Asterophysus batrachus - Gulper Cats!!

[KenyanSandBoa]

Just picked these guys up from the airport.

Anyone have any tips for these guys? I've done all of my homework, just thought I would give you gulper cat owners a chance to strut your stuff.

Now this is a face only a mother could love.

 

[mkman]

I'm gonna have to get a gulper soon. They are awesome! You picked up 2 of them?

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

I'm gonna have to get a gulper soon. They are awesome! You picked up 2 of them?

Yeah, I got two from Rich (rkc772)...couldn't be happier.

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

Here's a question for any gulper cat owners out there:

What are your thoughts on flow rate? I have my filter on the far left side of the tank with calmer water on the right side, but it seems like they are always swimming against the current on the left instead of just chilling on the right.

I've been debating on putting another piece of driftwood in the tank to break up the current a bit.

Any thoughts?

 

[Danh]

I got two of them last Sunday. They are 5-6" in a 30g with a penguin 330 on it. They also stay in the current. I am thinking of adding a powerhead. I love them... They look so dumb, but they are very selective with their food so far. They have only eaten the larger stuff I have put in with them. It's like they don't want to waste the energy for a small meal.

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

I got two of them last Sunday. They are 5-6" in a 30g with a penguin 330 on it. They also stay in the current. I am thinking of adding a powerhead. I love them... They look so dumb, but they are very selective with their food so far. They have only eaten the larger stuff I have put in with them. It's like they don't want to waste the energy for a small meal.

I have them in a very similar set up...30 gallon but with an Emperor 400. What have you had luck with for feeding so far? I was going to try some of my jumbo shrimp or maybe just throw in some swordtails or platies.

 

[TheFishWrestler]

How big are they? I got mine from Rich a couple of weeks ago at 3-4". They do love to swim into the current but also tend to take a break and just rest on the bottom in the calmer water on occassion. I had trouble getting mine to eat at first because he doesn't leave his corner very often, so I just started hand feeding him. I just shake a piece of market shrimp or silverside in front of him and he takes it.

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

How big are they? I got mine from Rich a couple of weeks ago at 3-4". They do love to swim into the current but also tend to take a break and just rest on the bottom in the calmer water on occassion. I had trouble getting mine to eat at first because he doesn't leave his corner very often, so I just started hand feeding him. I just shake a piece of market shrimp or silverside in front of him and he takes it.

They are about 5".

They are doing the same thing...swim...rest...swim...rest. I guess it's normal??? I was just worried that they were going to stress themselves out.

How many days did it take for you get them to eat?

 

[TheFishWrestler]

He wouldn't eat the feeders or food that I put in the tank for the first 2-3 days, so thats when I decided to hand feed him. As soon as I put the shrimp pieces in front of his face he was all over it. Once you get them eating they dont want to stop, so you have to regulate their food, or they will regurgitate it if you feed them too much.

 

[KenyanSandBoa]

He wouldn't eat the feeders or food that I put in the tank for the first 2-3 days, so thats when I decided to hand feed him. As soon as I put the shrimp pieces in front of his face he was all over it. Once you get them eating they dont want to stop, so you have to regulate their food, or they will regurgitate it if you feed them too much.

Nice...fish regurgitation...that must be a great sight.

Thanks for the info. I'll give hand feeding a shot tonight or tomorrow and see how it goes. Do you have pics of your guy? I would love to see him...we could just turn this into the OFFICIAL GULPER CAT THREAD