Q on RTC long term growth rate

[toehead11183]

I have been watching everyone with their RTCs to get a feel on how they grow over time. I know they will explode at about 1" a week for the first foot or so but how fast do they grow after that? I saw Ph33n0m has had great progress with his over the last weeks but they are being powerfed. Redtailnobs has gone from 3-9" is no time but for those who have them over 12"...do they slow down considerably? If not power fed, and say fed a healthy meaty diet: (i feed my cats krill, oyster meat, shrimp, sinking pellets and live fish) and give it clean water and heat, how long would it take to reach 24"? I know everything is a factor but i'm just trying to see how fast they grow after 12 or so.
If i dont over feed and keep the temp down around 72* i should be able to slow its growth. Dont start flaming: im not going to starve or freeze it out. I just want to maximize the time before i have to get a pond.

 

[Ph33n0m]

id say when they hit around the 16" mark they start to slow down considerably. but who knows... mine are averaging about half an inch a week and about 1.5-2 inches a month

 

[Ph33n0m]

i wouldnt put them in that low of temp tho.. i had mine in 78 degrees and they only ate once every other day. so i would say maybe keep it at 77-78 at the lowest. but goodluck with the rtc. keep us updated with pics

 

[toehead11183]

Planetcatfish.com posted that they can be kept at these temps: (21.0-26.0°C or 69.8-78.8°F) I'll probably start at 78* and drop a degree a week and watch how its doing. I might stop around 74*

 

[Ph33n0m]

how often are you wanting to feed them?

 

[toehead11183]

I'll probably feed them every other day til they reach 5", then 2-3 times a week till they reach 10" then once a week after that. does that sould like they will be eating enough?