Pat's Challenger Growout Thread

[timvriens]

they are looking good Pat, hope the one starts eating soon

[Second Hand Pat]

they are looking good Pat, hope the one starts eating soon

Thanks Tim, I hope so also. :)
Pat

[rickztahone]

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This guy is a beauty Pat :)

[Second Hand Pat]

This guy is a beauty Pat :)

Thank you Ricardo :D
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Some pics from yesterday

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[danotaylor]

"Wow" is all I can say Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

"Wow" is all I can say Pat

Thanks Danny :D
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

A few more ...

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[peewee1]

Some pics from yesterday

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I do believe that Pat has found the secret to the next generation of high def fish photography.

[snxtif]

Ooohhhh myyyy godddd

Gorgeous fish and photos Pat, thank you for sharing.

[Second Hand Pat]

I do believe that Pat has found the secret to the next generation of high def fish photography.

Thanks peewee but I just read from Al's playbook. :D
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Ooohhhh myyyy godddd

Gorgeous fish and photos Pat, thank you for sharing.

Thank you Cyrus and you are more that welcome :D
Pat

[Sturiosoma]

In reading back through this challenge I noticed you're required to wrap your tank in white what is the reasoning behind that.

Jeanne

[Second Hand Pat]

In reading back through this challenge I noticed you're required to wrap your tank in white what is the reasoning behind that.

Jeanne

Hi Jeanne, covering the back and sides of a tank makes the fish feel more secure. Gives them a sense of place (if that makes any sense). In a bare bottom tank where the bottom is not covered the fish will skate (swim along the bottom of the tank at a angle) and they will seem very unsettled. They will continue to skate the bottom until you do something about it. My QT bottoms are not covered or painted so I keep a very thin layer (1/8 of an inch) of sand on the bottom.

The skating behavior is similar to adding a new group of discus to an unknown tank and you will see them pacing the tank as a group. After about 24 hours the fish will settle down and quit the pacing.
Pat

[danotaylor]

G'day Pat. I know you're busy with your recent workshop photos, but do you have any update pics of your grow out challenge fish you can share with us? :D

[Second Hand Pat]

G'day Pat. I know you're busy with your recent workshop photos, but do you have any update pics of your grow out challenge fish you can share with us? :D

Hi Danny, when the Cuipeua F1s I received from Al needed more space I gave away the larger fish to a local person. I needed the 40 they were in so I could split the F1s into two tanks. The smaller challenger fish are sharing a tank with a couple of wilds. They are growing but slower since I have not be giving them the dedicated water changes they need for good growth so ..I am a bad mom. I can grab some pics of them if you like?
Pat

[danotaylor]

Ah ok, gotcha Pat. I always like seeing pics of your fish, so I'd love to see a pic of the smaller challenge fish with your wilds, maybe a full tank shot? I'll bet the local person who received the bigger fish was blessed!!

[Bathi]

nice thread..:)