Old and Big Fish

[andywg]

If you want to responsibly keep an adult RTC then you are looking at having a tank around 12 foot by 5 or 6 feet. You'll really want around 3,000 gallons for one and another 1,500 for every extra one, and a huge filter to boot.

150 gallons would be entirely unsuitable for an RTC, except possibly as a coffin

Fantastic fish though. I never get tired of watching an RTC or TSN cruising around a tank.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I just got home from the lfs that rdd mentioned in the original post. They were each in their own tank and each tank was 6' x 2-2.5' x 2-2.5'. So I would guess they were more like 200-250 Gal. The Pacu seemed to do well in his. He could turn around without a problem and had good color. Personally I would want more space for my pet but it seemed to meet his minimum requirements. The Red Tail Catfish on the other had would require more square footage than he had. It also showed in his coloring (not bad, but dull) that he would like more room. The water in both aquariums looked very clean and didn't smell foul. I think for a pet shop they are doing a pretty good job.

Amusing point... My girlfriend LOVES RTCs... I've always had a thing for pacus... she was born in 1981... so was the RTC... I was born in 1974... so was the Pacu... she said it was destiny… I said, "to come to a fish store?"

 

[rdd1952]

I guess the tanks were a little bigger than I thought. I didn't measure them or anything, just going from memory when I got home. Still, not nearly big enough, especially for the RTC. Also, there is another LFS in Gastonia that has a nurse shark that is about 3 to 4 feet long. It is in a tank that is much too small too. Just seems to lay around on the bottom and definitely has a hard time turning around.

 

[Sutto]

LOL i only just checked back.. Sorry, That should of Been 1000 Gallons. And the tank would only be around 80g at a guess. Of course they would need to be small (Comapred to adult size ) to live in those tanks. 100g is way too small IMHO and keeping something that big in a tank that small is just cruel. Also They are Legal to keep at the Very Moment in Australia (Both Species) but instead are Illegal to Import. That is why they cost so much.



-Sutto

edit: I cant spell

 

[CFC]

As said when dealing with large fish the dimensions become more important than the gallonage, big fish need room to turn and swim. The rule i always work to is that a fish over a foot long needs a tank that is 4 times its length long and 1.5 times its length wide and tall, this would mean a 3 foot catfish requires a tank that is 12 feet long by 4.5 feet wide and tall, which is roughly around 1600 gallons.