What temp do you keep your RTC at?

[Viktor Jarikov]

Split off from this topic. http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 59#p236859

It'd be helpful, I imagine, to hear from the "successful, long-term" RTC keepers out there: what temp do you keep your RTCs at?

RTC temp range in Cat-eLog is 70-79 F (21-26 C), which, IMO, implies that the fish'd be ok at 70 F or 79 F for a while but should not be kept at these temps all the while - it'd be better to keep it closer to the mid point of ~74-75 F? No?

Just a few data points would hardly be conclusive but it'd be better than nothing. If we had good poll numbers and they pointed away from this range or its mid-point of ~74-75 F, then it'd be good new knowledge, I think.

[Jools]

As a related aside, it is my plan to aggregate all "my cats" info for this and all other species and show that keeper supplied information on the species pages too. So, while it would be great if you can post your data here, please also consider ensuring your "my cats" data is also accurate.

Cheers!

Jools

[sidguppy]

I think this is an issue caused by a bit of misunderstanding;
people see that info and assume that the requirements of any individual is the same as given for the entire species.

what i'm pointing at is this:
it has a very wide distribution, but for a common species as this one, we can safely assume that most individuals originate from or near Manaus.

and that's in the middle of the warmest spot of Amazonia......

specimen original from here are probably best kept at temperatures ranging from 26-30'C.

the Red tails from South Brazil or Guyana most likely never enter the trade.
why would any exporter go to remote arera's for a species that is caught and even captive bred a stone's throw away from the biggest airport in the South American jungle?
assume that they don't do that and you're home safe.

it's like us humans.
we are all 1 species, but you wouldnt want to house a Masai at the same temperatures an Inuit would be quite comfortable with.
or reverse

[Redtailrob]

Mine is kept around 78oF
Although this may drop down to around 75 for a day or so in the winter after a water change and raise to as High as 82 - 84oF during the height of summer.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Good food for thought from SidGuppy, as usual.

So, among "successful, long-term" RTC keepers out there... there is only Rob... for now.

[Scleropages]

So, among "successful, long-term" RTC keepers out there... there is only Rob... for now.

Viktor, my friend who is an importer has had a SA RTC that he keeps in a huge basin below two of his rack systems. He's had it since 2001 or 2002... maybe longer. It's probably around 40" TL. The thing is a monster. I will ask to see if he monitors the water temp. I do know that the water in many of his freshwater racks is on the cold side--whenever I bring fish home from his shop (packed in the styrofoam fish boxes), the water always feels noticeably cooler than in my tanks (which are usually around 82 deg F).

[Scleropages]

I got a quick reply. To summarize, temperature might not be the culprit in Viktor's case(s). The giant RTC they have has been in 50 deg F and 90+ deg F water and has survived flooding, electrocution, parasite infested water, etc--which is probably not typical. So, that info is probably not useful to the cat-elog anyway.

He thinks diet is the number one issue regarding RTC's and bloat/indigestion. If you're buying your RTC from a LFS, it is possible that the kids working in the shop are feeding them feeder goldfish, which can mess up the fish's gut even before you take it home. He also recommended feeding them freeze dried krill soaked in vitamins.

[Shane]

RTC temp range in Cat-eLog is 70-79 F (21-26 C), which, IMO, implies that the fish'd be ok at 70 F or 79 F for a while but should not be kept at these temps all the while - it'd be better to keep it closer to the mid point of ~74-75 F? No?

Several good points made above, especially those about this fish's huge natural range. I would go with the middle to middle-low of the above range. When we take temp readings while out collecting we almost always take them right at the water's surface (and usually in the dry season). Anyone that has swam out in the middle channel of the Amazon can tell you that if you swim down 10-15 feet (as I have done dozens of times) it gets really cold, really fast. Deeper water adult fishes, I believe, are going to do better over the long term, at cooler tropical temps.

As babies they will certainly appreciate the warmer water. The bigger they get though the better cooler water probably is for them over the long term.

-Shane

[Scleropages]

As babies they will certainly appreciate the warmer water. The bigger they get though the better cooler water probably is for them over the long term.

Makes sense to me.