RTC Gill Covers?

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RTCLover86

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2010
77
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Illinois
Ok so the boyfriend got me a 2 little redtail catfish the other week at our LFS, they were both about 3/4 in long when we got them...I was on vacation in Florida when he had purchased them. He threw them in our 29 that houses our 2 in long puffer (which usually shows no interest in other fish). When I arrived home we had set up a 29 gallon just for the two of them to live in till we could throw them both in a spare 55gal. The day before we got ready to put them in their own 29 gallon tank, the puffer bit into the tiny one and ripped his gil cover clean off along with damaging his fin. I moved both of them into their own 29 that night in fear that the puffer would kill him. He was eating and swimming fine, even though his left fin was of no use. The next day when i went to feed him, his fin was gone as well. He is eating and swimming around still, it hasnt really seemed to affect him at all....but i did notice the other one is growing alot faster then he is now....I was just wondering since this happened when he was so small if his gill cover might grow back at least a little bit, because I know they dont grow back normally. And I know his fin is gone for good as well. I guess what I am asking is if, there will be any complications as he grows up, because right now he doesnt seem to mind it. I feel terrible for him :(, but he still looks to be happy as a clam!
 
Yes, he/her will be more prone to gill parasites, little gas bubbles (forgot the name of it) that will get caught in the gills and turn them brown....Crap for got the name. Anyways, Alittle more care is involved in keeping BIG cats (like yours will be in the coming months) that acquires gill curl, damaged gills, ETC. Water clarity, cleanness, stable water parameters, consistent temperatures and so on will help reduce infection, parasites, and so on.

Any pictures of the little guy/gal? And before any body starts saying you need a bigger tank/pond.....I'll say it first, You're going to need a larger tank/pond.
 
I have a 1400gal pond in the house, and i already have an 18in RTC....I will work on getting pictures tomorrow, hes not one for the camera tho, I tried a couple days ago when it happened!
 
RTCLover86;4489807; said:
I have a 1400gal pond in the house, and i already have an 18in RTC....I will work on getting pictures tomorrow, hes not one for the camera tho, I tried a couple days ago when it happened!
Just read your post on "RTC and other monster cats" thread....Disregard comment about the bigger tank/pond.
 
lol ^_^
 
So Since the last time I have posted, the little guy has grown ALOT.....im proud to say that his gill cover has in fact grown back alittle bit, his gills are no longer showing, he seems to be doing perfectly fine without his fin and his normal gill cover. He is almost as big as his sibling that he is being raised with. They are both growing very fast and very active! Just wanted to post an update!
 
What kind of puffer was that?
 
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