Ripsaw Cats Feeding

[davidkozak]

I got these on Friday. A friend of mine has had them for a while and just couldn't keep them anymore. They're pretty much furniture (at least while I've been watching)until the food hits the tank..David
p.s. I agree with the people that feel fish like this shouldn't be sold in stores because of their adult size-but they're already here and someone has to care for them..


[Mod edit: use youtube tags... --Mats]

[Marc van Arc]

I take it you'll provide them with some sand?

[Industrial]

The ripsaw cat we have at work is super active. It has become completely diurnal and sleeps at night.

We have one that is close to 3' in a 2000g aquarium. It hid a lot in the beginning, but everything else in the tank is really outgoing and the catfish soon learned to swim up to the top with the other fish when people walked by. This fish is just as active as the P-Bass, RTCs and Arowanas in the aquarium.

When it comes to feeding time, he only really eats algae wafers and an occasional goldfish. These fish are terrible and finding food.

[MatsP]

I saw them being hand-fed at Pier Aquatics last time I was there...

--
Mats

[twisted_fisher]

ive had sweepers that didnt suck as good as those guys

[Viktor Jarikov]

Nice, David! How big are they? Look 2'-3'. Sweet. How big is their home?

Between the feedings, mine rested half the time and swam actively other times. What happened at night, I don't know. I love these guys to pieces.

[davidkozak]

They're approx 16 inches and 18 inches..They're currently in a 6ft 100 gallon tank for a couple weeks so I can keep an eye on them, and make sure they're healthy and eating. I will soon be moving them to a 4ft by 8 ft 350 gallon tank. David

[Viktor Jarikov]

Thanx, David. Wow, how deceptive is the video. They look like massive adults in it - I guess maybe because of the tank size relative to their size. I know that you know it too that 350 gal is a temporary solution but they grow pretty slowly and you have years until it starts getting too small. What's your plan then, if any?

Also, their body mass-to-length ratio is one of the highest, meaning that an RTC or a TSN at the same length would weigh ~2 times less (the x factor is higher versus other, even slimer-built fish, like Siluridae, Sorubims, Leiarius, etc.). Thus, this means that at the same length, you have a 2 times bigger, bulkier fish and approx. 2 times more waste to process and, hence, have to think of real good bio-filtration and up the water changes, right?

Keep them warm in "Winterpeg"

[davidkozak]

I've been changing 50-75% of the water every second day-that's probably overkill. Once I move them to the 350 I'll test the water regularly to figure out where I need to be with the water changes. My future plan was to approach the local zoo about taking them before they outgrow the 350 gallon tank-or build something bigger. David

[Viktor Jarikov]

I see. Too bad I live so far from you (and now even 1500 mi farther - just moved from Rochester NY to Naples FL) or I'd take them in a heart beat whenever you'd be ready to let them go (and, of course, if you wanted me to have them). Maybe, if you are ever in Florida...
...shipping big, strong fish is quite expensive and risky.

Don't know if you knew but I am working on building a public aquarium of my own in Naples. The doradidae exhibit would be an above-ground pond with one glass wall, planned ~20,000 US gal.

Having said that, I must add that I do hope you will choose to build something bigger and keep them rather then part with them - they are precious and if you are into such animals, they bring you tremendous joys and other benefits.

[grokefish]

How big are they?

[MatsP]

How big are they?

Check a post about three before yours... ;)

--
Mats

[arapaimag]

When it comes to feeding time, he only really eats algae wafers and an occasional goldfish. These fish are terrible and finding food.

I have 5 adults and they all enjoy 6 and 7mm sinking trout pellets. You might try some with yours in the 2K.

BTW the stone fish is Batrachomoeus trispinosus. I also have a Thalassophryne amazonica.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Michael (Arapaimag), you've been to the store where Industrial works - The Fish Place in Buffalo, or rather Tonawanda, NY - within a year or so, right? So you must have seen the fish Tyler (Industrial) is talking about. Just wanna make note of that for myself.

[exasperatus2002]

I just saw two of them at the Baltimore aquarium. Impressive cats.