banjo catfish

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All three have grown considerably since moving to a smaller tank (previously a 125) to the 40 long. They are definitely enjoying the sand over gravel and definitely seem to enjoy some current as well. The male is about 6" nose to tail and the larger female has to be pushing 8 1/2"-9"

So far so good eating on mostly pellets but occasional live black worms soaked and frozen blood worms.




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Nice warren. It looks like your cats are nice and bulky and I also enjoy them on sand as well. I recently added the little gals in the main, I hope my females get thick like yours. Unfortunately the pattern isn't as nice as your big gal but we will see. I'm also feeding pellets, fbw and algae wafers.



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WarrendaFish said:
All three have grown considerably since moving to a smaller tank (previously a 125) to the 40 long. They are definitely enjoying the sand over gravel and definitely seem to enjoy some current as well. The male is about 6" nose to tail and the larger female has to be pushing 8 1/2"-9"
So far so good eating on mostly pellets but occasional live black worms soaked and frozen blood worms.
Click to expand...

calichai said:
Nice warren. It looks like your cats are nice and bulky and I also enjoy them on sand as well. I recently added the little gals in the main, I hope my females get thick like yours. Unfortunately the pattern isn't as nice as your big gal but we will see. I'm also feeding pellets, fbw and algae wafers.
Click to expand...

First of all ... nice fish both of you. And WarrendaFish, there's no question of their preference to sand over gravel. As soon as I introduced some sand to my tank (the little sand box I had made), they never left it. Noticed the difference with the lighter sand, and have figured I've given mine too many places to hide (oh well). Need to set up some sort of measuring tape at the tank ... but I don't think any of mine are 6" yet, maybe 5" I just don't know. As for sexting, either I'm only seeing females (still haven't seen them all since changing things) or it takes some time for the males to mature (display). Although there's one possible if I could be a better view of it.

As for feeding mine get flake and frozen bloodworms, but I've been trying out some Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers with so-so success so far. (some eat it some don't).

So far there's nothing else in the tank, and my son's really bugging me for something at least surface wise. Almost bought some Marbled Hathet Fish. But when I went back to show my son, the LFS was sold out. Was gonna buy 2 African Butterfly Fish (they were only 3 bucks a piece), but I've no feeders of the sort to feed them. When I figure that part out though ... I do like them and one day I'll have them, when the time is right but it was sure hard to walk away :(

He keeps suggesting neon/cardinal tetras ... had them once, but they all got eaten by some Chinese Algae Eaters that an LFS had convinced me to buy a few years back. So can't remember too much about them.

Bottom line ... I'd like to get something for the tank that's a) small b) surface type fish c) can tolerate a blackwater biotope (still contemplating it for this tank) d) hopefully won't eat any eggs/babies should these banjo's do one day spawn. So open to any and all suggestions.
 
Hatchet fish or tetras would be fine and I wouldn't worry too much about either eating catfish babies. First you'd have to get them to spawn which hasn't happened in captivity. But definitely a school of neons or rasporas would look pretty cool.




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Update time.

This past weekend ended up buying some fish for this tank. My son nixed me on the Hatchetfish and instead settled on getting 10 Cardinal Tetras (2 didn't make it). So we added the 8 Cardinals on Sunday, everyone was happy now that they could see fish swimming.
So tank occupants are now 6 banjo catfish (2 of which are eel tails) 8 or 9 algae eating shrimp (thought the banjo's might eat them, but seem to be leaving them alone), and the Orange Mexican Dwarf Lobster is total MIA (haven't seen it in quite some time now ... starting to think it perished or was eaten).
Noticed last night at feeding all 4 banjo's were out (as well as one of the eel tails) ... that was a first. Plus all 8 Cardinals were looking good as well.

Now I've never seen any of my banjo's stay at the tank surface (highest ever was mid tank) so I was surprised when I saw one of them resting at the tank surface right below the light when I came home today.
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Then I counted only 4 Cardinals remaining, one of which was just a little ways below this banjo. It wasn't resting ... it was hunting. :) Sweet.
I've had my suspicions, but this solidified it for me. They're not the peaceful tankmate they've been made out to be ... as the saying goes .... If it fits, it'll be eaten.
Glad my son wasn't too upset about his Cardinal Tetras ... we'll see how long the other 4 last.

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Banjos are ambush predators and yes if it's fits or sometimes even if it doesn't it will be eaten. The shrimp will ventrally be lunch as well. The crayfish probably met his demise during a molt when they are soft and most vulnerable. Glad to see the catfish are doing well. Kinda surprised to see them hunting tetras due their speed and agility. Looking good! Good luck!! Keep us posted!!


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