Brachyplatystoma platynemum (slobbering catfish) info

[OTp1144]

Anyone have any info on them?
All I got is they can get up to 4'

 

[Firewitch]

Maybe this site is helpful?
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/brachyplatystoma-platynemum/

Here´s one in german
https://amazonpredators.wordpress.c...enkopfspatelwels-brachyplatystoma-platynemum/
It says, that the brachy can get up to ~27,5" and needs very strong streaming. The adults get heart attacks very easyly when they´re under stress (transport f.e.). That´s why the author says, you should buy a juvenile (~4"). The younger ones can be fed with white bloodworms to settle down, later they accept fish. (Hope, I translated it not too worse )

In other german reports they say, these fishes were tricky - they didn´t eat every fish; when the streaming in the tank was too weak, they were very shy... Sounds, that these animals aren´t very easy to keep.

 

[Chicxulub]

Good post, Firewitch . I look forward to your contributions if this is the type of posts you come out of the gate with.

OTp1144 , reference data for the husbandry of the much more common Brachyplatystoma juruense, aka the Flash Zebra catfish. They are very closely related to the slobs and their care is much the same. Please also reference the info on Planet Catfish, available here:

Brachyplatystoma juruense

Brachyplatystoma platynemum

 

[OTp1144]

Thank you both of you. It turns out the fish wasn't even for sale, but I definitely learned a lot about them lol.

 

[Chicxulub]

You're quite welcome.

They pop up for sale in the Marketplace from time to time. They're normally about $150-200. They're not rare, but they're NOT common. If it's a type of fish that you want, don't waffle if it becomes available, because you'll doubtlessly miss your chance.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Snookn21 brings them over regularly but only certain times of year. I've seen them at his fish house yearly.

But never seen a large adult on any forums FWIW.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/index.php?threads/difficult-catfish-id.643417/ -- platynemum is not black but half black and half white more or less, adults look like they wear a tux so another common name is a tuxedo catfish. Also called 747 for their distinctive tripod stance.

 

[Zeke]

I saw one yesterday at a fish wholesaler that was 10"+/- . It will probably retail for $300-400.00 when it gets to a retail market. The fish was in great condition except the very front of its nose/mouth was smashed inward somewhat. They have flatten out looking whiskers and sit on their pelvic fins ,facing into the current. I have only owned one of them, but what a great fish. Mine was hard to get to eat, especially when the lights were on. Mine loved live fish, of course. I also got it to accept white shrimp, nightcrawlers, and crawfish tail meat. It completely ignored pellets and even swam away from them. Like Chixulub and others have said, they are pretty demanding. They would love the current to be so strong that no other fish could swim in it, so as the aforementioned fish would have to stay in the eddies out of the current. Right where the catfish is waiting on them.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Maybe this site is helpful?
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/brachyplatystoma-platynemum/

Here´s one in german
https://amazonpredators.wordpress.c...enkopfspatelwels-brachyplatystoma-platynemum/
It says, that the brachy can get up to ~27,5" and needs very strong streaming. The adults get heart attacks very easyly when they´re under stress (transport f.e.). That´s why the author says, you should buy a juvenile (~4"). The younger ones can be fed with white bloodworms to settle down, later they accept fish. (Hope, I translated it not too worse )

In other german reports they say, these fishes were tricky - they didn´t eat every fish; when the streaming in the tank was too weak, they were very shy... Sounds, that these animals aren´t very easy to keep.

I got a 10"-er from Gerber's, Dayton Ohio a few months back for $200. So far it proved to be difficult to feed. Has ignored everything but live fish. Even live earthworms were a turnoff to my fish. Starved it for 3-4 weeks. No change. Even when offered 20 live large tetras, it didn't hunt the first several days and after that ate with dignity, that is slowly, took 3 weeks to finish off the tetras.

Runs away from dead marine baitfish I throw in like it is poison. After I confined with a tank divider in its 240 gal and poured in enough baitfish to cover the bottom and held it so for a day or two, it doesn't run away anymore but simply ignores it.

Peaceful with its vaillantii and capapretum tank mates. Does not bash or dart around like capapretum and rosseauxii do. Likes the current of course.

1:15-1:25 min

Great info on slobbers in these threads:

help with id on this catfish

long story short i ended up with this cat from a buddy he was giving up on the hobby and im stumped on what exactly ive got here im thinking its a very close relative to the tigrinum any input much appreciated ,excuse the heavily scratched tank it was a old lobster tank and the only tank that...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

brachyplatystoma platynemum Aka slobbering cat update

Bought my original one back in November at 5in. When he arrived he was thin and looked underfed. Started with live Platys and he took to them immediately and eventually started offering krill. When feeding I had to initially drop it near him for him to eat. But he's feeding well now and even...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

Slobbering catfish grow out.

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[blackbullhead]

Super cool fish. Definitely a deep and fast water specialist. I know loads of these get collected for export when they're at about 7" in the Peruvian Amazon, but I'd predict the majority end up in Japan. These seem to top off at about 4 feet in the wild, but like thebiggerthebetter I've never any large specimens in tanks...