RTC help

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H

Hansonc

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 23, 2012
140
0
0
dunedin, florida
I've been seeing videos and pictures of big tanks with no gravel or sand, just bare tanks that have massive rtcs and hybrids. I like the way they look. I've been thinking about taking everything out of my tanks and putting one big piece of driftwood in, but I don't understand how the bottoms stay so clean? Would I have to clean it daily myself?


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With my RTCs I like to keep gravel in it. I also do a few living plants and do 25 gallon bigger filter than the tank requires. Id highly reccomend drift wood or caves if you can fine one big enough ( I use reptile caves) . I feel the larger tanks with more hiding places and driftwood and gravel allows the catfish to act more like a catfish :) gives it more personality. Keep a good feeding schedule and they will keep everyone in awe with their personality

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The debris usually go into the filter, either because there is a strong water agitation/flow from the pump(s) and bubbler(s) and because the large fish agitate the water when swimming around. To minimize the maintenance, bottom drains are often used. Otherwise, perhaps it'd still require frequent vacuuming, which BTW is usually done for aesthetic reasons before filming one's tanks... as people aim to impress and a dirty tank does the opposite.
 
Thank you!! I've got a 15" RTC and he's in a 125 with about 150 gallons of filtration, and 2 14" bubblers. 1 on each end. He eats 2-3 times a week. Ive had him since he was about 5". I feed him smelt, chicken liver (that's his "snack" since it is a little tougher for them to digest) lunch meat, turkey, gets small chunks of steak or pork or hot dog as a treat just to add a little variety every now and then and not often due to same reason as chicken liver, he loves shrimp, not ghost shrimp or live bait shrimp, like shrimp from the grocery store lol, and tilapia. I know the hotdogs can spike nitrate levels so he probably has only eaten 2-3 full hotdogs since I've had him which is about 6-8 months in a 125. Don't thing that'll do much to the water.. Lol. When I first got him he got goldfish feeders, then I quickly realized they do the same thing to the rtcs as oscars. (give diseases, no nutrient benefits, etc) and stopped. He occasionally will get a crawfish or two as a treat. He comes to the top to eat out of my hand every time no matter what I feed him that day. I also have a 3" RTC and 3" RTCxTSN in a 20 gallon with 30 gallon filtration, 2-5" bubble bars on each end and they get mainly ghost shrimp 3 times a week. Every now and then theyll get a few pieces of chicken liver, smelt, lunch meat, etc.. I haven't given them any worms yet but I plan on trying meal worms or blood worms soon! I've lays been told the more variety you feed them, the better off you are in the long run for health reasons with the fish and also it's easier to have those thing instead of running out and having to buy that one thing all the time. Thanks for your input and I'll try to post pics soon! Also if anyone knows anything else they can be fed, please post on here!


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Forgot one thing, I've seen videos of them eating deer meat which I've heard is good for them. Which also makes it easier on me because I'm an avid hunter /(*o*)/ hahha. Also what makes some tails extremely red? Mines a light red or pinkish orange tint to it. I want it blood red! Thanks again!!


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Hansonc said:
Here's a few pics from about a month ago, you can see when I feed him, I feed him :) haha

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Beautiful RTC! To get the tail red increase some feeding of Krill or shrimp I swear it will make a big difference! I use them as treats every other day :) my cats love it :)

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Sarertnoc Kram said:
Nice looking tank what size us gallons is it?


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Its a 125. Cant think of much else to feed to increase redness. Usually as soon as I hit the nightime LED moonlights ill throw some shrimp in so the hunger and hunting mechanism kicks in and it will eat them:)

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