My pics are a mix over the last 5 years. Here's actually a link to another post I put up about this exact kitty from other older pics, which shows different marble coloring, and how much he's changed and the "children" kitty adopted and protected for over a year (pictus cats)
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...240904-my-quot-kitty-fish-quot-achara-catfish
"kitty fish" has eaten many, many mates, I believe the most expensive was $100 or 110...the coolest was a panda fish, although my hubby might beg to differ. Kitty's currently in the 265g, but that's definitely NOT a minimum for life, as I originally thought, even as it was intended for only by itself...
Has T5 Glo lighting, but only when I want super lighting. Other than that, use regular chandleior lighting in the dining room (yes, dining room). No heaters, at room temp, which thermostat kept at 73, tank reads at 75....
I had sand in there, but kitty kept swooping it to one side. Took it out. Ph would get too low. Put it in again to raise. Put rtc in tank. kitty swooped rtc under the sand as to say the tank was his/hers....round and round kitty chased the poor rtc. Now it's a different story=nobody's tank. But, bare bottom works best. Doesn't clog the overflow corners with yuckies. Those are a pain to clean too as this tank is a reef ready.
Food? kitty starved for 1st month. Brought him home at 6 inches. Was biggest fish we ever had, came home from lfs in a box. Refused anything and everything. Musta been on live. Eventually hubby throw in HOTDOG!!! That's all kitty ate for a few months and grew FAST. Long story, now kitty readily eats no more hotdog, but any commercial food and frozen shrimp, and any other frozen food. Also have to watch out for certain live fishies.
Anytime a fish dies from the other 5 tanks, we throw them in this tank for the cats to eat. At least saves us on a meal, if the fish was a considerable size.
It's hard to measure the cat now, but looking at the tank and getting the tape measure out when he's still, seems to be 29" at 5 years with us. I have to look back on my old threads to see exactly how big he was when we brought him home.
Filtration is a 30 sump, FX5 well stocked, UV light.
Achara and the rtc have paired up very well in the tank, the rtc is a little bit smaller, but when they swim together, the rtc is right on top of the achara, in sync with the achara if that makes sense. The achara also rests on top and underneath the rtc...I'm hoping...once they get booted to the bigger tank when it's ready...
Tankmates are a RTC, algae eater and the 2 original barbs seen in the pics from the schoal of 6....3 other were eaten...1t was "destroyed" by me in the snow, well deep freezed then fed to kitty as it was picking on kitty, who had a bad wound that wouldn't let it heal. I know, mean, but I got mad. Really mad.
