SW: Viktor, you say that this fish normaly grows to 2' (thats 2 feet!) in 1 year? Wow, that seems crazy to me. Is this growth in an aquarium?
VJ: Yes, 1.5'-2.5' in the 1st year in an aquarium, more or less properly sized one. It can stunt some in too small a tank. This fish is very far from being alone in growing so fast. Both his parents do. Many, many other big catfish and other fish can be named from diverse families. E.g., channels hit 1.5' in the 1st year on the fish farms and in favorable wild conditions.
SW: My guy is fed every other day with cichlid pellets. Then once a month I buy 24 ghost shrimps he eats them all in about a week and then once a week he gets a frozen bloodworm pellet. I thought I may be overfeeding him?? Now I wonder if hes starving.
VJ: I think he is underfed but before you (if you decide) start feeding him more, think through and increase the bio-filtration. Returning him to the store and making them aware of the poor advice they gave you is another option, IMO.
SW: Man no I had no idea that he was supposed to get that big that fast. I was told my 90g should last him 5-10yrs and then I was gonna get a 220 or bigger.
VJ: No surprise, sadly. This happens left and right. I hope it was just a case of either ignorance and/or wrong ID, not malicous sale practice.
SW: Now it sounds like I may have an issue. On the parisite theory, he shows no signs of them, and besides swallowing a shiny rock my daughter put in the tank, that he spit up a week later, has been a very active, fun, and cool looking fish IMO.
VJ: Good.
SW: I hope I may have gotten a dwarf, lol, if thats possible.
VJ: There are no dwarfs in his kind. They are a product of careful research to produce a food fish that grows the fastest and biggest.
SW: Cause I would hate to have to eat him if he got too big! (Just kidding
![Big Grin :d](./images/smilies/4.gif)
although I eat catfish I know not to eat fish from an aquarium due to dosing water)
VJ:
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon/smile.gif)
This is not the only reason I'd not eat my (dead) pet.
SW: I see how my owning him could be controversial, But keeping any fish in a bowl or tank could be controversial to some.
VJ: Yep, but as often, the extrimist views are rarely right.
SW: I mean no harm and just loved the way the fish looked. I hope I can give him a happy life but if he gets to 4' in 3 years I dont know what Ill do
![D oh #-O](./images/smilies/40.gif)
VJ: No one in their right state of mind would say your intentions were wrong - you thought you were buying a hamster who turned out to be a bear... but past is past, cannot be changed, future can be - now that you know you have to put together a viable plan. Also, usually with the right fish ID, one hour on Google (or one search/posted question on a forum like PlanetCatfish etc.) is enough prep to know at least the basics of what one is getting into.