want to add some new fish

[Jimster82]

Rule of thumb for our giant wet pets is max length of fish x4 for length of tank and max length of fish x2 for width. Height is dependent on the species you keep so with an RTC 2.5ft would be ok and 4ft would be plenty. To your question regarding the 125g, when he hits 12 inches it will be time for a new home. You can "control" their growth if you avoid power feeding. If you feed a healthy and varied diet you can feed every other day. I made the mistake of treating mine like an Oscar and fed it three times a day every day except Sunday. Lil 3inch bugger hit a foot in a month. Moved him to a "pond" in my garage and he hit 24 inches a few months later. He was also eating A LOT of the menu at my local fish market. Back then I lived 15 minutes from the coast and could get his meals pretty cheap. I now live in the mid-west and the grocery bill for him can match the family bill sometimes. Give them a healthy home and they'll eat it! Lol. Pools or ponds are simple and cheap but keeping them heated and filtered can eat your wallet whole. Search the forum for plywood tanks. They are your cheapest option as far as gallon per dollar and are very simple to construct. If you're handy with a welder, wood, or fiberglass the world can be yours. If not, you will be making a mount sooner than you think. Good luck! Keep asking questions. Someone will fire back or point you in the right direction.

Thanks! I'm seriously considering a pool. I've got a garage to set it up in. I definitely want to keep him! I've also been checking out the plywood tanks, people are pretty creative! I don't feed him feeders much anymore, had an ick issue! I usually feed in the evening, live worms and shrimp. I have feed him chicken liver, but I've learned to be careful because liver can mess up the water quick! He did eat my clown knife fish too!

 

[Red_Man]

I just want to clarify, are you saying that the RTC grew nearly a foot in three months?

If so, wow, that is a crazy growth rate!

As far as keeping it long term, I have seen a lot of people talk about it being too big for the aquarium trade, with the exception of a few aquarists that have the capability to build and maintain a large heated pond. I have several sources state that they are supposed to hit 4-5' (yes feet) long. If you go by the ratios that are mentioned above, you will eventually need a tank about 10' wide by 20' long (and probably at least 10' high) to keep it.

I am with you and I absolutely love that fish and wish I could have one but I don't see anyway I could provide for it they way it should be cared for. I even thought that I might pick one up when I saw it in the pet store at just 1-2" long (it looked even cuter then, lol) and just keep it for a few years, until it finally outgrew my tank. I am glad I didn't try after hearing about their crazy growth rates.

I am not trying to discourage you, especially if you have the means to keep this fish, but if you do not then I would recommend trying to find an aquarium or somebody to donate it to.

Best of luck and I really hope you are able to keep it!

1 foot in just about a month. 2ft in three. He was 5 inches +/- when I bought him. Power feeding the way I was I wasn't surprised about the growth rate. Most cats grow fast at first to contend in their local waters and not be bait fish. What shocked me is that it continued till he was 24 inches. Then I did more research about feeding them and cut back slowly to one feeding every other day. A tank to house them for life would be 8ft+ x 16ft+ x 6ft+ based on max size found in the wild. A lot of fish in the hobby never reach their full wild size and honestly it has yet to be documented how large they get in captivity. Even the ones donated to public aquariums have had their growth stunted by the previous owner. I have yet to see a captive raised RTC that is not been stunted.