Feeding a Columbia Shark Cat

[blurock]

So I purchased a columbia shark catfish awhile ago, and when I first got him he was eating dried cubifex worms out of my hand, when he quit eating those, he would eat feeder guppies, now he won't eat either and I talked to the owner of the store I bought him from and he said he had been feeding him sinking catfish pellets and chiclid pellets.
I have been feeding these from the start, and he doesn't seem to eat them. He is in a tank with two tiger oscars and a common pleco and they do not bully him at all. The cat is about 5 or 6 inches long and all he does is swim back and forth along the side of the tank (mostly at the top) I have fallen in love with Rosco's personality and don't want to lose him.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[cenecker]

I've had quite a few of these and they generally eat ANYTHING at ALL. If yours isn't eating you should be worried. One thing I've noticed about these guys is that they like REALLY REALLY well oxygenated water. The fact that yours is always swimming near the top could be a sign that the oxygen content is a little low for him, try adding a powerhead that agitates the surface or an airstone. They also prefer really warm water (which sucks because the hotter the water the lower the oxygen content). You've probably read by now that they do better in brackish or even full salt as they grow so you might try adding some aquarium salt (which is not a replacement for actual marine salt but might help him feel a little more at home).

Have you tried testing your water to make sure theres no ammonia or nitrites and low nitrates?

 

[cambo01]

yeh i agree mine will eat everything! what size is it! mine goes mad for live shrimp and jml catfish pellets but will eat everything that hits the bottom

can you reply with the size, tank size temp etc....

 

[blurock]

The catfish is about 5-6 inches in a 20 gallon tank (Yeah I know... small I am getting a 50 or 55g hopefully by the end of the month) I have two heaters in the tank so it does not get below 78 degrees, and my filter's return alternates to agitate the water (I have bubbles all over the surface) as well as I have an under gravel filter (so there's a power head with that.)

I am taking a water sample into the store to be tested today, hopefully that will clear some stuff up. I know that they prefer brackish, I just won't have the separate set up for him till at least June. I have wondered about adding aquarium salt to the tank but will that be ok for my Oscars and Pleco?

Thanks for the help guys
Blu

 

[cenecker]

Dont want to make assumptions but yeah with all those guys in that tank (I assume they are all small but still...) I would suspect your water quality. Getting it tested is definetly a good start but if you aren't changing at least 50% weekly I'd imagine your waters probably a little nasty.

Toss the undergravel filter those things are CRAP, good for nothing but trapping organic garbage that will continue releasing nitrate FOREVER (at least that's my opinion) and just use the powerhead to keep the top of the water nice and choppy. Crank your heat up to 85-86 and see if his appetite returns. The salt shouldn't bother the other fish...but then again it's just a suggestion its really no replacement for actual marine salt so If you are uncomfortable using it don't worry about it.

Most of the monster columbian cats I've seen have been maintained freshwater thier whole lives. They need some salinity for reproduction and probably maximum life span and size. However they do get over 12" even in fresh so a 55 is gonna be TIGHT quarters by the time he's full grown. I'd aim for an even bigger tank...your going to want it eventually anyway

 

[necrocanis]

I'd say go with a 75 or 90 gal. Price is just a little more, but it will be worth way more than a 55 gal in the long run for you. Your fish will all outgrow a 55 gal. 75 and 90 gives more turning room, and wider spaces for your catfish. Also I've noticed that when they hit the 5-7" range they start having a higher demand for salt. They are fine in pure fresh up til about 5" they start to fast and eventually die without salt. At least that's been my expirience. I've kept them up to 7" with just the minimum recommendations of aquarium salt for fresh water tanks. Didn't want to kill my other fish with too much salt but ended up killing these guys instead. I say make a brackish tank just for them.

 

[blurock]

Thanks guys. I hate seeing my fish in the 20g, they all started small and worked fine (I was fully aware they were going to grow out of it.) The only issue is that I live in a dorm, and I am already over the max tank size. Im getting the 55 because they are all no bigger than 6" and I have to live with my parents for a bit before finding my own place and my mom does not want another huge tank (I grew up with a 100g tropical but my mom got rid of it when I left for college) I figured the 55 would be enough till I get my own place, and then I will expand into a larger tank and I was hoping to end up actually making an indoor pond for my catfish that I could set up as a brackish for him if the need arose.
And, with the under gravel, It will be managed and cleaned as the tank is moved from seattle to pullman at least twice a year, it was my way of adding extra filtration as I have a power filter, the under gravel is new and I don't think it's been in there long enough to cause problems. I forgot the my lfs was closed on sunday so I'll go get the water checked tomorrow morning.
I turned the tank temp up so we'll see what happens. Thanks again