Columbian Catfish -- Guidance?

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MysticFox

Feeder Fish
Jan 26, 2018
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I've got a 3.5 inch - 4 inch Columbian Cat currently in a 30 gallon tank for his "baby" stage

I have the 75 gallon up and running, running through its cycle before I transfer him over.

Current water testing on the 30 gal freshwater:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
PH: 7.5

He/she is doing very well in the freshwater 30 gallon and is very active, eats shrimp pellets and flakes (seems to like the flakes quite a bit more than the pellets)


I've done quite a lot of research into these fish although I get mixed reviews on when/if they need brackish to saltwater, and when to do it if you're going to convert.
I've also read that they can live strictly in freshwater as well, but may have more health issues in the long run and have a rougher quality of life.

My question is: Do I need to slowly integrate him over to brackish or saltwater with water changes, and when do I do that?

Also -- If that is the case, what other brackish/saltwater fish will be compatible with him?
Granted, if I add more fish with him, I'll be looking at a 150 gallon, because I know these fish can easily grow to over a foot in length.

Thank you for your help!
 
They do require brackish to full salt as an adult. If kept in pure freshwater will get sick with skin infections and die.

Once they are around 6-8inches should start to increase the salt content to brackish water.
 
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kno4te said:
They do require brackish to full salt as an adult. If kept in pure freshwater will get sick with skin infections and die.

Once they are around 6-8inches should start to increase the salt content to brackish water.
Click to expand...


Next question --
With brackish water, do I use aquarium salt, or marine salt to do so?
 
I personally would keep it in brackish or saltwater but I work at an LFS and we have had plenty of people bring in 12in+ of these guys that were kept in full freshwater mainly with big South American cichlids.

They can be more susceptible to disease in freshwater though but are generally pretty tough either way.
 
I respect everyone's experience and opinion.

Mine is that all things equal, only 0.01% survive in f/w to 8"-9" and 0.001% to 12". They are carried year round by almost all LFS in the country. That's tens of thousands of fish at any given time for several decades now all over the country. They are as cute as buttons and sell well on impulse but are destined to a life of torture and death.

There is less than half dozen of MFK reports of 12" or larger ones in the last 5-10 years and they all met the same demise soon thereafter. Illness, usually skin disorder, and premature death. In f/w.

I am very happy to see the OP actually having done adequate homework and ready to go the brackish / salt route for this under-appreciated catfish. Great kudos for you!

I agree with the need to start the transfer at 6". Opinions differ on the final brackish strength (which varies from 1000 ppm TDS low end brackish to 10,000+ ppm TDS high end brackish) or salt (usually 30,000-35,000 ppm), it appears. I don't think we'd know as so few people keep brackish tanks and the saltwater guys couldn't care less for a huge and "ugly" catfish in their colorful and fragile tanks.
 
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Brackish tankmates might include nerites,anableps,monos,blue devil damsel and blue tilapia
 
I have kept these in mid-range brackish (1.006-1.008 SG) at as small as 4" TL. I kept them with some archers and scats, though I eventually had to separate them as the cats weren't thriving due to to the voracious feeding of the archers. I have seen absolutely mammoth adults kept in pure saltwater no problem, though I didn't keep mine long enough to consider transitioning mine over. While mine came from brackish water at the store I purchased them from, normally for acclimating fish to brackish I do daily water changes with slightly saltier water and upped the SG .002 every day. Echoing Viktor, I personally believe that much like a lot of brackish puffers, the individuals that grow and do 'great' in pure freshwater are exceptions, though having harder, more alkaline freshwater like we do here in Indiana probably helps many of the ones I see. I'd also for sure invest in a cheaper but still decent quality marine salt like Instant Ocean, it's going to differ chemically from regular aquarium salt and more closely mimic natural seawater. Lastly, try to snag him a few buddies, there is some squabbling with these fish sometimes but it was great fun seeing my 4 swim together. Good luck!
 
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