Should I risk a TSN

[scarysdad]

I'm seriously considering getting a TSN for my 7ft x 27 x 28 tank...don't think tank size will be too much of a problem but my current tankmates might be....mainly cichlids the smallest being a 5" Con.
Obviusly it would seem a no-brainer once the TSN gets up there in size bye -bye Con and Salvini(everybody else is at least 7-8") but is it as cut and dried as that. If I got this cat it would be fed on the same diet as my Lima(10") of pellets prawns and frozen blood worm. If raised on this kind of diet from young would that not suppress the 'predatory instinct' if I keep it well fed....

Opinions welcome...
Oh....while I remember to ask what size do these fish 'actually' attain in 'normal' large aquaria...I have seen a 36" specimen in a 10ft tank is this a rarity or common place.....
Thanks

 

[bukster]

can never say for sure. but in my case i've been feeding my larger cats for some time now by hand. they rarely ever even consider anything not in my hand food and wait for me.

 

[necrocanis]

It's not a matter of if, but when. Large catfish become a little more picky once they get huge. If they don't feel like eating on the day you feed them, then you might have to worry about tank mates becomming food, plus in a tank that size territory is another concern. You will eventually need a larger tank. Realistically they can attain 3'-3 1/2' to 4' if kept properly. All your other fish would be just snacks at that size, and this fish tends to be more skittish than other pims such as rtc. I always recommend that you go for the same requirements as a rtc because they can attain almost the same size if not larger depending on the species of tsn you have. They need lots of swimming room because they become spooked and can break their mouth on the glass or bust the glass at a large size. It happens more than you might think. They are powerful swimmers. Go for a pond if anything. Your tank is a great growout. That would probably be ok for a year or so, but you will need to have a plan for after that. I've had slow growers and faster ones. I have 1 14" that is almost a year old, and another 12" that is only 5 months old, and a 5" one that is 1 month old. You see the progression? As I learn more about this cat's habbits and what foods make it the healthiest and fastest growth the better I do at raising them. Ask tons of questions, and go the pond route unless you plan on a larger aqaurium. Trust me broken tsn are not a good thing to have, plus even if you accustom him to eating prepared foods, that preditory instinct will always be there, and trust me tsn are very predatory!

 

[scarysdad]

Looks like I will go back to my original choices of either Tigrinnus or Juruense....thanks for the help....

 

[rlheugel]

It would happen sooner than you think! LOL