building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

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ElTofi
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »



one of these days, I'll shoot an underwater video of my "monsters" : Acanthicus adonis (3, 6 and 9 years old) and of the two "Survivors" Panaque schaeferi (10 years old)...

if I can dive a camera inside the tank without them to go back behind the internal filters.
the Potamotrygon adventure has begun...
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by bekateen »

I do not cease to be amazed with these big tanks like yours and like those of @Viktor Jarikov. I've lost track imof history. Have you ever had any fish spawn in this tank, as long as it's been operating?

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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

nothing (serious) considering catfish...

but I have in continuity : Ancistrus sp Paraguay (and hybridization with "sp from shop"), Hypancistrus sp L201 (a few fry survived and spawned when adults)

and I had :

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (two spawnings, with a 6 weeks mouth care from father, including hatching at 4th week, until the kelberis discovered there was something alive to hunt)

Myleus schomburgki : several spawnings, eaten every time by the parents

Astronotus occellatus Peru : more than 20 spawnings but never further than free swimming from larvae... then... predation
Cichla kelberi : eggs eaten by stingrays and Panaque schaeferi, twice.
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by bekateen »

Maybe not much survives, but that's still an impressive list! :-)

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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

looooong time...

but a short video of one of my all time favorites... Panaque schaeferi after 10 years in my inner pond and probably 2 more years of living...



Baryancistrus LDA33 is 7 inches
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

the Potamotrygon adventure has begun...
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by bekateen »

What a nice view. How close do you think their behavior in your tank is to their behavior in nature?

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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

I guess, whatever the specie you are talking of, there is nothing left "natural" in their inner pond behavior... too much light, water too clean, not enough natural predator/prey, easy food, and much to close interactions... considering a natural habitat
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

hi everyone...

long time again since I had something worth to share...

I finally made "the final step to my original fishhobbying dream"... I acquired a baby Red Tail Catfish ... It's growing in the living room Xingu tank until it'll get big enough to join the predators of the basement into the "big" tank

here's a short vid of the beast around 5'' only one month after its arrival in its new home :
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

Wow. I had never imagined an RTC would be on your plate ever. As it grows you will find you will have to remove all of the "swallowable" tank mates from the 2500 gal, eventually probably all or almost all of them, even your pbass and arowana could be in danger. But I am sure you know it.

If my experience is of any guidance, yours will reach 3 feet if a male in 3-5 years and 4 feet if a female.

Here is our quartet:
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Agreed...

I think my Stingrays are safe. My >2 feet Panaque too... but Peacocks could be in danger indeed.

I have an easy « B » plan in my immédiate area...

Awesome set up and tank mates btw
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Never had such a lightning growing rate !!! awesome !

vid of the day (5 weeks and 3 days from its arrival)
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

Haha... good job.

Oh, the RTC is only warming up. Two feet or 60 cm in the first year starting from 3" or 8 cm is quite common.
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by bekateen »

Viktor Jarikov wrote: 19 Feb 2021, 15:27Two feet or 60 cm in the first year starting from 3" or 8 cm is quite common.
:-O :-O X_X
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Viktor Jarikov wrote: 19 Feb 2021, 15:27 Haha... good job.

Oh, the RTC is only warming up. Two feet or 60 cm in the first year starting from 3" or 8 cm is quite common.
Yes, that’s what I’ve been told...
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

RTC joined the big bath from a week... and only gets out of its roots at night.


but the point of this video is the underwater close up of several fish of my groups... I think it's pretty awesome
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

hi you all,

some news of the irresponsible fish in my pond...
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

hi everyone...

I think I have 2 (on 5) females stingray pregnant, after the entrance of a male in March. I tried to shoot a few vids and some fellows came to say hello
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

Great video, Eltofi! The RTC grew a little huh? :)

What holds and guides the camera in your underwater filmings? The fish don't seem to be afraid of it.
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

A simple GoPro 3 on a dedicated stick. They are used to it indeed
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

A mere selfie stick? Wow. You are so good with it. No tremor, no shaking, such steady control, good angles, smooth movement! Every wrong movement is amplified badly by a stick and I don't really detect in in your vids. Great job. I honestly thought you might employ an expensive, radio-controlled, underwater-filming submarine/apparatus or a snake probe / endoscope :)
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

You’re too kind… thanks… each diving or turning move is shaking… but I’m not that bad with angles and travellings, considering I’m walking on the front wall, along the front glass, bent in two under the big monstera leaves and my right arm half under water + 70 cm selfie stick holding my camera… as long as I see the GoPro, I can assume more or les the angles shooting.
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Another one, for the Stingrays…

I think I’ll soon have babies to place
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

watch out ! explicit content :
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Last April, I discovered a 4th leak on this "big" inner pond that you got used to see from time to time... it was too much... I had to place my monster fish in several places, from public aquarium to foolish private people and it took around 3 months to get everyone safe... from Switzerland to Spain and to France...

But this time, my "big inner pond story" is over... tank is empty, and will be unset within the next few weeks... no more energy for fixing this 4th leaking problem...

It was a great adventure, and I was lucky enough to share most of it with you, here on PC...

Maybe, I'll get back to it in a few years, that's why I don't destroy it... but these days, I feel like odds are not on this hypothesis...

It was an honor to be part of this...
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

Hey, brother, sorry to hear this. It has been a beautiful journey and I, for one, am sure you will be back. Some day, sooner or later. With this large tank or another, much larger, but I believe and hope you'll be back.

Longevity is a huge problem with large DIY tanks, we know it firsthand too. For instance, I believe our arapaima pair broke apart one of the 4500 gal fiberglass tanks.

Remind us how was your tank made waterproof and what were the causes of the 4 leaks? So we all learn your lesson well and benefit from it.
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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by Jools »

It was great to share the journey and thanks for inviting us along on the ride.

It’s always interesting to follow any size of tank as it develops with its owner over the years!

Cheers

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Re: building a "big" Potamotrygon/SA Catfishes tank

Post by ElTofi »

Hey Jools, Viktor and all...

thanks for these kind words... appreciated...

I'll be there now and then... just to follow the stories of others... or not...

it's not impossible that I'd take another chance with this tank, but clearly not before several years... after thinking deeply the way to insure the waterproof side of the problem... enough is enough... and if so, with a smaller population... and lots of plants... and probably a glass till the bottom to ensure the visibility of bottom fish.

wait and see...
the Potamotrygon adventure has begun...
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