RTC swallowing issue?

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M

Mayo

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 17, 2008
753
5
48
Australia
Im chasing a bit of advise form fellow RTC keeps or similar cats if anyone can help me out?

Basically just curious on maximum time u should allow the fish to spend eating/trying to down another whole live fish without assisting, so basically im worried about the choke factor lol
 
What do you mean about whole live fish? If you're thinking about a whole salmon as 'whole live fish' well you know no can do, hahaha.
Kiddin, if you're thinking about fish which will sized to 6" below it will be an easy gulp. Ofcourse it would be depending on how big your RTC is. But mind you, as long as it can be look edible, it's food for the vacuum.
 
im talking as in ive been at home and for the last 6-7hours he has being trying to get down a fish and looks to be struggling and really heavy breathing etc......

anyways i just pulled him out and to the fish out of his mouth ill post pics
 
strollo22 said:
I guarantee it was the shape of that fish causing the problem. Feed flatter more streamlined looking fish and you won't have this issue


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Agreed. There've been quite a few threads on RTC choking on oscars and other similar shaped fish that are just a bit too large to choke down.

Looks like a silver dollar, was that a feeder or a tankmate? Either way i'd make sure he doesn't try again with another one until he can eat a fish that size easily.

How's your RTC doing?
 
Agreed with the above - if a prey is wider than the throat or prickly, spiny, etc. you are risking a choke. It is not worth it.

But let's not confuse this with gradual digestion scenario (which this one isn't), wherein the fish fits in the throat and mouth ok but is too long to all fit into the stomach. So it will spend some time in the mouth being digested part by part and swallowed part by part.
 
yeah silver dollar are tank mates designed to be sacrificed.... he has eaten 2 before with no problems these are to just keep him busy away from my bass/oscar/toga untill i build his new tank which im in the proccess of doing now
 
TBH imo bala sharks and similar "torpedo" shaped fish are the best dithers when you worry about predation vs just a whipping boy. and BTW Nice save!
 
MonsterMinis said:
TBH imo bala sharks and similar "torpedo" shaped fish are the best dithers when you worry about predation vs just a whipping boy. and BTW Nice save!
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thx mate, hopefully i can get my pond built now before i have to worry again lol
 
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