Goonch owners - Do you ever see yours move!

[Simonas]

I know they aren't going to swim around but do you actually ever see yours move about?

I have had what I bought as a bagarius bagarius , got it about 3 weeks ago and its 17cm long. Nice looking fish to be fair and I have always wanted one.

Are they slow growers?

This one doesnt move its arse for food but if I drop mussel or prawn on its head it takes it very quickly

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Very slow growers. Fishman Dave

 

[Fishman Dave]

What you have there is a typical Goonch!
Not really big in the swimming and moving around thing, in fact you can sit there ages waiting for it to move, turn round and turn back and it’s in a different spot….. now that they are good at!
Depends on type and food but 8in to 20” in 16 month is my experience.
A large tank with decent flow and a low slate cave the Goonch can call home out of the flow.
Slight concern is that in another thread you mention your large tank being 48x20 which will be no where near large enough for the Goonch for more than 12 month. And the Goonch won’t live with the fw moray - only one way that ends!

 

[Simonas]

What you have there is a typical Goonch!
Not really big in the swimming and moving around thing, in fact you can sit there ages waiting for it to move, turn round and turn back and it’s in a different spot….. now that they are good at!
Depends on type and food but 8in to 20” in 16 month is my experience.
A large tank with decent flow and a low slate cave the Goonch can call home out of the flow.
Slight concern is that in another thread you mention your large tank being 48x20 which will be no where near large enough for the Goonch for more than 12 month. And the Goonch won’t live with the fw moray - only one way that ends!

cheers Dave , the 48 x 20 is a grow out I have set up , I have a 72x30x24 with 48 x 20 sump but I can feed him easier in the smaller tank. Changing my garage into a fish tank room with brick wall and insulation etc so will be getting a larger tank again

Despite his inactivity he is a cool fish and I quite like the fact I can put the food near him on the prongs I use and he takes it

 

[Simonas]

 

[Simonas]

 

[Simonas]

Couple of months down the line I love this fish despite his inactivity. He is probably the most food reactive fish I have ever kept as long as that food is within an inch of the goonch, I never see it out to see whether it is growing or not but it eats well

When hes grown another couple of inch I think I will put him in the bigger tank

 

[Fishman Dave]

Just one point to note, lovely looking fish which by the old classification I would ID as bagarius cf. Indochina (not bagarius bagarius). They have gone and completely messed everything up with the new id with this as lica but photos shown on planet catfish don’t help as many are imo different fish. The Goonch care guide still remains the best way to id.
you should see that yours has the oval eyes and a more cylindrical body, less compressed, especially as it grows.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Fishman Dave It may take time to sort all the pics and info on every database. I have faith in Dr. Heok Hee Ng aka Silurus on Planet Catfish, the ichthyologist who revised the genus if I a not mistaken but having been a goonch-free peer I remain goonch-challenged and like listening to all opinions even opposing each other.

If you possess strong opinions, I'd suggest starting a thread on the PCF and posing your questions directly to Jools, the owner, and Dr. Ng, the scientist. I am more than sure you, and I and all who read it will learn heaps on goonch ID and this also could improve the Cat-eLog on PCF for EVERYONE's benefit worldwide. It is such a nice database and we ALL can chip in to improve it and develop it.

You / we can double that thread on the MFK too, no problem. When popularizing knowledge, everything goes and everything's good.

Rob C Chicxulub has been in contact with the PCF experts on his wonderful goonch write-ups and efforts too and posted there as well.

 

[Simonas]

Just one point to note, lovely looking fish which by the old classification I would ID as bagarius cf. Indochina (not bagarius bagarius). They have gone and completely messed everything up with the new id with this as lica but photos shown on planet catfish don’t help as many are imo different fish. The Goonch care guide still remains the best way to id.
you should see that yours has the oval eyes and a more cylindrical body, less compressed, especially as it grows.

I am inclined to agree looking at the pics and descriptions on the sticky thread. I am sure it will become more apparent as he grows