I want to end the debate once and for all
- Thread starter Oscarboyz
- Start date
RTC: minimum tank size for me would be 1,000gallons I don't think these fish should be kept in anything smaller
TSN: minimum tank size again for me would be 1,000gallons!
These fish do get monsterous! 5 feet! And for the rtc almost as wide!
TSN: minimum tank size again for me would be 1,000gallons!
These fish do get monsterous! 5 feet! And for the rtc almost as wide!
unless you have kept one to 2 or 3' long I think it's a little hard to imagine the power of one of these cats. My hybrid is close to 3' right now, and I can't even hold onto one of the 1 lb. fish that I feed him. I grip it as tight as I can and he rips it from my hand. That said remember that i bench 385 lbs. I think I have a fairly strong grip. Not sure I will even try to hand feed once he approaches the 4' mark. He's going into the temporary 1200 gal pond made from a metal framed pool until I can get my big tank built. I am thinking of doing an outdoor insulated aquarium around the 10,000 gal mark. I figure it will take 2 years and around $8k to build, but well worth it. Going to make it completely from wood, and use it to rescue some catfish locally as well as keep some of my favorites for life. I think if you are good enough at planning, and are really determined nothing is impossible. I have seen memebers on here with full grown rtc and tsn in some massive aquariums. I would feel safe saying that those cats lead a great life if they make it to that size. I don't see a problem keeping them if you have the space, but if you don't, and don't have a full proof plan in place for the future, then don't keep it. Plain and simple. Rtc are massive brutes of fish. They are fun to keep, but I think fish like all animals need enrichment to fufill some enjoyment in their lives. I know everyone hates the idea of feeding live fish, but I love to do it occasionally. I mainly feed shrimp and frozen fresh fish, but every now and again I will get some large minnows, or suckerfish, and quarantine them for a few weeks. After they get a clean bill of health in the tank they go much to the delight of my catfish. I also put balls and various objects that they can't swallow on the top of the water and they sorta play with them or chase them. My catfish act way different now that I do these things than they did when I didn't do them. Please every just make sure you have a plan, and plenty of emergency money just in case. If you are barely scraping by yourself, then don't bother. I know some people probably don't like how I keep my fish, but they seem much calmer in the pond than in a tank. I go all out for my fish, and I think they are well kept. I do think the market is over flooded with them in most places. I am adopting a jau from a lady who rescued it when her friend tried to keep it in a 55 gal tank. A fish that gets over 250 lbs in a 55 gal. Hoping that it will be fine with my other cats in the 8-10k tank when it's finished. JMO, let's try to help people who are really dedicated to keeping this fish. If they are not serious about learning then they shouldn't be in this hobby in the first place. Anyone who wants an alternative to keeping huge aquariums, and are fine with viewing their fish from above, please get in touch with me, or go to the indoor pond section of this site. Good luck everyone.
Necrocanis is an admirable fish keeper. I think he has a lot of good things to say and knows his stuff. As far as the rtc and tsn go I just bought my first ones in february and each is about a foot long maybe bigger. They are currently in a 125 gallon tank with my clown knife, a spotted bullhead and oscar of similar size. They all only eat live food because I have never been able to get any of them except the bullhead and oscar to eat dried food. Their diets consist of minnows, nightcrawlers, crayfish, tadpoles and snails. I think it is a good variety and there is always food available to them. The crayfish also brought out the red in my rtc. He looks a lot more vibrant than he did before. The 125 gallon is a temporary tank becuase I have to move and will be building a temporary 500 gallon tank at the new house. I don't know if I agree with the whole pond thing either. If I am going to house monster cats I want to see my fish. What's the point of having such magnificent creatures if you can't see them? My feeding bill is around 150 dollars a month and slowly increasing as they get bigger. I have just recently bought another baby rtc and have plans on buying a couple more along with a couple tsn's also. My girlfriend hates fish now and says I love them more than her! LOL I plan on the final tank being a 16'X16' square tank that is 10 feet deep. It will be glass and I will build it as the main room in my house when I begin construction on the house next summer. The will be their final home to live a nice long happy life.
As far as not housing these fish I think you need to be willing to sacrifice money and definately dedicate a lot of time to properly taking care of these species if you are going to buy them. I have been in this hobby for 14 years and just started taking on the larger fish because I lost interest in small peaceful fish. I'll admit even having the experience I do I wasn't quite ready for the cost and the rate at which these fish grow.
As far as not housing these fish I think you need to be willing to sacrifice money and definately dedicate a lot of time to properly taking care of these species if you are going to buy them. I have been in this hobby for 14 years and just started taking on the larger fish because I lost interest in small peaceful fish. I'll admit even having the experience I do I wasn't quite ready for the cost and the rate at which these fish grow.
What a lot of you people need to remember is you cant give fish/ or any other animal HUMAN thoughts and FEELINGS!
For example, I noticed one person say your surprised the fish dont die of bordom in a tank. Well if you look at people in 3rd world countrys you could say how comes these people dont get bored with no playstation or computer etc. Well they dont know about that in their lifes so its not missing if you get my drift. Fish know no better its just life to them.
Any one know what I mean......
For example, I noticed one person say your surprised the fish dont die of bordom in a tank. Well if you look at people in 3rd world countrys you could say how comes these people dont get bored with no playstation or computer etc. Well they dont know about that in their lifes so its not missing if you get my drift. Fish know no better its just life to them.
Any one know what I mean......
DangerousDan;898784; said:What a lot of you people need to remember is you cant give fish/ or any other animal HUMAN thoughts and FEELINGS!
For example, I noticed one person say your surprised the fish dont die of boredom in a tank. Well if you look at people in 3rd world country's you could say how comes these people dont get bored with no playstation or computer etc. Well they dont know about that in their life's so its not missing if you get my drift. Fish know no better its just life to them.
Any one know what I mean......
i agree mostly.. however dogs get 'bored'....so i am not sure how far down the brain chain one needs to go to eliminate boredom
Nice!! 