Goonch advice

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Homer Siped

Homer Siped

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2015
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So i think im going to bite the bullet and get a goonch. Been reading on them for the past few weeks. I have a 500 gallon tank to finish first. Was thinking i could get a 75 gallon as a grow out and that should last about a year while i build another big tank. My thought was an 8x6x24 tank this would be around 700 gallons. Would this be big enough? My fear is getting something and then it totally out growing the tank and not being able to keep it properly. Any advice on this adventure?
 
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For a 4-5' fish, 700 gallons seems a little small. I would build a much bigger tank, IMO at least 1000 gallons plus. With such a beautiful fish like that, i would never want to see it stunted. Just my 2 cents however, ad someone could very well disprove me, and if i am wrong, PLEASE DO!!!
Hope I could help!
-Justin
 
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Although, if you were to get a smaller species, that could work in the tank that you are planning.
 
justintheodd said:
For a 4-5' fish, 700 gallons seems a little small. I would build a much bigger tank, IMO at least 1000 gallons plus. With such a beautiful fish like that, i would never want to see it stunted. Just my 2 cents however, ad someone could very well disprove me, and if i am wrong, PLEASE DO!!!
Hope I could help!
-Justin
Click to expand...
Yeah i dont want one of the giants. The rutilus is a smaller or the dwarf i think is awesome too. I totally agree with you on tank size. I see folks but rtc at the lfs and they say ohhh a 75 gallon is very suitable..... Im like ya for a year, they need a monster tank as well. I dont want something that i cant take care of. They are awesome fish.
 
IMO a 8’x4’ footprint could be the bare minimum for 1 B. Lica, sp. indochina or ruti. They really dont move much or grow quickly. The indo species tolerate warmer temps and in turn do a bit better in captivity. B. Yarelli and b. Bagarius have more special requirements and are harder to keep alive. Lower temps, higher o2, zero to 5ppm nitrates and little room for stress/error across the board.

Even if u do go with one of the larger species its a feat in itself to keep one alive long enough to outgrow a 8’x4’. 3-4’ is going to take and easy 10yrs+. Thats a long time to evade equipment failure, power outtages, water main breaks/issues. Etc. even if ur water and husbandry are perfect. Things happen.

Sure, bigger is usually always better. There is a point of being practical at some point tho also. Larger volumes of water are more stable. You can be just as stable and consistent with auto drips or auto changers in a smaller system.
 
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Thanks, this is exactly the input i was looking for. I have read they are extremely hard to keep long enough for them to get big big. So in your opinion, try to track down and get a dwarf? 8x4 would be about the biggest footprint i could go, possibly a 8x5 and give one of the bigger ones a go? I just worry about it actually getting that big and being screwed and not able to give it a proper tank. I try to plan for the biggest the fish will be and not have to worry about building a bigger one or finding a bigger tank. I have a snapping turtle that is getting a 500 gallon and that should last him the rest of his days.
 
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Nice fish but that’s not a dwarf! Real dwarf Goonch are harder to find.

IF you grow a Goonch to anything much over 3 ft I think you will be the first and only person on this site so good luck. In my opinion the tank you are looking at will be big enough to house a Goonch for its life (ie, I don’t know of any that have grown to adulthood in captivity)
So far in 44 years I think I have kept 7 and every time fate happens once they achieve reasonable size, that’s not to say you won’t achieve it. But as @wednesday13 rightly says, even if everything you do is 100%, crap happens and with Goonch, ANY significant drop in o2 will do it.
If you grow a Goonch to outgrow i that huge tank I can guarantee at that point you will be looking to build it something bigger cos it will be a beast of a fish (just not very active!) and you won’t want to get rid!
 
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C

Thread 'Goonch Death Discussion Thread'

Hello all.

I am coming back out of the void from whence I was lost in order to facilitate a discussion on the subject of the large number of recently dead goonch catfish. Thus far, there have been MANY experienced, long term keepers who have had goonch cats for an extended period of time who have lost their fish. Myself included. This thread is for us to use our collective experience and knowledge to attempt to discover the cause of the deaths and potentially a way to mitigate it.

Please share your stories, details, and, most importantly,

DISCUSS.​
...
Yeah i been reading this thread about life span. They most definitely are a unique species. Its crazy that i have seen channel cats in the worst of tanks and they survive but the smallest change in water for these guys and they die.
IF i did have one that got that big, it would be sorry hunny but i need to move the laundry to the garage, i need a pond in the basement 🤣
 
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