Ompok catfish information?

[Omrit]

Hey I live in the U.S.(South Carolina) and I have been trying to find a place to buy an Ompok catfish. I know their are many species in the genius but Ompok Bimaculatus is my favorite although I love all of them. If anyone knows a place with any ompok species currently in stock please do let me know!

On to the main purpose of my thread. Not that much information about any of the Ompok species really exist. I see a lot of photos of them schooling ,but have not read anywhere saying they are a schooling fish. If anyone has kept these I would love to know more about them in your experience.

 

[Ceiling_Matt]

Glaser has three sp currently, not sure if they sell to the US but they have O.bimaculatus, O. pabda and what they call O. "cf.fumidus" that they claim only reaches 15 cm in length, they are essentially big glass cats in behavior and enjoy the company of similar sp, no idea if that changes as they grow bigger though.

 

[Omrit]

Glaser has three sp currently, not sure if they sell to the US but they have O.bimaculatus, O. pabda and what they call O. "cf.fumidus" that they claim only reaches 15 cm in length, they are essentially big glass cats in behavior and enjoy the company of similar sp, no idea if that changes as they grow bigger though.

It looks like that company only does wholesale

Thank you for the information about their behavior though.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Welcome to MFK!

Sadly, I am Ompok-less at the moment but AFAIK, pretty much only Ompok siluroides is offered in the US. It is exported from northern India where all/most export occurs. Bimaculatus occurs in the southern India and looks close - no demand for a more expensive to deliver and similar-looking Ompok in addition to siluroides.

Bimaculatus I've never seen.

It looks like I've managed to get one pabda: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=39081&hilit=ompok

I've had 4 siluroides, one albino. They never schooled IIRC. Not too fussy with food. Rather timid, do not fight with tank mates. Will hide all day long given a possibility. You can see them here:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30937&hilit=ompok
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30936&hilit=ompok
can find my 3 normal colored ones peppered here and there: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30939&hilit=120+gal


General Ompok ID and other info:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=36636&hilit=ompok
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=34480&hilit=ompok
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38073&hilit=ompok

 

[Omrit]

Yeah it has been so hard to find any! I want to order one offline ,but can't even find any on there!


Really glad to see someone that actually has had them though!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I have not searched them out specifically. Simply stumbled upon the normal colored ones about 6 years ago in/around Waterbury, CT and got the albino from Buffallo or Lockport, NY.

Pabda I found in Tampa, FL 3 years ago, also by accident.

I cannot say I have encountered them again anymore anywhere. As Shovelnose (an Indian catfish expert on PCF) states, Ompoks do not command much of a market, which probably makes their import rare and sporadic, I'd think.

You can speak with fish importers and they will get you your fish, either specifically searching it out or when they see them on the export lists available.

You could approach Wesley Wong of Rare Fish, CA, or Raymond Chan or Amazing Fish, Ontario, CA, or Wet Spot, Oregon, Sam Lai (fishonlinerus) on Aquabid and ebay, or scores and scores of others, especially dealing with Asian fish.