Are walking catfish predator proof?

[Snoke FIsh]

Here's my logic, they have venomous spines, i've been slashed by them and they hurt. So like say I keep some with my barramundi in a 2000 gal even if the barramundi tries to swallow them as long as they're a decent size the barra should get slashed and spit it out. Is my logic flawed? They've been growing out together in a 75 gal if that helps at all.

 

[jjohnwm]

Well, they're certainly tough to swallow...but they can also be equally tough to spit back out. It's not uncommon for Clarias and many other cats to get lodged in the mouth or throat of a predator, resulting in the death of both fish. There's always that risk. Their pectoral and dorsal spines lock into the raised position and that's it; no going further down and no coming back out.

 

[Fishburner]

I've seen videos of them being used as feeders in Thailand, but they are kind of small in comparison to what they are being fed to. They can also be eaten pieces at a time. I've seen videos of Snakeheads eating them in 2 bites. And the venom probably doesn't affect the predators as much. Their vemon isn't deadly, so I don't think it really affects the predators from eating them.

 

[jjohnwm]

I've seen videos of them being used as feeders in Thailand, but they are kind of small in comparison to what they are being fed to. They can also be eaten pieces at a time. I've seen videos of Snakeheads eating them in 2 bites. And the venom probably doesn't affect the predators as much. Their vemon isn't deadly, so I don't think it really affects the predators from eating them.

I'd be less concerned about the toxicity of the venom and more aware of simple mechanical damage caused by a triangle of solidly locked sharp spines. I read a study once that claimed a sampling of the stomach contents of wild oscars was predominantly Corydoras catfish...but I've also had to crunch and clip several Corys over the years who were thoroughly stuck in the mouths of larger predatory fish, including an oscar once. I guess the wild oscars that suffered that fate didn't make it into the collecting nets and so didn't show up in the study.

Fish in the wild don't always know and do what's good for them. Those in our tanks are no smarter....but we as their keepers should be. Preventing easily avoidable problems like this is just part of good husbandry.

 

[Snoke FIsh]

Well, they're certainly tough to swallow...but they can also be equally tough to spit back out. It's not uncommon for Clarias and many other cats to get lodged in the mouth or throat of a predator, resulting in the death of both fish. There's always that risk. Their pectoral and dorsal spines lock into the raised position and that's it; no going further down and no coming back out.

That thought skipped my mind. Thanks for bringing it up.