information on chaca chaca

[gman]

I am considering getting a Chaca Chaca. I was thinking of putting him in his own 30 gal, because I read they only got to 7". I also heard that they can cause drastic changes in the pH of the water they are in so the water must be monitored closely.

Does anyone have information/experience with them?

 

[Roy L.]

Great fish! I don't see why water quality should suffer from it (?)
But don't keep it in a barebottom tank, use fine sand so it can dig in and feed it with neons

 

[andywg]

There are reports of the Chaca chaca lowering pH below 6 towards 5.5. A mod on another forum lost a fish in with the C. chaca to this. However the low pH does not seem to affect the health of the C. chaca. I am not too sure how the chaca would react to water changes swinging it back up though.

Andy

 

[Rmillertx778]

i have one and its a great fish. i have heard the reports of the fish lowering the ph but it is not a problem in my 55g. but for me it could probably only help as my tap water runs high. but i have not detected any major drops. i used the finest gravel i could find w/o using sand and he burries himself in it with ease. hope that helps.

 

[benzjamin13]

This catfish are like a living funnel. They'll eat fish 3/4 their own size. Sand should be used as a subtrate because they like to bury themselves. They're pretty cool in that aspect, but for the most part...they just seem to sit there.

 

[Corydoras2]

Take a look here:

http://www.welse.net/SEITEN/chaca1.htm

 

[Corydoras2]

and here:

http://www.welse.net/SEITEN/chacaban.htm

 

[Corydoras2]

here:

http://www.welse.net/SEITEN/chaca3.htm

 

[Corydoras2]

and here:

http://www.welse.net/SEITEN/babychac.htm