I saw them in the lfs and I want one, but google search yeilds Columbian Sharks. Are they the same thing? If not, what is the care info?
Black Fin Shark
- Thread starter Bottomfeeder
- Start date
Yep, I'm pretty sure Black Fin Shark is the common name given to Hexanematichthys seemanni, also know as the Colombian Shark Catfish and a member of the Ariidae family of catfish. They get to around 35cm / 14'' in length, and will eventually require high-end brackish to full marine conditions, although they tolerate freshwater as juveniles.
Yup, They are the same thing. I've been told to keep them brackish, and I've been told to keep them fresh. I believe some of the largest I have seen have actually been kept fresh for their entire lives. Feed them bloodworms and shrimp pellets while small, and you can introduce market shrimp later as well.
They are wonderfully fun fish to have around. For cats they are VERY active and swim on all levels of the tank. I swear mine never quit swimming while they were in good health. I don't actually know if they slow down when they get larger or not...
I have tried these fish now 5 times, starting with them everywhere between 1.5" to 6" keeping them in both brackish and fresh. The only thing I havn't tried that I thought may help would be a tank with a current. In attempting to keep these guys I've talked to people working and the owners of several lfs and they have all reported too me that they have many deaths while keeping them at the store.
The 6" one started off well, He ate well for about 2 weeks, had him eatting out of my had, when he slowly started eatting less and less... There was no explination, I had been feeding the same thing the lfs was, even had my water checked and it was the same parameters as at the lfs (these fish had been at the lfs for quiet some time before I got it... it was a small family owned lfs with a knowledgeable owner who tried to help me out)
I know that it has to be possible to keep these cats, I've seen proof of it in photos here on the site of large ones. I just havn't been successful in it yet, maybe you will... I know I havn't given up yet, just taking a break while my rtc, rtcXtsn, and channels grow out a bit... then I'll have a free tank again when they go into the pond...
Well in any case. If you decide to get them, good luck!
Heres some pics of mine before they went kuput. The top two are some of my babies, the third is my 6"
They are wonderfully fun fish to have around. For cats they are VERY active and swim on all levels of the tank. I swear mine never quit swimming while they were in good health. I don't actually know if they slow down when they get larger or not...
I have tried these fish now 5 times, starting with them everywhere between 1.5" to 6" keeping them in both brackish and fresh. The only thing I havn't tried that I thought may help would be a tank with a current. In attempting to keep these guys I've talked to people working and the owners of several lfs and they have all reported too me that they have many deaths while keeping them at the store.
The 6" one started off well, He ate well for about 2 weeks, had him eatting out of my had, when he slowly started eatting less and less... There was no explination, I had been feeding the same thing the lfs was, even had my water checked and it was the same parameters as at the lfs (these fish had been at the lfs for quiet some time before I got it... it was a small family owned lfs with a knowledgeable owner who tried to help me out)
I know that it has to be possible to keep these cats, I've seen proof of it in photos here on the site of large ones. I just havn't been successful in it yet, maybe you will... I know I havn't given up yet, just taking a break while my rtc, rtcXtsn, and channels grow out a bit... then I'll have a free tank again when they go into the pond...
Well in any case. If you decide to get them, good luck!
Heres some pics of mine before they went kuput. The top two are some of my babies, the third is my 6"dragonfish;2233048; said:
Aren't hers in Fresh? I swear I remember reading that... I know someone on here has two large sharks in full fresh...
those pics are different. these were thicker, "plump"er, and a darker gray. The fins were all solid black, top and bottom.blurock;2232980; said:Yup, They are the same thing. I've been told to keep them brackish, and I've been told to keep them fresh. I believe some of the largest I have seen have actually been kept fresh for their entire lives. Feed them bloodworms and shrimp pellets while small, and you can introduce market shrimp later as well.
They are wonderfully fun fish to have around. For cats they are VERY active and swim on all levels of the tank. I swear mine never quit swimming while they were in good health. I don't actually know if they slow down when they get larger or not...
I have tried these fish now 5 times, starting with them everywhere between 1.5" to 6" keeping them in both brackish and fresh. The only thing I havn't tried that I thought may help would be a tank with a current. In attempting to keep these guys I've talked to people working and the owners of several lfs and they have all reported too me that they have many deaths while keeping them at the store.
The 6" one started off well, He ate well for about 2 weeks, had him eatting out of my had, when he slowly started eatting less and less... There was no explination, I had been feeding the same thing the lfs was, even had my water checked and it was the same parameters as at the lfs (these fish had been at the lfs for quiet some time before I got it... it was a small family owned lfs with a knowledgeable owner who tried to help me out)
I know that it has to be possible to keep these cats, I've seen proof of it in photos here on the site of large ones. I just havn't been successful in it yet, maybe you will... I know I havn't given up yet, just taking a break while my rtc, rtcXtsn, and channels grow out a bit... then I'll have a free tank again when they go into the pond...
Well in any case. If you decide to get them, good luck!
awesome fish tho
mine are in Brackish...they need to be in brackish as they mature or they will develope skin diseases ..they start turning black instead of the silver.. they were in fresh wter until about 7 inches.. now they are almost 14 inches and about 3.5 years old... heres some pics..
