RTC getting too big?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Although generally you can't keep many fish with RTC, in a large enough enclosure with very little to no decore you stand a better chance. For one it ensures that the RTC will not have a specific spot to defend against intrusion, it also allows other fish the opportunity to see what the RTC is up to at all times. The fish should generally not be any smaller than 75% of the mass of an adult rtc to be housed with one. If the rtc is young you shouldn't keep anything with it unless it is at least 100% of the bulk or 100-125% of the total length if not very bulky. This means keeping them with other fish would require 1000 gal or more aquariums. Probably better than that would be 2000 gal or more. Also handfeeding your rtc will have them come to associate your hand with food, and they will react more to that than to other fish. It's hard to supress instinct but there are members on here who do it. Personally I have a rtc that lives with about a dozen other fish some smaller some larger than himself. He leaves them alone. I made a mistake with my CK because my wife didn't feed the fish while I was at work, and that just happened to be the perfect sized meal for the RTC, but he couldn't get it all the way down. Now I have someone feed him once while I am out at work for five days. That's the only fish he has ever tried to eat. He's been on shrimp since I got him. Blood worms then shrimp.
 
I think it is probably time to either upgrade or let the fish go.. 5" to 14" is only 9" in a year. This is extremely slow growth for a RTC. Have you tested the water for nitrates any time recently? Good luck with the fish. Like everyone already stated eventually the cat will make a meal of all the fish.
 
Well to be honest i got my RTC about last may. And he is strictly hand fed. He 100 percent associates my hand with food and the sound of my door opening. Whenever it opens he immediatly comes to the surface so close that his whiskers stick out of the water and touch my hand. then i just shove food in his mouth over and over again. He is very healthy as you can see exept for a little gill curl but he manages wonderfully and doesnt even gasp for air except when he eats a big meal. I keep him fed all the time and here are somepics of the tank and all my fish.
 
Usually people will say that catfish will eat anythign that fits into thier mouth. Well with RTC, it seems as though they also eat fish that DONT fit into thier mouth and somehow swallow them. My friend lost two silver aro's in one night to his 14" RTC!!!
 
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Well guys i guess i will be getting rid of him....I would be willing to either A sell him for like 50 bucks or B trade him for another suitable tank mate. He is a very VERY well mannered red tail who will always come to the surface when he hears or sees you. YEs he has some gill curl. But that was there since i rescued him.

Plz reply
 
well i know if that was my rtc that tasting you described is exactly that if my fatty even touches another fish with his wiskers more than twice its a safe bet he is plotting his next terrorist act,opps one less tankmate lol
 
hey pal...i agreed with wolf said so...
RTC no tankmates...they r real monster in d fishtank...
aggressive...greedy...dirty...3 in 1 monster fish...
ruin my fishtank b4...half off my lovely fish like senegal bichir...cichla...silver aro...
end up become "dim sum" of TRC...scary mmmmm
 
My Redtail at a year old 17" ate his 10" peacock bass tankmate. Months back I could not resist the urge to get another redtail ( so cute) . Well he went through fish and tanks real quick. This weekend I had to decided to put the divider in my 55Gal or move him. Mainly because he acquired a taste for any type of food that went into the tank so none of my other fish had a chance of eating. So Last night I put him with my 18" rtc and my 20" tsn. I'm hoping my Big RTC doesn't choke on him. We'll see when I get home tonight. My TSN was a little annoyed because the new RTC went to his side of the tank and under his Wood structure. I find the toughest thing is all their personalities, you never realize the interactions and the hierarchy that goes into the lives of fish. I realized over the last year that when it came to the RTC, never say to yourself I'll move him soon, the next day fish will be missing.
 
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