I've actually already got him hand feeding now... it just took the right incentive... 
Have you had any digging from yours?
Have you had any digging from yours?
Yet ANOTHER RTC - Whats happening???
- Thread starter basslover34
- Start date
Ok Quick update on Buster... New measurement for the day... he's reach 5 1/4" That’s an inch and a half in less than 15 days since he didn't gain at all during the first week. He's gotten a LOT wider and thicker though ... thinking of changing his name to fathead!
On another note, Buster has learned some new tricks
Trick number one…He now plays follow the stick- I have a stick that I use to push around the sand in his tank as everyone in the tank seems to like to change the décor as often as they can… I think they do it to see me work… Evil little basssss terds! All he does it chases it around…then stops once he catches it…then chases till he catches… kind of cute but also annoying when your trying to do something and have him blocking you at every turn.
Trick number two… burning the feeders with the heater so they are slow enough for him to catch. He’s cooked one till it dropped to the tank bottom that was his first taste of a feeder… then just after dinner tonight he decided that the first one was over cooked and cornered another one burned its tail off and let it out for some hunting practice… he did a good job … ok not really… he tried to eat it tail first the first time… that caused a scale cloud in the tank…the Feeder got away and I thought oh crap poor little half eaten guy doesn’t have a prayer… sure enough Buster circles around and swallows 90% of it in one shot so all you see is a little burned nub wriggling like crazy in Busters Smile
On another note, Buster has learned some new tricks
Trick number one…He now plays follow the stick- I have a stick that I use to push around the sand in his tank as everyone in the tank seems to like to change the décor as often as they can… I think they do it to see me work… Evil little basssss terds! All he does it chases it around…then stops once he catches it…then chases till he catches… kind of cute but also annoying when your trying to do something and have him blocking you at every turn.
Trick number two… burning the feeders with the heater so they are slow enough for him to catch. He’s cooked one till it dropped to the tank bottom that was his first taste of a feeder… then just after dinner tonight he decided that the first one was over cooked and cornered another one burned its tail off and let it out for some hunting practice… he did a good job … ok not really… he tried to eat it tail first the first time… that caused a scale cloud in the tank…the Feeder got away and I thought oh crap poor little half eaten guy doesn’t have a prayer… sure enough Buster circles around and swallows 90% of it in one shot so all you see is a little burned nub wriggling like crazy in Busters Smile
Monster in the making!!! Is your wife still interested in him. That's pretty cool. If only you knew all you had to do was bring home a cute little RTC to perk her interest in your fish...
I let my girlfriend handfeed my RTC, whenever she's there during feeding time....
I let my girlfriend handfeed my RTC, whenever she's there during feeding time....HAHA ... No doubt, I would have gotten one along time ago if I thought she would respond with well to having the RTC
Ok well since we're coming up on the 6 weeks of having him there is the manditory checking in and letting everyone know whats up with this little fella... Not so little anymore as he's broken the 7" mark and WELL on this way to 8... prob near the end of the weekend!! LOL
I've noticed some lightening of his color and the spots on his head have really gotten much darker as well so i guess he's starting to mature abit which is wonderful news. He's about ready for his next new home but I'm waiting for the filter to cycle which I've just seeded tonight.
With the holidays I was alittle worried about him as I usually take my family down south for 4-5 days around the new years time and was wondering what I was going to do with Buster and his feedings and what not... so I just did a 50% water change for a few days before hand... fed him like a pig and left the last few Comets from the family tank that I decided to convert into a feeder tank ...hehe, There really wasn't anything to worry about though as Buster really didn't have a problem going back to feeders LOL When I came home there was only a few left and only 1 committed fish-a-cide...dried up on the floor... to bad cause I bet buster would have rather have ate it than have to sit in his tank watching it dry out... what a waste LOL
I'll get some pics of him when I move him into his new home so that should help with the pics please thing that usually follows LOL
Thinking of getting a TSN but I think I'll wait till after Buster has settled into his new tank before starting off another monster!!!
Ok well since we're coming up on the 6 weeks of having him there is the manditory checking in and letting everyone know whats up with this little fella... Not so little anymore as he's broken the 7" mark and WELL on this way to 8... prob near the end of the weekend!! LOL
I've noticed some lightening of his color and the spots on his head have really gotten much darker as well so i guess he's starting to mature abit which is wonderful news. He's about ready for his next new home but I'm waiting for the filter to cycle which I've just seeded tonight.
