Please help with albino channel cat

[AnDr3w]

He's really been bothering me lately. He was my first fish and seems to be doing great. He eats like a pig but just isn't growing fast at all. All these channels on this site are huge! I got mine at 1.5 inches when he was a baby. Now, 7 monthes later, hes like 7 inches. Is this slow growth rate normal. He was in a 29 gallon tank until he was 6 inches, which was like 4.5 months he was in there total. He is now in a 75 and has been in there like 2.5 months, and only grew and inch. Can some one please help me.????

 

[stotty]

He's really been bothering me lately. He was my first fish and seems to be doing great. He eats like a pig but just isn't growing fast at all. All these channels on this site are huge! I got mine at 1.5 inches when he was a baby. Now, 7 monthes later, hes like 7 inches. Is this slow growth rate normal. He was in a 29 gallon tank until he was 6 inches, which was like 4.5 months he was in there total. He is now in a 75 and has been in there like 2.5 months, and only grew and inch. Can some one please help me.????

The way to get any fish to grow fast is a big tank regular water changes warmer water and plenty of oxygenation. Even though the myth of a fish grows only as large as the tank is junk BUT you can still stunt a fish because of water conditions or stress. My yellow tail was feeding no problem in the 6 ft and kept him self to him self, since going into the pond the growth rate has improved dramatically even to the eye in the short time he has been in there he has grown 2". My channel cat is in my out door pond and the growth of this fish has been slow he is 18” and has probable grown 1” in a year but ½ the year its so cold he slows down and he has compertion with the carp.

 

[AnDr3w]

The way to get any fish to grow fast is a big tank regular water changes warmer water and plenty of oxygenation. Even though the myth of a fish grows only as large as the tank is junk BUT you can still stunt a fish because of water conditions or stress. My yellow tail was feeding no problem in the 6 ft and kept him self to him self, since going into the pond the growth rate has improved dramatically even to the eye in the short time he has been in there he has grown 2". My channel cat is in my out door pond and the growth of this fish has been slow he is 18” and has probable grown 1” in a year but ½ the year its so cold he slows down and he has compertion with the carp.

Right but I had my parameters in check and water changed every week tho.

 

[sandtiger]

So he grew like 5" in 7 months? Sounds like a pretty speedy growth rate IMO. Do you have long term plans for this fish, it won't last in a 75g for long.

 

[necrocanis]

That growth rate sounds good to me. I have had my two for 3 months and they have grown like 2 inches. They eat like pigs, and I maintain the water params to the T! Not all catfish grow super fast. Channel cats live a long, long, long time, and take time to mature. If you have a 30"+ fish he is probably ancient. 2 1/2-3 1/2' is about all that can be expected out of this species, and depending on the individual this may take many years/decades! Their larger cousins the north american blue, and flathead catfish get much larger and grow much faster, but still much slower than tropical catfish. A rtc probably grows 3-4 times as quick under optimal conditions.

 

[AnDr3w]

Oh thanks! lol. I thought they grow like an inch a month because theyre big when there older. Thanks for telling me.

 

[santoury]

I've raised some, and their growth varies. I've had speed demons, and I've had slowpokes... I don't think you have anything to worry about, as long as he's growing. And be thankful he's a slow grower, trust me! lol

 

[awdawg]

I can attest to that.. I have a TSN that is angering me with his annoyingly slow growth rate, in an ver filtered 75 gallon with only a few convicts in it...I swear I bought him at about 1.5 inches in november, and he is now only about 3.5 inches or so...

 

[AnDr3w]

I can attest to that.. I have a TSN that is angering me with his annoyingly slow growth rate, in an ver filtered 75 gallon with only a few convicts in it...I swear I bought him at about 1.5 inches in november, and he is now only about 3.5 inches or so...

You sir are the lucky one. Mine grew from 4 inches to 9 inches in 1.5 months, while eating 80 bux worth of fish. He was an ass hole.

 

[necrocanis]

my tsn for 3 months, bought him at 3 inches, and now he is about 12 1/2 or 13". That is exceptionally slow growth on your's though. I've had three they all grew similar, but all fish are pretty much individulistic when it comes to growth rates, but some predominantly grow faster than others.