Gulper sick/injured HELP!!!

[thebiggerthebetter]

Yes.

Here is the thread on our trachy stories: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/just-for-you-koltsixx.681777/

 

[CicPolycats85]

UPDATE ON TRACHY!!!
Hey guys!
my guy/girl finally made a full recovery.wounds are healed and he’s taking food regularly. I’m setting up a 55gal for the next growout tank. Current setup and next setup will be a couple good hides,sand substrate and rocks/leaf litter(he likes hiding under the almond leaves I’ve noticed…I have a couple questions for anyone with experience. is it normal for them to hide/sleep upside down?.Since I’ve had him it’s mostly on the side. he moved to a new spot and was upright for a few days .last move he did he rearranged some substrate/rock and has been upside down in a cave the whole time. I’m assuming so as I’ve noticed a lot of catfish do this(my raphaels) but just wanted to make sure. My last question is regarding possible tankmates. I know the if it fits in it’s mouth rule applies,but have you found any territorial or aggressive behavior to be an issue with them? The info online has been very conflicting.I know ultimately it’s just trial and error as all fish are different. My plans have been to keep him alone,but if I could find suitable tankmates that might be nice…

suggestions/tips anyone might have would be appreciated. Trying to learn as much as possible to keep him healthy and comfortable ? thanks

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Glad to hear about the recovery.

It's normal for them and many other wood catfish to assume all kinds of positions when in hiding and resting, disregarding which way is up or down.

As for the tank mates, our thread linked above features the community tanks our trachys inhabited, so some tank mate ideas could be taken from there. Ours have never tried to swallow a tank mate, except one time one trachy tried to eat a tropical gar and got the head in the stomach but nothing else. koltsixx reports that his trachy may attack tank mates very occasionally, like once in a few or more years. It likely is rooted in breeding urges and the instinct to bulk up for the season.

 

[CicPolycats85]

Glad to hear about the recovery.

It's normal for them and many other wood catfish to assume all kinds of positions when in hiding and resting, disregarding which way is up or down.

As for the tank mates, our thread linked above features the community tanks our trachys inhabited, so some tank mate ideas could be taken from there. Ours have never tried to swallow a tank mate, except one time one trachy tried to eat a tropical gar and got the head in the stomach but nothing else. koltsixx reports that his trachy may attack tank mates very occasionally, like once in a few or more years. It likely is rooted in breeding urges and the instinct to bulk up for the season.

Thanks!
i assumed so,as he seems to be healthy now!.and I’ll have to look over that thread a couple more times.
Like you mentioned in the video you have on your YT channel,you most likely won’t ever see them come out? i have a second name for mine “Dracula”. Think I saw him come out once in the morning,but he was just re positioning himself to hide. Did yours ever come out to swim at all?. I’ve seen a couple videos kn YouTube of them swimming around during the day. Not sure if that’s because they weren’t provided with hides and were stressed out,or hunting perhaps. Either way,it’s a very cool fish and I’m glad I took him home.

 

[CicPolycats85]

Nvm about them coming out,I just saw that covered in the thread.? I’ll just have to wait and see,try different foods,ect.

 

[koltsixx]

As for the tank mates, our thread linked above features the community tanks our trachys inhabited, so some tank mate ideas could be taken from there. Ours have never tried to swallow a tank mate, except one time one trachy tried to eat a tropical gar and got the head in the stomach but nothing else. koltsixx reports that his trachy may attack tank mates very occasionally, like once in a few or more years. It likely is rooted in breeding urges and the instinct to bulk up for the season.

As Viktor said it's been rare for my Trachy's to attack tankmates and in my observation it's always been the females and it was always predatory. As Viktor also said I always believed the predation was because of breeding behavior. My Trachy's have tried several times to breed now, recently just a couple of days ago. My female has eaten tankmates and killed some she couldn't swallow when attempting to devour them. This includes a 10 inch Rhinodoras Dorbignyi which was suffocated to death among others.

