Goonch ID

[Jdadams]

It sounds sensible. Are you fasting the fish? If you offer both, it will never wean onto the non-live feed. You have to fast it and perhaps will have to use other tricks, like presoaking in garlic juice, or train the fish to take feed from your hand, or tongs, or a stick, etc.

Again, other goonch folks should tell you better than me.

Yes, I usually feed him every 4 days or so and the night before I put live food in I try some shrimp. Maybe I will wait longer before adding live. They are adaptive predators so he’s gotta eat it eventually

 

[Chicxulub]

Jdadams Could be mistaken but I do think IMO yours has the round eyes of b.b or b.y assuming that we are still happy that the eye shape is a defining trait.
Would suggest that some Bagarius seem flakey however found mine to be quite resilient to changes in temperature although was never in more than 76 degrees and it didn’t fluctuate wildly. What mine was susceptible to was lack of oxygen in the water and a pump failure claimed him after getting him from 7” to 20” in 18 months.
I would say to keep him at the temperature he’s at as he seems ok with that and personally lean towards it being bagarius bagarius like mine. You cant over oxygenate that tank so an extra air pump would be a must for me.

This is best determined when viewed in profile. Rutilus and lica have raised frontal bones that have the eyes looking more upward, so they present as an oval in profile. The frontals on B. bagarius (and possibly yarrelli- I really need to read that paper; I suspect B. yarrelli has been listed as a junior synonym under B. bagarius and the LLG is now a conferatur name) are flattened and the roundness of the eye is obvious in profile. When viewed from above or obliquely, this trait isn't useful.

 

[Jdadams]

So I think I’m going on day 6 of no live food for the goonch, maybe 5. But last night he was super active, most I’ve ever seen and the last 2 nights I’ve been leaving a couple shrimp chopped in half but he doesn’t want anything to do with it. Should I try soaking in garlic? What other tricks are there?

 

[Chicxulub]

So I think I’m going on day 6 of no live food for the goonch, maybe 5. But last night he was super active, most I’ve ever seen and the last 2 nights I’ve been leaving a couple shrimp chopped in half but he doesn’t want anything to do with it. Should I try soaking in garlic? What other tricks are there?

Ime he'll eat when he's ready. It's only been a week, which really isn't that long for any larger catfish in the hobby ?‍

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

How big is the goonch? Again, coming from a non-goonch guy, the more sizeable fish is, the longer it can fast. Even smaller fish under a foot can fast up to 1/2 a year, believe it or not. Just as a record, not to say this length is the norm, but also to say that a week's fast is relatively nothing.

 

[Jdadams]

How big is the goonch? Again, coming from a non-goonch guy, the more sizeable fish is, the longer it can fast. Even smaller fish under a foot can fast up to 1/2 a year, believe it or not. Just as a record, not to say this length is the norm, but also to say that a week's fast is relatively nothing.

Around 10”.

 

[Yaponchik]

How big is the goonch? Again, coming from a non-goonch guy, the more sizeable fish is, the longer it can fast. Even smaller fish under a foot can fast up to 1/2 a year, believe it or not. Just as a record, not to say this length is the norm, but also to say that a week's fast is relatively nothing.

Listen to the man. This is true. My b.b. fasted for 8 full weeks. Now is back to eating like a monster.

About the temperature, right now mine is at 32C peak at afternoon, temp drops to 27C by the morning (ambient is 37C daytime, 26C nighttime) I don't use a heater.

I am the 4th owner of this goonch cat, it's been in the country for I think 3 years now. I understand why the earlier owners let it go. It can gulp .5kg of sprats on it's own @ 19" (trailer not included)

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Listen to the man. This is true. My b.b. fasted for 8 full weeks. Now is back to eating like a monster.

About the temperature, right now mine is at 32C peak at afternoon, temp drops to 27C by the morning (ambient is 37C daytime, 26C nighttime) I don't use a heater.

I am the 4th owner of this goonch cat, it's been in the country for I think 3 years now. I understand why the earlier owners let it go. It can gulp .5kg of sprats on it's own @ 19" (trailer not included)

I am just watching the fish in the back . But .5 a kg!!!! Wow!