With the holidays I was alittle worried about him as I usually take my family down south for 4-5 days around the new years time and was wondering what I was going to do with Buster and his feedings and what not... so I just did a 50% water change for a few days before hand... fed him like a pig and left the last few Comets from the family tank that I decided to convert into a feeder tank ...hehe, There really wasn't anything to worry about though as Buster really didn't have a problem going back to feeders LOL When I came home there was only a few left and only 1 committed fish-a-cide...dried up on the floor... to bad cause I bet buster would have rather have ate it than have to sit in his tank watching it dry out... what a waste LOL
I'll get some pics of him when I move him into his new home so that should help with the pics please thing that usually follows LOL
Thinking of getting a TSN but I think I'll wait till after Buster has settled into his new tank before starting off another monster!!!
I hand fed my rtc since the first day I had him at 1.5". He's now 17", and still eats from my hand. He swims up and snuggles in my hand if I don't have any food. My tsn lumpy will let me hand feed him also. He's 20".
Hand feeding has actually been very easy... it only took a couple of weeks for it to be an easy process for him... he still doesn't like being petted... but he's getting easier going about that to... I'm sure as he gets bigger and more secure with my hand it'll get way easier.
I love the personality that he shows... it's almost like having a pet dog... he wags his tail when he sees me and follows me around in his tank ... if I go left... he'll go left... if I go right he goes to the right...when I put my arm on the side of the tank it's like he's trying to come and snuggle... it's cute even though I know it's a food related thing LOL The little PIG
I love the personality that he shows... it's almost like having a pet dog... he wags his tail when he sees me and follows me around in his tank ... if I go left... he'll go left... if I go right he goes to the right...when I put my arm on the side of the tank it's like he's trying to come and snuggle... it's cute even though I know it's a food related thing LOL The little PIG
basslover34;1397367; said:
Thats exactly what got me into these fish nearly 25 years ago
Some are much more personable than others but they all show dog like manners IF well kept. Recently I got sucked into all this Hybrid hoopla and it took me a while to figure it out but the bottom line is............ NO other catfish beats a RTC's personality
My big guy who is over 30" now just comes to the top and opens his mouth, no big splash, no attitude, not scared of anything and will take the fish so gentle its unreal. He looks you right in the eye too 
I love all my fish, but the reason I keep them is because I fell in love with the RTC's first.On a sad not I just visited a lfs I dont usually visit and they have twelve 3" RTC's in a 30 gallon tank
$39.00 each. HMMMMMMMM for only $468 I can be a hero..................bob
HOLY CRAP $39.00 for 3"ers? DAMN thats expensive! talk to them and tell them you'll take them all if they work out a reasonable price for them, then you can do a resue sale on here
Ok, Here's an Update... Buster has just hit his 10th week with me and has went from that tiny little 3 1/2 inch shy little water fart... to the 10 1/2" bigger water fart that he is LOL ...I can honstly say that there is no other fish that I have had in all my years of keeping fish that has gotten my attention and respect as much as this guy...To have a fish that will swim around your hand to be petted and come to you to take food (ever so gently) from your hand and not thrash away in the blink of an eye is just the coolest thing ever... he's been a center piece around the house with all of our friends and family stoping by for feedings because they don't beleive the storys that he's hand fed.... mind you no one believes his growth either till they come by the house a week later LOL It's fun to see the 
reactions from them when I hit the tank lights
Nice to see that Buster has been so well read aswell ... over a 1000 views... Thanks All ;D
I can honstly say that there is no other fish that I have had in all my years of keeping fish that has gotten my attention and respect as much as this guy...To have a fish that will swim around your hand to be petted and come to you to take food (ever so gently) from your hand and not thrash away in the blink of an eye is just the coolest thing ever... he's been a center piece around the house with all of our friends and family stoping by for feedings because they don't beleive the storys that he's hand fed.... mind you no one believes his growth either till they come by the house a week later LOL It's fun to see the reactions from them when I hit the tank lights Nice to see that Buster has been so well read aswell ... over a 1000 views... Thanks All ;D