UPDATE ON TRACHY!!!
Hey guys!
my guy/girl finally made a full recovery.wounds are healed and he’s taking food regularly. I’m setting up a 55gal for the next growout tank. Current setup and next setup will be a couple good hides,sand substrate and rocks/leaf litter(he likes hiding under the almond leaves I’ve noticed…I have a couple questions for anyone with experience. is it normal for them to hide/sleep upside down?.Since I’ve had him it’s mostly on the side. he moved to a new spot and was upright for a few days .last move he did he rearranged some substrate/rock and has been upside down in a cave the whole time. I’m assuming so as I’ve noticed a lot of catfish do this(my raphaels) but just wanted to make sure. My last question is regarding possible tankmates. I know the if it fits in it’s mouth rule applies,but have you found any territorial or aggressive behavior to be an issue with them? The info online has been very conflicting.I know ultimately it’s just trial and error as all fish are different. My plans have been to keep him alone,but if I could find suitable tankmates that might be nice…

suggestions/tips anyone might have would be appreciated. Trying to learn as much as possible to keep him healthy and comfortable

thanks

In my experience my Trachy's have never been aggressive except during courtship when the male can be rough on the female. I had 4 at one time and they seemed to get along fine. Only aggression I ever saw was toward an unidentified Auchenipteridae. As such I am unsure how they might react towards others in their Family. I have some Tocantinsia Piresi with some Pseudachunipterus Nodosus together in a community that don't bother one another but, in my experience, the Nodosus are less likely to hide so they only come in contact during feedings.

Back to the Trachy's they share their hide with a Platydoras sp. Maroni and a Hemibagrus Filamentus peacefully. They are aggressive eaters in that they eat voraciously and will headbutt, push and basically bulldoze their way through other fish to get to the food. And they seem to be the more aware of food than my other cats. Literally the minute the food hits he water they come out of hiding while my other cats take several second before they begin to react to the food. They aren't particular in my experience, easily taking pellets and mine have no issue eating in the light or at the surface or handfeeding. If you do have issues getting them to eat you can try live foods such as red wrigglers or blood worms and then soaking pellets with the bloodworms until they associate the pellets with food.

As for tankmates as you said nothing that can fit in their mouths and remember these guys are related to Gulpers so they have some pretty big mouths. Mine is currently with several different cats and a 12 inch Kamfa. My Kamfa is very, very laid back but maybe because of the size of the Trachys he does show them a little aggression. Anything that's decently robust like larger Lemon Barbs and the like and Cichlids that aren't too aggressive I imagine should be fine as tankmates. Basically anything not too skinny or small to be considered food and not something overly aggressive in my opinion.

 

[CicPolycats85]

As Viktor said it's been rare for my Trachy's to attack tankmates and in my observation it's always been the females and it was always predatory. As Viktor also said I always believed the predation was because of breeding behavior. My Trachy's have tried several times to breed now, recently just a couple of days ago. My female has eaten tankmates and killed some she couldn't swallow when attempting to devour them. This includes a 10 inch Rhinodoras Dorbignyi which was suffocated to death among others.



In my experience my Trachy's have never been aggressive except during courtship when the male can be rough on the female. I had 4 at one time and they seemed to get along fine. Only aggression I ever saw was toward an unidentified Auchenipteridae. As such I am unsure how they might react towards others in their Family. I have some Tocantinsia Piresi with some Pseudachunipterus Nodosus together in a community that don't bother one another but, in my experience, the Nodosus are less likely to hide so they only come in contact during feedings.

Back to the Trachy's they share their hide with a Platydoras sp. Maroni and a Hemibagrus Filamentus peacefully. They are aggressive eaters in that they eat voraciously and will headbutt, push and basically bulldoze their way through other fish to get to the food. And they seem to be the more aware of food than my other cats. Literally the minute the food hits he water they come out of hiding while my other cats take several second before they begin to react to the food. They aren't particular in my experience, easily taking pellets and mine have no issue eating in the light or at the surface or handfeeding. If you do have issues getting them to eat you can try live foods such as red wrigglers or blood worms and then soaking pellets with the bloodworms until they associate the pellets with food.

As for tankmates as you said nothing that can fit in their mouths and remember these guys are related to Gulpers so they have some pretty big mouths. Mine is currently with several different cats and a 12 inch Kamfa. My Kamfa is very, very laid back but maybe because of the size of the Trachys he does show them a little aggression. Anything that's decently robust like larger Lemon Barbs and the like and Cichlids that aren't too aggressive I imagine should be fine as tankmates. Basically anything not too skinny or small to be considered food and not something overly aggressive in my opinion.

