Anybody have experience with Megalodoras Uranoscopus

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divemaster99

divemaster99

Dovii
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2014
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Pittsburgh, PA
Read the whole thing. I went to my LFS today to get some materials and being the doradid lover that I am, I noticed they had an Irwini catfish. It was about 3 inches long and in a tank with some geos. I thought about buying it but what I have learned is don't impulse buy unless you're sure you can house it so I went home without it. Right now I am just getting the last fish for my 75 in a few weeks and was wondering if I could GROW IT OUT in there. I would have it in the tank for about 1.5-2 years at which point I would have a 180 gallon tank to put it in with some other larger cats and cichlids. Now I didn't buy it yet so refrain from calling me an idiot there just isn't a ton of info about growth rates on the internet so I was hoping those of you that have experience with these could tell me if it would last for the 1.5-2 year mark. It would be in a tank with a green sev, firemouth, 6 giant danios, a striped raph, and a sailfin pleco (again pleco is only 3" and will be upgraded when needed so I'm sure I'll have a tank for the irwini). Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures sorry guys. So what are all your thoughts.
 
While not as fast growing as some of the other big cats, these aren't slouches either. Properly fed and housed, these catfish can grow from a couple inches to a foot in about 10 months. 18 inches in 2 years is plausible. I don't think a 75 will work for 1.5 to 2 years. This doesn't even consider a) where it will stay in a 75 to feel secure (they like pipes or overhangs) and b) how it will be adequately fed (until large they are probably mostly nocturnal feeders.)

I'm sure some people keep them solo, but they seem to like being with other similar / same cats as well.

Doubtful that a 180 will house them as reaching 20-24" full growth is a reasonable expectation. They grow slow compared to Pacu, Giraffes, Nigers, Red Tails, etc., but that is unfair. Compared to "normal" fish they get quick enough but then keep on growing.
 
Drstrangelove said:
While not as fast growing as some of the other big cats, these aren't slouches either. Properly fed and housed, these catfish can grow from a couple inches to a foot in about 10 months. 18 inches in 2 years is plausible. I don't think that will work for 1.5 to 2 years. This doesn't even consider a) where it will stay in a 75 to feel secure and b) how it will be adequately fed.

Also, doubtful that a 180 will house them as reaching 2 feet is a reasonable expectation.
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I have a bunch of spots for it to hide in, many many caves. It would be fed masivore pellets, silversides (when large enough), snails, prawn, etc.

i can see how 180 may be a bit small but don't average ones only get about 18 or 20 inches? I am working on a project for about 8-10years from now for a 500-600 gallon catfish comm. so maybe I'll just wait until that's set up to get one.

thanks for the feedback.
 
They don't seem to be very fast growers on their way to over two feet in length so the little guy should do well in your tank for that length if time.I have two which might even be a pair according to who I bought them from,one is almost a foot and the other(female?)might be around eight inches.They stay hidden during the day and come out at night to forage on pellets,fish fillet and shrimp if I offer any.
 
krichardson said:
They don't seem to be very fast growers on their way to over two feet in length so the little guy should do well in your tank for that length if time.I have two which might even be a pair according to who I bought them from,one is almost a foot and the other(female?)might be around eight inches.They stay hidden during the day and come out at night to forage on pellets,fish fillet and shrimp if I offer any.
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So you think I should attempt it, I'd love to but I need to be sure first. I would feed it once a day. It should be fine on my 75 until about 12-14 inches them I would start to hurry the 180. Yeah the 500 gallon plan is sketchy because it's once I have my own place and working for at least a year but as long as I'm still in the hobby I plan on doing it. I could always give it to somebody or back to my LFS as a display fish if I can't upgrade in time.
 
Drstrangelove said:
Here's a couple threads on him which also have links to some more threads. Pretty good stuff. If you get him, I hope he does well and I hope you keep him for life. They are really amazing fish.


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ni-catfish-questions&highlight=Irwini+catfish


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...ini-Catfish-question&highlight=Irwini+catfish
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I'm thinking I might go for it, like I said I can always trade him to my LFS, they are VERY responsible and have several several hundred gallon display tanks.

So this is pretty much his life plan IF I got him:

Plan A:
2014: fish goes into 75 gallon at 4"
2015-early 2016: transfer to 180 gallon (estimate 12-16")
2022-2024: transfer to 500-600 gallon monster catfish community (home for rest of life)

Plan B:
2014: fish goes into 75 gallon at 4"
Outgrows 75 to quick: take back to my LFS and goes into display tank

Plan C:
2014: fish goes into 75 gallon at 4"
2015-early 2016: goes into 180 at about 12-16"
outgrow 180 to quick: take back to my LFS and goes into display tank

diet: pellets, bloodworms, silversides, snails, prawn, other carnivorous foods.


does this plan have your approval MFK!?!?
 
Out of all cats we have recently discussed, this option is one of the best but it grows by far the biggest of all other options discussed (length and mass).

IME, 8 out of 10 irwinis grow as described above. I concur with both Dr. Frasier Crane :) (Dr. Strangelove) and Krich. I've had several that refused to eat much and to grow much. Most recently, I had one of 6 that was still 4" while the other 5 were at ~8" in ~half a year.

I'm a bit in the middle between the two previous posters as far as the 1.5-2 years go but leaning towards Dr. StrangeLove. Given that seemingly 99%-100% of timeframes we as fish keepers set for ourselves we blow, you better have a solid back-up plan.

IMHO 75 gal is too small for a 1' fish. 180 gal is too small for 1.5' fish. I'd earnestly consider other smaller Doradids... or if choosing an irwini out of a pack, get the smallest one... if you'd like to gamble.
 
It's good to see that you have a few contingency plans thought out,I say give it a shot.There is a chance that you may not see him very much since they are nocturnal and will hide if they can find a dark spot.
 
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