My experience with Wallace’s shoehead catfish, scientific name Tetranematichrhys wallacei

[fishhead0103666]

Take heart Brian. We deal with live creatures. We will always win some and lose some in the hobby of our choice. Moreover, it is not uncommon for many to lose ALL in one moment. Get up, dust off and press on.

Some might say I take this species too seriously, they would be correct. With no other species do I care so much for and with every set back or failure regarding this species I take it personally. Even if there was nothing that I did wrong or could have done to prevent it I still would have taken it personally. It’s something I must work on to tone down which I acknowledge.

I am already on the lookout for more, one minor set back shall not determine me.


Anyway I shall now explain what happened. Last week I did my water change as normal however sometime between the finishing the water change and that night the filter stopped working as something got stuck in the propeller. I didn’t notice because the filter is normally quite quiet. The only filtration operating from last week to yesterday had been 2 sponge filters. 2 nights ago I woke up at 1 am and found one of them dead floating, given it was so late I put him in the freezer and planned to check the parameters in the morning. The morning came and I found another one dead. I quickly checked the parameters and found they were horrific and did two 80% water changes back to back. I am thinking that the sudden change in parameters is what caused one to freak out and bash himself into the wall. He stayed on the bottom upside down until he died.

All of it could have been prevented had I replaced the filter a long time ago like I knew I should have as the propeller occasionally gets hindered by the slightest thing and stops completely while none of my other filters would have. I also should be running double hobs on it alongside the sponge filters.


Looking back I am filled with not anger anymore but mere sadness as it was my fault that three of them died however I raise my sights to the future where I will have proven their deaths were not in vain.


I did make a change in the tank when I found out about the parameters however. Until I can replace the filter I have gotten 4 large amazon swords and 9 small amazon swords to help deal with the parameters for a while should it happen again before I can replace it.

 

[esoxlucius]

Sorry for your loss pal. It was evident from your posts that you truly loved this particular species of unique catfish. Once the anger and sadness subsides you'll be able to look at their passing more rationally.

We all have setbacks, we learn from them and, ultimately, these setbacks make us better fish keepers. Don't give up, as thebiggerthebetter said, dust off and press on.

Once again, sorry for your loss ?

 

[fishhead0103666]

4th one had died. Just like the last death it was after a large water change. This species is testing my patience.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Sorry for the loss. Bad luck but a lesson learned too. Like the others have said don't let it get you down too much and get back on the horse. There's no harm in being grumpy about it as long as you don't wallow in it for too long.
This is an interesting thread about a fish I know nothing about and will likely never have a chance to keep it going please...

 

[fishhead0103666]

I’ve learned many lessons in my rather short life, many that I am not fond of learning for one reason or another, this is one of them, and just like the rest I’ll power through it.

The worst thing is that this was the single best one as he would be out swimming no matter what time it was, I had high hopes on him being taught to eat worms and then tilapia and then teach the others..... It looks like I might have to go back to my original plan of acquiring an Ageneiosus magoi from aqua imports to be a teacher.

This is an interesting thread about a fish I know nothing about and will likely never have a chance to keep it going please...

Your country is similar to mine in the fact that animal legality is based off of a list of animals that are deemed illegal thus every other animal is legal, yes? I believe you live in New Zealand? If I am correct then all animals being brought into the country have to spend a 6 month stay in some place before they’re able to be brought to the final destination and someone has to pay the high fees that come as a result of the stay. If everything I have said is correct then do not worry my friend as my love for this catfish is not merely a small hometown love, no, it is a world wide love, when I find out the mysteries of this species then I’m going to be sending them throughout the world so that others may enjoy them as well. Even though it’ll be expensive New Zealand will not be left out, y’all will be getting a batch or two sent your way no matter the price I have to pay.


There is a silver lining in this all, necrocanis and I will have a conversation soon.

