PlanetCatfish.com

RickE wrote:But... How about: It's the only member of its genus. That has to be cool. And, it has a very cool latin name: Phractocephalus Hemioliopterus.

Entirely out-weighed by the dorky names their owners give them. "Norma", or "Tickles" or some such. You never see an RTC with a cool name like "Napalm", or "Riot" now do you?

Napalm? Cool? I rest my case Jools!

"Napalm", or "Riot"

First thing I thought of after reading those names was
The uncool fish called Norma(or tickles) did not enter my thoughts.

If the RTC would have been a car, it would be a Rolls or Bentley of the 80's and 90's: too big, too greedy and rather ugly.
It behaves like a dog (wagging the tail included) and will eat - besides loads of regular food - any aquarium decoration such as divers, tombstones, artificial rocks and Greek temples and this swimming dustbin will only afterwards find out that it was perhaps not the best choice to do so.
Definitely uncool!

Marc van Arc wrote:..will eat - besides loads of regular food - any aquarium decoration such as divers, tombstones, artificial rocks and Greek temples...

This proves it has good taste then!

It proves that Giant River Otters have good taste, too!
Amanda

mummymonkey wrote:Entirely out-weighed by the dorky names their owners give them. "Norma", or "Tickles" or some such. You never see an RTC with a cool name like "Napalm", or "Riot" now do you?

Not forgetting Bertie.....

Marc van Arc wrote:If the RTC would have been a car, it would be a Rolls or Bentley of the 80's and 90's: too big, too greedy and rather ugly.
It behaves like a dog (wagging the tail included) and will eat - besides loads of regular food - any aquarium decoration such as divers, tombstones, artificial rocks and Greek temples and this swimming dustbin will only afterwards find out that it was perhaps not the best choice to do so.
Definitely uncool!

Spot on!!!!!

Since I don`t drive and really dislikes the whole concept of cars I will not make many car analogies about the Red Tail Catfish. Those who keep these fish probably drive a pickup truck. Has a large beard, large tummy and would really like their monster catfish to drink beer and eat macaroni with cheese.

The "serious" keepers of this species are generally North Americans who have spent a large fortune and several months building a very large and extremely ugly tank. Those who are unsure about this statement should have a look at monsterfishkeepers.com who keeps RTF and other giants. There are literally lots of similar or even worse examples to be found.

This one is priceless as an example... 3000 gallons of boring fish including RTF (no offence to the builder ):
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... 68&page=27

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=62346

The RTF is sub zero!

Haavard Stoere wrote:Since I don`t drive and really dislikes the whole concept of cars I will not make many car analogies about the Red Tail Catfish. Those who keep these fish probably drive a pickup truck. Has a large beard, large tummy and would really like their monster catfish to drink beer and eat macaroni with cheese.

The "serious" keepers of this species are generally North Americans who have spent a large fortune and several months building a very large and extremely ugly tank. Those who are unsure about this statement should have a look at Monster Fish Keepers who keeps RTF and other giants. There are literally lots of similar or even worse examples to be found.

This one is priceless as an example... 3000 gallons of boring fish including RTF (no offence to the builder ):
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... 68&page=27

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=62346

The RTF is sub zero!

RTF or RTC???

sub zero is the coolest of cool - is that what you meant?

I`m tired. Sorry! Meant RTC and seriously uncool

What about discussing one species a week instead of one every month?

Haavard Stoere wrote:What about discussing one species a week instead of one every month?

I think that's a great idea as well, I can't imagine having to talk about a very uncool species ( i.e. Phractocephalus hemiolopterus) for an entire month! Overall though this whole thread is an awesome idea!

The poor blinkin much-maligned RTC.
Its the owners of this fish who are seriously uncool. That's what's really being said in every reply on page 4. A dog doesn't pick its owner, neither does any RTC. And a RTC doesn't choose to put a 'diver' in its tank either.
And it doesn't choose to call itself Bertie, does it.
And how many cool corydoras could be called 'napalm' OR 'norma'?

Mr Jools Clarkson. Have you started a 'hate campaign' or somethin???
PS. I eat bullies.

Wrasse wrote:

The poor blinkin much-maligned RTC.
Its the owners of this fish who are seriously uncool. That's what's really being said in every reply on page 4. A dog doesn't pick its owner, neither does any RTC. And a RTC doesn't choose to put a 'diver' in its tank either.
And it doesn't choose to call itself Bertie, does it.
And how many cool corydoras could be called 'napalm' OR 'norma'?

Agreed! The fish should be the question not the owners! Just imagine when we get to some of the more common species like corydoras paleatus..
Are we going to cut up the fish because it's a beginner's catfish? That wouldn't be right, then we'd be cutting up newbies instead of debating the merits of the fish. Same for all the common giant cats that beginners frequently buy because they were given wrong info. Stick to the fish, more fun.

Even opinions could differ on Napalm as a name, horrible to some eh?

I'm sticking to my best dressed fish theory, like a man at the Nobel prize ceremony. I'd rather have a drink with the guys with the red bowtie and the full tails rather than buddy with the elbow patches on the 70's 'cool' jacket. eew..

And anyway, who wrote the comment on the species page that says this fish is 'unmistakable'? What other fish can you say that about? Great white maybe, yeah, yeah not a fish but you get my meaning. Only a BN is in that category as just a quick glance at the ID page shows how confusing some cats can be. Not so for RTC. Like 'em or hate 'em, they've made their mark and that deserves respect.

