Got two Hydrolycus tatauaia, now a question...

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Proximus

Proximus

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 13, 2009
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Norway
Hi,

Just bought two Hydrolycus tatauaia.
I have read about these fishes for a while, and i believe that i keep them under good conditions. They are kept in two seperate tanks, both With a very high flowrate and low lighting. The aquariums are about 800 liters, and the only tankmates are some Pseudacanthicus leopardus and Geophagus altifrons. pH is constant stabile at 7,2, and temperature is about 25-26 degrees celsius. The tapwater here is very soft, so i add a bit of magnesium and kalsum at every waterchange (once or twise pr week - 50-60% to keep nitrates under 25 mg/l). I also use Aquasafe for some of my more sensitive fishes (tatauaia are now one of them) at waterchanges, to help promote the production of mucus when the fishes get a bit stressed.

But there is one thing i just can`t understand... this thing about their life span. I read 1 year... 2 years.... but i have not found a single statement that would suggest that they get any older than this. With proper care i just don`t understand why they would not live longer than this? Are there anyone here who have had these Nice fishes for over 2 years?

Pictures of the smaller one... about 18 cm.

Hydrolycus tatauaia 04.10 (1).JPG


Hydrolycus tatauaia 04.10 (7).JPG

Hydrolycus tatauaia 04.10 (1).JPG

Hydrolycus tatauaia 04.10 (7).JPG
 
Nice lookin fish man. Looks like uve done your research. I think that with a proper diet and habitat theres no reason why they wouldnt live longer. I think that the 2yr myth has happened because people dont realize the amount of tank size a larger characin needs. If I were you though id try to get your fish eating frozen or better yet pellets. Unless you are breeding your own feeders.
 
Hi yeah had mine just over two and a half years, mine loves the fast flow but is fine with bright lights, first thing I did was get him on pellets. I dont feed him every day, he lives with my rays and ngt and is fine with them shows no aggression but do strike very fast at feeding time.

uploadfromtaptalk1380914641442.jpg

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Either you're confusing tats with scombs or the articles you've read are confusing them.

Payaras, when taken as a group, tend to be hard to keep alive. However, if one succeeds in actually pleasing their armatus or tat, they are known to last for quite a while, 4-6 years or more. Tats are slow growing fish and can get upward of 18" if kept for the longest of the long term.

You have some good looking fish and you seem to know what you're doing. Good luck with them! I hope to see many updates in the coming years. :)
 
tgroen: I hope you are right. Would be a shame if these guys only lived 1-2 years...

I never give any of my predatory fishes live Foods, and these are no exeption. My goal is to get them on pollock, dead smelt, shrimp, krill, and hikari carnivore. I am also prepping a home made Food for them as we speak.
Since i have these Pseudacanthicus leopardus in the same aquariums i keep the tatauaias, the Foods will get eaten anyway, so ill just keep exposing them to it - until they Accept it. Works With most predatory species i have had over the years.
 
Thanks for the info doyboy and chicxulub. Very encouraging to read!
I will keep this treat updated :)
 
All depends on how you keep them. If you give them the best care with nutritious foods and proper water qualities I wouldn't see any reason why nota tat might not live to over 2 years. That being said, i've never seen a 14 inch+ tat in captivity except in one occasion. I believe that tats are more delicate fish than armatus so they need more specific care that replicates their natural environment.
 
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