I currently have a 4" rtc in a small grow out tank until he's big enough for my 120. I am going to get a Megalodoras irwini soon and I would like to know that my rtc won't eat him. The irwini is 3". Has anyone kept these two species together before? Feel free to share any and all opinions.
Rtc compatibility
- Thread starter Jdj211
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Have not kept Megalodoras irwini before but have had and still have RTC. Nothing grows as fast as the RTC, that I have found. Even with a head start on size and feeding twice as often my TSN and Marble Achara cannot keep up with the RTC. If you want to keep these two together, I would suggest finding a new home for you RTC and stock your tank with the Megalodoras irwini and whatever else you decide. Give them time to grow and establish their territory before you get another RTC. The RTC is not aggressive but will eat anything that will fit in their mouths, including gravel, thermometers, hose lines, etc. My RTC went from 2" to 20" in less than a year and he only gets fed every 2-3 days. At 9" long his head was 3 1/2" across, so youcan imagine the mouth capacity. You can expect a healthy RTC to grow and inch or so per month till it gets to 18". Hope this helps and good luck.
Yeah RTC eventual size makes it difficult to put with tank mates. At least if your going to do it, let the Irwini grow for a while before you get the Redtail. Today marks the 17th week I've had mine and when I got him he was 4 inches and he is now pushing 14-15 easily. Not to mention he ate a 6-7 inch pbass last week after I fed him 4-6 cubes of beef heart of blood worms after his meal of cut fish......
Like snowhnter said nothing grow as fast as a rtc. After a considerable difference in size anything around seem to get victimized.
Thanks for all the responses. The irwini grows to a respectable size it self at around 2.5'. They have huge spikes and armor plates along most of their body so I would imagine them to not look so appetizing to an rtc. I was planning on keeping them separate until the irwini was about 2'. I think only somebody who has actually kept these two fish together before would know exactly how compatible they are. Any of you that have a big rtc, will a 2' fish be larger to not look like food to a 3' rtc?
Not sur about a 3' RTC eating a 2' tankmate but I have seen a 14" RTC eat a 10 oscar that was a tankmate, and as far as the spines on the irwini, unfortunately my RTC ate one of my bichirs that was loaded with dorsal spines and took it in backwards. Did not slow him down. RTC was 14" bichir was 10". Won't make that mistake again.
Yes I would like to make that a 3rd agreement on growth rate of the RTC. Seriously one of the fastest growing SOB I've ever encountered in my aqua hobby life, I'd say only second to koi. At a small size they are compatable with numerous fishes but as other mfk'rs have mentioned it will out grow all it's tank mates and eventually eat em all. Even other big cats. At small size it's ok but not when it gets bigger than it's tank mates. One of my fav cats but personally my advice is keep it by itself once it gets big or with bigger tank mates that can't fit in it's mouth only.
I've only seen one other cat that will destroy a RTC and that's the Jau ZZ. It'll never work. The RTC is not compatable with other tank mates because it will out grow and eat them eventually. The Jau ZZ is the same but with more aggression. And the Jau will destroy the RTC. Unless the RTC is 4times it's size and eats the Jau ZZ. Have seen a Jau ZZ 3times smaller than a RTC almost kill the RTC.
All in all love the RTC but eventually a loner unless you have tankmates that will literally not fit into it's mouth.
Oh had to edit only tank mate I've ever kept with either species of cat the RTC and Jau ZZ is the Niger and only because it's the same size as the RTC and Jau ZZ. Never attempted smaller niger but if they are the same size they will work they seem to cave together no prob so the megalodoras might work if they are the same size but can't guarantee once the RTC out grows it.
As for the bichir it's like a snack for those big cats even at max size it's like a huge worm for a big cat because no matter how long they will always fit the mouth of a big cat.
I've only seen one other cat that will destroy a RTC and that's the Jau ZZ. It'll never work. The RTC is not compatable with other tank mates because it will out grow and eat them eventually. The Jau ZZ is the same but with more aggression. And the Jau will destroy the RTC. Unless the RTC is 4times it's size and eats the Jau ZZ. Have seen a Jau ZZ 3times smaller than a RTC almost kill the RTC.
All in all love the RTC but eventually a loner unless you have tankmates that will literally not fit into it's mouth.
Oh had to edit only tank mate I've ever kept with either species of cat the RTC and Jau ZZ is the Niger and only because it's the same size as the RTC and Jau ZZ. Never attempted smaller niger but if they are the same size they will work they seem to cave together no prob so the megalodoras might work if they are the same size but can't guarantee once the RTC out grows it.
As for the bichir it's like a snack for those big cats even at max size it's like a huge worm for a big cat because no matter how long they will always fit the mouth of a big cat.