True Brachyplatystoma vaillantii catfish, ~12", in 4500 gal

[thebiggerthebetter]

True Brachyplatystoma vaillantii catfish, ~12", in 4500 gal, filmed Dec 2016. Great many thanks to Wesley Wong for bringing it in from Suriname. Got it Summer 2016 at ~7"-8". After it had added on a couple more inches in 240 gal, it went into a 4500 gal. In every tank it was, it was always intact and lacked even any slight damage to its fins, while other Brachyplatystoma, such as capapretum, platynemum, rosseauxii, in the same 240 gal with it bore some damage to the fins. I tentatively blame the vaillantii. In 4500 gal it appears to have relaxed a lot. It is still damage-free and still has two nice extensions on both caudal lobes, despite having a bunch of nipping tank mates. It really likes its cheap catfish farm pellets and was ~12" in Dec 2016. Now, in Mar 2017 it looks to have added another ~2".

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

An earlier video from Aug 2016 when it was ~8"-9" in 240 gal:

 

[Circa4190]

I like the massive tanks, but the lack of any stone/DW/substrate that I see in them all the time just takes it all away for me. It's just a box with water and way too many fish.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I understand the sentiment but I don't think one can generalize it like that. I've seen many large tanks with substrate and furniture. I just chose what I needed for my specific purposes. To each their own.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

May 2017 update:

 

[Chicxulub]

I love this! Brachys rule

 

[Vanammei]

Nice collections,
would really like to see the whole tank pics! what do you feed them? Cant imagine how much to spend on feeding those fish daily, lol

 

[Circa4190]

I understand the sentiment but I don't think one can generalize it like that. I've seen many large tanks with substrate and furniture. I just chose what I needed for my specific purposes. To each their own.

I totally respect that. It's your tank and your money, you will do with it what you like. On a side note, I wouldn't want to gravel vac something that large anyways.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I totally respect that. It's your tank and your money, you will do with it what you like. On a side note, I wouldn't want to gravel vac something that large anyways.

That's why you get Oxydoras and Auchenoglanis and Co - they will keep any substrate squeaky clean most of the time.

Nice collections,
would really like to see the whole tank pics! what do you feed them? Cant imagine how much to spend on feeding those fish daily, lol

You can find pics in the first two links in my signature. 50% is pellets (90% of which are catfish farm pellet and 10% are Hikari, NLS, etc.) and 50% thawed fish. $100 a month on pellets for all tanks and ponds. The fish I catch myself with a cast net.

I love this! Brachys rule

That they do. One of the reasons I call them Catfish Royalty.

 

[Circa4190]

That's why you get Oxydoras and Auchenoglanis and Co - they will keep any substrate squeaky clean most of the time.

Those guys look really cool, but I'm after the mini-monster kitty fish. I don't have the space or funds for a home large enough for the big guys...as awesome as they are. I have a few questions that you may be able to answer. Mind if I PM you?