "The Naturlist Guide to Freshwater". Then you can buy a book specific to keeping larger fish which will tell give you accurate info on how to care and maintence your fish. Literally 90% of question i see asked on this site by people who own "monster fish" can be answered within the first 2 books, but people dont get these fish to care, they get them to entertain. How can you take proper care of a monster fish without the right knowledge, knowledge not found on this site or at the LFS. The only advice you should take whole is from a vet with experience in fish. Though i might be going to hard as a it could be just lack of common sense. I promise that RTC will rip the kiddie pool and not only will his house be a mess but his catfish die. So yes I do object to people like you and him who take on the of owning this fish decpite warnings and then are to cheap to house it properly or to arrogant to pick up a book and educate themselves.
Before you get the fish tank get the tank and knowledge. Would you go into a car dealer with knowing nothing taking all his advice, welll why do you go into the fish store doing the same.
