My experience, albeit smaller than W13's, agrees with the regular RTC size statistics. But only lately have I started to get a fair glimpse into RTC growth variability firsthand. Out of my current 10, which I have had anywhere from 4 to 1.5 years, three or four have broken 30" and none of them I had the longest, all 1.5 years with me (rescues). Three are close to 36" but can't say precisely.Def. not a semi s.b, but i agree with ya... 6" to 18" in 6 months is pretty "standard" i.m.o. for any reg. rtc ive kept over the years... they usually slow down a bit around 20-24" and are actually pretty hard to get over 30" i.m.e.... Although ive read these xanthic/golden stay a bit smaller than there reg. gened counterparts id expect atleast 30-32" range eventually... Very rare to see a reg. rtc reach even 36" in captivity tho.. Lots of people will say they do...but difinitive documentation of this is seldom seen and people exaggerate. In all my years...ive seen 1 rtc at or over 36" in person... It was grown by A Anythingfish a.k.a. Ted...and transported here to Ohio by another member. Space is key to get one over 30" when there "young" and still growin quick, even 600-1000gal systems are lacking to see the true potential of one of these guys. Ive had them for up to 8yrs and they were still a mere 26-28" in a 1700gal pool. If u want a catfish over 4' in captivity.. get a wels lol.
I see that with our peers keeping RTC for a long time in large enclosures that half or more refuse to grow but some have been shown to reach 3.5'-4' mark by DLkm (13,000 to 60,000 gal pond), Michael Bryce (arapaimag; has grown many of RTCs in 52,000 gal), Taksan (a pair of 3.5'-ers in 15,000 gal for 27 years!), and Jeff V victor448 . The last one was grown in 500 gal BTW to 3.5' after 11 years.