That’s a lot of useful info!! Thanks for your knowledge??.so little info on these fish,considering how neat they are.. Mine isn’t very active yet at all. I have only hand fed him in his cave so far,haha. Did take a worm last week,though.tonight,2 silversides consecutively. In the process of setting up his next home.a retro ,black water inspired setup. Only a 55gal for now.not ideal and certainly not in the long run,I’m aware he will need bigger than that in a while..he’s about 7-8” right now.From what I’ve heard they at least grow on the slow side,unlike say an Oscar,Arowana. If I’m wrong please correct me,haha..which brings me to my next question,what size tanks do you guys keep them in,and what do you think is ideal for them?.
Thanks guys!

 

[koltsixx]

That’s a lot of useful info!! Thanks for your knowledge??.so little info on these fish,considering how neat they are.. Mine isn’t very active yet at all. I have only hand fed him in his cave so far,haha. Did take a worm last week,though.tonight,2 silversides consecutively. In the process of setting up his next home.a retro ,black water inspired setup. Only a 55gal for now.not ideal and certainly not in the long run,I’m aware he will need bigger than that in a while..he’s about 7-8” right now.From what I’ve heard they at least grow on the slow side,unlike say an Oscar,Arowana. If I’m wrong please correct me,haha..which brings me to my next question,what size tanks do you guys keep them in,and what do you think is ideal for them?.
Thanks guys!

You're welcome, glad I could help a little. Trachy's aren't very active in my experience except during feeding time. When they were younger on rare occasions, they'd patrol the tank but that was probably exclusively a quick food patrol. Otherwise like most Driftwood cats they prefer to remain hidden. In my experience they actually grow fairly rapidly until about 12 inches where their growth rate slows considerably.

As for ideal tank size it depends on a number of factors including tankmates. I personally don't subscribe to a fish's size solely determining tank size. Some fish are extremely active and regardless of space need bigger tanks than other fish the same size and vice versa. There's also feeding habits to consider. Some fish are consummate grazers and foragers who in their natural environment have access to food often and are used to eating often and as such will cause more biological waste than other fish if fed appropriately. While other fish don't eat daily naturally due food availability. And even if they don't eat often maybe a high energy animal that without eating causes biological waste because of their natural respiration rate associated with a high activity level. For a Trachy I'd say a 180 would probably be an okay size in order to have enough space for appropriately sized hides for an adult while leaving room for swimming space and other possible tankmates. Though Trachy's don't move much when they do, they do so with decent speed and their bulk makes open spaces necessary. Otherwise, they may injure themselves or topple aquarium decor with their strength and mass. Hides for adults should be over 17 inches length wise but relatively narrow as again with most woodcats they prefer tight quarters as it makes them feel more secure. Not providing a secure hide can cause them to become restless as they search for a suitable spot which will often cause them to dislodge heaters and filter intakes as they try to squeeze behind them, etc.

These are just my personal opinion, and I am no expert, but my Trachy's are 15 years old and I believe I am the only one or one of few to see them even attempt breeding locks so some of what I am doing must be to their liking.

 

[CicPolycats85]

That all makes sense..I wish I had known all this when I first got mine,but as they say,live and learn. Hell,I didn’t even know they existed to be honest. I’m curious if the store knew it wasn’t a gulper,I’m guessing probably not. In hindsight what I did with trying to block off the heater initially was a recipe for disaster. Since they will seek shelter in tight spaces. I have noticed that. He will try to cram himself under the drift wood,smooshed against the sponge filter and glass,haha..I made a cave with a rock inside it for that reason. Didn’t move to it for a while but now he’s been in there a week or so. He moved the rock sideways as a matter of fact,and wedges himself between that and the top. Also noticed that behavior in my raphael cats with the hiding..Although they aren’t as large,thier swimming style is quite reckless and also bulldoze to get to food. I hope to have this one for a long time too! And learn along the way.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

As we always kept our trachies in bigger tanks, I'd not know on the minimum requirement firsthand. I think what Kolt is saying is great.

Ours seemed happy to jam themselves between large (ugly but functional) concrete blocks or between a block and front glass, with or without a roof.