 

[kno4te]

Think pass or reconsider ageneiosus magoi as a tankmate/teacher fish. These fish can surprisingly eat tankmates. It’ll grow faster than the wallacei. Mouths are larger than it appears. Just IMO.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Think pass or reconsider ageneiosus magoi as a tankmate/teacher fish. These fish can surprisingly eat tankmates. It’ll grow faster than the wallacei. Mouths are larger than it appears. Just IMO.

I have indeed heard that they eat tank mates smaller than them quiet often however their growth rate is not something I had thought to look up, thank you for warning me Kno, I do appreciate it.

I’m not quite sure how big their mouths are, I assumed it was comparable to my Wallace’s, however the fact that they have duckbills as well is why I chose them to be the teacher fish as I thought that perhaps the Wallace’s shoehead catfish would think he was a deformed Wallace’s shoehead catfish and when they saw one of their own eating pellets they would be willing to eat them as well.

 

[Ogertron3000]

I’ve learned many lessons in my rather short life, many that I am not fond of learning for one reason or another, this is one of them, and just like the rest I’ll power through it.

The worst thing is that this was the single best one as he would be out swimming no matter what time it was, I had high hopes on him being taught to eat worms and then tilapia and then teach the others..... It looks like I might have to go back to my original plan of acquiring an Ageneiosus magoi from aqua imports to be a teacher.


Your country is similar to mine in the fact that animal legality is based off of a list of animals that are deemed illegal thus every other animal is legal, yes? I believe you live in New Zealand? If I am correct then all animals being brought into the country have to spend a 6 month stay in some place before they’re able to be brought to the final destination and someone has to pay the high fees that come as a result of the stay. If everything I have said is correct then do not worry my friend as my love for this catfish is not merely a small hometown love, no, it is a world wide love, when I find out the mysteries of this species then I’m going to be sending them throughout the world so that others may enjoy them as well. Even though it’ll be expensive New Zealand will not be left out, y’all will be getting a batch or two sent your way no matter the price I have to pay.


There is a silver lining in this all, necrocanis and I will have a conversation soon.

Im in australia, not too far from New Zealand. I appreciate the offer but literally 95% of the fish you guys can keep are illegal to be imported here. It would be easier and we would get in less trouble if you sent a 1kg package of columbias finest export!. So we dont derail your thread I will start another one soon so we can discuss australias fish laws in more depth if you are interested.

Are these catfish uncommon in the U.S, I had never even heard of them until you started this thread so am totally ignorant about them. They look cool and im impressed at your efforts keeping them. It looks like you are in for a roller coaster ride but im sure you werent expecting it to all run smoothly. Good to see the recent setback hasnt dented your enthusiasm too much.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Im in australia, not too far from New Zealand. I appreciate the offer but literally 95% of the fish you guys can keep are illegal to be imported here. It would be easier and we would get in less trouble if you sent a 1kg package of columbias finest export!. So we dont derail your thread I will start another one soon so we can discuss australias fish laws in more depth if you are interested.

Are these catfish uncommon in the U.S, I had never even heard of them until you started this thread so am totally ignorant about them. They look cool and im impressed at your efforts keeping them. It looks like you are in for a roller coaster ride but im sure you werent expecting it to all run smoothly. Good to see the recent setback hasnt dented your enthusiasm too much.

Yes I would be interested in that.

I found my first Wallace’s shoehead catfish back in 2018 and when that one died shortly after getting it I spent the next 2 years looking for another one at which point I finally found some. The only times they’ve been brought in was a one off occasion by Wes, a (so far) one off occasion by the wet spot, and multiple times by Mike at Aqua imports at my request. So they are indeed rare. More common in the Uk from what I understand but only by a bit.

Thank you for the kinds words Sir, I appreciate them.

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

Hate to necro a thread, but... there's been a few imports from Brazil (?), and they've come in on the smaller side (and a bit cheaper, too). Any chance you might have plans to give em another shot?