Traded Saltwater Fish for Freshwater

[rive1404]

Hey AA,
I traded 4 damsels for a 2" red tail cat a few weeks ago. Just found out how big these guys get. HOLY BUCKETS!!!!

5' seems a little much. Is this how big they are in the wild or in private aquariums?

What is the minimum and recommended tank size for these whoppers? 250g-300g is my assumption...

I'd much rather spend $1000 bucks for a tank than spend $1000 replacing fish the damsels would have eventually killed.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AMDPhenomX4]

Atleast 5 times that. 1500G minimum. For the health of the fish i would go atleast 2000.

 

[rive1404]

Holy crap...this one's going back to the LFS after a while...

 

[Etunes]

I feel that a red tail catfish should stay in the amazon, they get way to big and should stay in the wild.

Sadly neither of these are fully grown.

 

[thominil]

I would take it back now just in case they come up with an excuse like it's to big or something like that.

 

[Etunes]

I would take it back now just in case they come up with an excuse like it's to big or something like that.

+1, always better to be safe then sorry.

 

[rive1404]

Well the LFS where I got it is run by a close friend. It takes a good friend/businessman to take back damsels, anyway.

Seriously, I will be taking this back...I saw that episode of River Monsters and I remembered last night after AMDPhenom posted.

Why would they even sell this to people for home aquaria? What happens to the people who keep them and don't have space anymore?

 

[AMDPhenomX4]

Dinner?

 

[partypalooza5]

I feel that a red tail catfish should stay in the amazon, they get way to big and should stay in the wild.

Sadly neither of these are fully grown.

I keep wanting to see that show, I just never remember to watch it when its on .

 

[rive1404]

Dinner?

My girlfriend's dad suggested that...

He also suggested letting it grow in our pool and he'll fish it out.

What do you guys say to making a pond for this thing to live in? My parents are planning to make one anyway, but we don't like koi or goldfish. We have spare heaters for our pool that could stabilize the temp in winter. Is this even feasible or am I just being dumb? I'm 90% sure I'm taking it back, but just in case there's a way I can keep it it'll be better off here than in some 20 gallon tank in someone else's house.

 

[AMDPhenomX4]

If you can keep the water around 78 year round, I say go for it.

 

[Etunes]

My girlfriend's dad suggested that...

He also suggested letting it grow in our pool and he'll fish it out.

What do you guys say to making a pond for this thing to live in? My parents are planning to make one anyway, but we don't like koi or goldfish. We have spare heaters for our pool that could stabilize the temp in winter. Is this even feasible or am I just being dumb? I'm 90% sure I'm taking it back, but just in case there's a way I can keep it it'll be better off here than in some 20 gallon tank in someone else's house.

That would be AWSOME. But i am not sure you would be able to keep the pond temp stable in winter. You would have to cover it and that would have to be 1 BIG heater. You would also need to build a rather large pond.

 

[thominil]

I think lake would be a better term.....

 

[Etunes]

I think lake would be a better term.....

Yes, and a deep lake two.

 

[rive1404]

Hmmm...don't have room for a lake, lol. And I don't think the wildlife officers would appreciate me dumping it in the lake, either.

We have 2 spare pool heaters and each maintains 50,000 gallons of water. We keep our pool open year round and we keep it at 86 easy.

I'm just brainstorming here, If I take him back to the LFS I can guarantee it'll go in someone's 20 gallon. I'd rather let it sit in a big pond with me than a 20 gallon in someone else's home.

 

[thominil]

Then go with as big of a pond as you can get.