Hmmm - i'm not sure if everyone posting appreciates the "cool wall" concept 'a la' Top Gear (?) It is not so much about the car or popular consensus, but as much about who drives it, what does it stand for, & mostly, Jeremy Clarkson's personal opinion (which is pretty much a mini-dictatorship). It has no basis in fact or reason & is a comedic feature of the show - automatic "rules" are that if any of the presenters have the car themselves it is by default uncool & if Kristen Scott-Thomas approves of the car it would be by default cool. It is a nonsensical bit of fun which i don't think is quite transferring to this thread - maybe us Brits are thinking a little differently with our sense of humour?

ps - James May's hair - uncool, Richard Hammond's hair - uncool (now it is long as he is having a mid-life crisis) & Jezza's hair - well, just wrong...

Top Gear is one of VERY FEW programmes I watch, and I do enjoy it, but I see no reason why we can't take the basic concept of the cool wall without mirroring it exactly. I must admit that whilst the placing of the car is pretty unimportant, I almost always disagree with Jeremy's positioning.

I'm still with Wrasse and LNB as to the RTC's status- the only really uncool feature anyone's mentioned so far is it's inquisitiveness in trying to eat decor in the tank. That doesn't change the fact that it's still one of the least suitable fish for household aquaria, but that shouldn't impact on the fish's innate "coolness", and nor should the fact that most buyers for them tend to be muppets with bull terriers/akitas that have upgraded from piranhas to RTCs.

i'm not sure about keepign these fish in a tank but they do taste good on a plate
i've ate these fish a few times and by food means-a very tasty and cool fish to eat!

Carp37 wrote:....and nor should the fact that most buyers for them tend to be muppets with bull terriers/akitas that have upgraded from piranhas to RTCs.

But I guess it's the same as all BMW's (until they ecided to pick on Audi's in the last series) being seriously uncool because they were all driven by 'c*cks' (Top Gear's words). Sorry Jools.

so a difference in opinion on how we are are treating this thread then

(i too disagree with "Jezza" on most things)

In all fairness, this show is just being introduced to the US via BBC America this week upcoming. A lot of people don't know it's in their cable or dish package.

As for the fish, it can't help its genetics. Don't blame a fish for its genetics. Aquarists have a choice when it comes to fish.
Amanda

As a reminder (I needed one), the Jools/Clarkson hybrid wrote the following:-

'Yup, it is the fish here we are placing on the wall, not the brigade that attempt to keep them. However, in the spirit of Top Gear, one does also take into account the type of person that drives the car and so than plan is also to mention the keepers. You also have to consider what the car is like to drive (or fish is like to keep) and upkeep/maintain.

I think the fish is uncool. It's too flashy, and as big cats go, looks fat and garish. There are so many cool big cats and you just can't keep this in a sensible tank. It might out live its keeper and it's also too cheap!

The other thing to bear in mind is that not all catfish can be cool and sub zero'.

Maybe it was the wrong cool-cat to start with. Its the sellers and keepers who are not cool. No tank is big enough.
This fish is cool, its flashy, looks muscular and bold. And its no hybrid monster.

When Clare gets home Sunday...............bam! thwack! sock! spladoosh! bye bye Clarkson.

bronzefry wrote:

In all fairness, this show is just being introduced to the US via BBC America this week upcoming. A lot of people don't know it's in their cable or dish package.

Don't have it at all here and I don't even subscribe to cable

I agree with Richard B, maybe it is the difference in humour? When humour slams a person, we don't find it so funny, geez I'm from Canada, we're genetically programmed to love everyone even if they are a duffus. BUT we all love Monty Python etc because they were preaching to the converted, the butt of the jokes would have never watched it. Several people I know just found it 'silly'. Same on this side of the pond for those who don't like The Simpsons, they portray us all quite accurately

I'm all for rubbing mud in someone's face as long as we don't get too personal - after all, I happen to own several dorky fish...
or stick with the fish alone but like Jools said, it's kinda hard to slam a catfish...

I do remember referring to someone as a hippy here...

A hippy? I resemble that remark!
Amanda

A hippy? I resemble that remark!
Amanda

You should see me! nah, maybe you shouldn't. I sometimes probably resemble an RTC..thinner but the colours are correct. No whiskers!

RickE wrote:But I guess it's the same as all BMW's (until they ecided to pick on Audi's in the last series) being seriously uncool because they were all driven by 'c*cks' (Top Gear's words). Sorry Jools.

True, however, that tag was passed to the Audi drivers recently I think albiet the car they went on about all the time was the one I drive. Anyhow, just bought a merc last week BUT I'm still a male-hen until April.

Are there any budding artists our there that could do me "ala Top Gear" seriosuly uncool, uncool, cool and subzero images I can print out on my printer to create the wall? I will then shot a short video for the RTC placement.

Drawing a line under the RTC, first person to post with a new species gets the dubious honour of choosing where this rollercoaster goes next?

Jools

I take the bait.

More controversy?????

Hypeancistrus Zebra.

Cool. Overpriced, but seriously cool.

Nah... looks too much like the Jeep from Daktari

Got to love the guns on the thing - that's so over the top. I'm going to keep out of this one for a while, although I have my views. Go for it though.

Jools

wrasse wrote:More controversy?????

Hypeancistrus Zebra.

Difficult one ...

The first time I saw H. zebra my eyes were out on stalks, and I still think they are awesome looking creatures. However ...

I hate all that hype about them, and how some folk are obsessed by them, stopping at nothing to get hold of more and more overpriced wild-caught specimens, regardless of any environmental concerns.

People justify their illegal removal from the wild by saying that they will be killed by the dam anyway, and we are doing them a favour. This is nonsense. If we really wanted to do the species a favour, we would be joining greenpeace and campaigning/rasing awareness against the dams in every possible way, not buying illegally smuggled fish!

In light of this, they can only be considered as UNCOOL.