The RTC in the first pic may well have been male(a little dark in colour for one), they do not always get so big and are much harder to keep alive because they do not tolerate even slightly poor conditions,in fact most males dont last long at all, my local retailer had a tank of 30 or so and only two or three were likely male.tiger shovelnose cats cope with most water types , conditions and change because they migrate to breed, it is my theory that red tails breed then the female migrates to raise the young leaving the males behind ,hence youngsters and females are more adaptable than even twelve inch males. i was horrified to be told that someone who writes for the uk's most read fishkeeping mag had a 5 year old at 19" thats stunted!! still better to have a slightly stunted old boy or girl than to fail to keep it alive??
Stirling university dept of aquaqculture a few years ago looked after a baby rtc for a friend of mine, they got him at a few inches ,kept him over the summer and returned him at 24"+!!!!! they had another at five feet, she was breathtaking her head was close to 20" WIDE fed on tilapia and clarius.
Stirling university dept of aquaqculture a few years ago looked after a baby rtc for a friend of mine, they got him at a few inches ,kept him over the summer and returned him at 24"+!!!!! they had another at five feet, she was breathtaking her head was close to 20" WIDE fed on tilapia and clarius.
