RTC Growth question.

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necrocanis said:
Seems like a very average growth rate to me. :) They can do more or less depending on a number of things. One must always remember that all fish are individuals and growth rates on individuals will always vary from one another.
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My 2 cents: 2.5"/month would be a super growth rate if the fish could sustain it and average 2.5"/month the whole year and reach 2.5 feet on its first birthday. Since monthly/weekly/daily growth varies, say from 0.5" in a slow month and 3"-4" in a fast month, it usually averages out just below 2" a month even for those keepers who are chasing the champion growth.

When thinking of growth, one should think longer term, not "instant" growth, because the latter can vary much. Some teens can add 6" in half year to their height - does not mean they will be grow up to be a towering NBA center in 3 years :)
 
You mentioned that eventually the rtc will go into your pond. I don't think that's a good idea unless it's really deep. I see you live in New York and that far north it's going to be a challenge for the rtc to survive during the winter.
 
It's an indoor pond that is 4 feet deep 10 feet long 10 feet wide. I'm basically growing it out for my cousin.

fishman61 said:
You mentioned that eventually the rtc will go into your pond. I don't think that's a good idea unless it's really deep. I see you live in New York and that far north it's going to be a challenge for the rtc to survive during the winter.
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thebiggerthebetter said:
My 2 cents: 2.5"/month would be a super growth rate if the fish could sustain it and average 2.5"/month the whole year and reach 2.5 feet on its first birthday. Since monthly/weekly/daily growth varies, say from 0.5" in a slow month and 3"-4" in a fast month, it usually averages out just below 2" a month even for those keepers who are chasing the champion growth.

When thinking of growth, one should think longer term, not "instant" growth, because the latter can vary much. Some teens can add 6" in half year to their height - does not mean they will be grow up to be a towering NBA center in 3 years :)
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very good point, I just wanted to make sure he wasn't being underfed/undergrowing/overfed/etc :p
 
thebiggerthebetter said:
My 2 cents: 2.5"/month would be a super growth rate if the fish could sustain it and average 2.5"/month the whole year and reach 2.5 feet on its first birthday. Since monthly/weekly/daily growth varies, say from 0.5" in a slow month and 3"-4" in a fast month, it usually averages out just below 2" a month even for those keepers who are chasing the champion growth.

When thinking of growth, one should think longer term, not "instant" growth, because the latter can vary much. Some teens can add 6" in half year to their height - does not mean they will be grow up to be a towering NBA center in 3 years :)
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:) he only gave the first month's growth. IME he got average growth for a rtc that size. I wasn't speaking of average over a long period of time. What you said applies there. Have to be more specific I guess lol. ;) I grew to 5' 7" by the time I was 12 yo, but got no more height after that just muscle. :) I understand this very well. lol. Hence I collect catfish instead of NBA trophies. I know this happens with other keepers on here as well. When I have kept rtc from small size the first month seems to get the greatest growth and it slows from there on out, with some months doing better and some worse. Generally I would expect over 2" of growth in a small rtc like the one in this thread. In the next month it may only get 2", and the next 1.5", so on, and so fourth to get an average like what you're talking about.
 
mattstevens1 said:
It's an indoor pond that is 4 feet deep 10 feet long 10 feet wide. I'm basically growing it out for my cousin.
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That sounds like an impressive pond! Please post pics of the transfer when it happens. :) that cat will feel overwhelmed with that much space while still small. :)
 
necrocanis said:
:) he only gave the first month's growth. IME he got average growth for a rtc that size. I wasn't speaking of average over a long period of time. What you said applies there. Have to be more specific I guess lol. ;) I grew to 5' 7" by the time I was 12 yo, but got no more height after that just muscle. :) I understand this very well. lol. Hence I collect catfish instead of NBA trophies. I know this happens with other keepers on here as well. When I have kept rtc from small size the first month seems to get the greatest growth and it slows from there on out, with some months doing better and some worse. Generally I would expect over 2" of growth in a small rtc like the one in this thread. In the next month it may only get 2", and the next 1.5", so on, and so fourth to get an average like what you're talking about.
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Ha-ha-ha! Good one, Cliff, about the trophies!

That clarifies it. How could I not see that you are only referring to the average growth for the FIRST month? But in any event, my prior reply was not to contradict yours at all but to augment. At least, so I saw it. Now all fell into places.

+1 on that indoor pond. Is it on MFK? If not, you and/or your cousin should start a picture thread on it, IMHO.
 
keep us updated on growth rates etc! and get some pics of the pond up :)
 
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