My Wels Catfish (silurus glanis) albino

[thebiggerthebetter]

Still have mine although I've tossed around the idea of getting rid of him due to tight times, although I would never forgive myself for that so I have persuaded myself to do my best to never ever sell him.
*****Phew!!! Please don't sell it. We have so few of them around and info from every well-meaning MFKer is entirely precious.


As far as never coming back to update this thread, I just kind of faded out from social media and forums from the fish keeping aspect. With youtubw booming and the fish keeping hobby expanding and growing in general The sense of community was kinda lost for me. Became more stressful than relaxing for me. Seemed like on every Facebook group or forum I was a part of someone was always trying to 1 up the next guy or tell him why he was wrong, or offer advice and misinformation when they had only just started the hobby themselves. So I just been off of the forums and groups the past several months.
*****Should you care at all what I think, I think you are overthinking it or looking at it from a depressed vantage point. What you describe is the glass half empty. Yet, it's always been like that. There are other people, let them be in a waxing or waning minority but they are out there and visible, who are a pleasure to deal with and learn from. All you need to know is who they are. Don't let the malice destroy your faith and cheer for the good. You can't better yourself and better the world by shutting yourself in a cave (unless you are a monk but that's a whole different story). Embrace and multiply the positive. Ignore and resist the negative.


...I have since moved him from the 340gallon acrylic tank into a 10 ft x 6ft x 3 ft pool pond inside my garage. Yes it's only a temporary solution. However it's fully operational and fully cycled and seasoned. I ran it for 3 or 4 months with small koi to get it established prior making sure no chemical had leeched into the water from the liner etc.
*****Great news!


...He is currently between 32-35 inches. I do not care to get an exact measurement as it's not worth it to me to stress him out and measure him. I also wanted to get a weight on him by holding him in a fish sling and attaching a scale. Again though I didn't want to stress him. I'm sure he is 3-4 lbs? Idk.
*****My guess would be at least 5 but could be around 10 lbs.


... I want to see an update of your wels too!!!! Didn't you have a couple? Or at least one?
*****It's all here: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/wels-catfish-albino-10.678844/#post-7631358

*****This might help getting you re-energized: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/posts/7676553

 

[that_fish_Guy]

thebiggerthebetter

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Great update. Thank you so much.

If you will, please, keep track of how well your wels feeds long term. It seems that all other wels that a bunch of us got more or less at the same time, that is 2-5 years ago, display some moodiness and periods of fasting, sulking, and dislike for any changes in their tanks but they are all housed, it appears, in much smaller quarters than yours (relative to their size).

From observing mine two, I concluded that they are much happier, outgoing, and better feeders in large tanks where they can swim freely before hitting a wall. I wonder if yours would be a confirmation to this. wednesday13 is most keenly interested too. also Kingrancher2011 gorak knifegill T Texasrockwell

 

[wednesday13]

Great update. Thank you so much.

If you will, please, keep track of how well your wels feeds long term. It seems that all other wels that a bunch of us got more or less at the same time, that is 2-5 years ago, display some moodiness and periods of fasting, sulking, and dislike for any changes in their tanks but they are all housed, it appears, in much smaller quarters than yours (relative to their size).

From observing mine two, I concluded that they are much happier, outgoing, and better feeders in large tanks where they can swim freely before hitting a wall. I wonder if yours would be a confirmation to this. wednesday13 is most keenly interested too. also Kingrancher2011 gorak knifegill T Texasrockwell

No catfish will eat every day 24/7 as they dont in the wild either....esp. when there spolied so much in or tanks. Its not uncommon for them to go weeks without food under normal circumstances in the wild. Im gonna have to disagree on larger tanks making them feed more. Recently came across another factor i never thought much of before which is lighting... i had a bulb burn out last week, changed it to what was a brighter bulb and my guy was pissed lol... he refused his normal meal until i changed back to a dimmer bulb. I dont think this is coincidence. Id wager tempature, water quality and lighting have more to do with apetite than space. My specimen can bearly turn around...but hed gladly consume 2lbs of fillets in one sitting no prob then beg for more on an "on" day.... catfish even indoors are prone to weather patterns and moon phases. Ive seen this with my rays also during rain storms and seasons. Big fish are programed to "power feed" during certain times of the year/day regardless if they live in a stream of 2' of water...or 20' down in a large lake... u cant discredit their natural behaviors even when spolied with easy meals indoors. It cant be coincidence my specimens appetite turns on with vigor during spring and fall like it would in the wild...and he goes absolutly beserk begging for food if a storms moving in... i often go by my fish' behavior indoors for fishing outdoors. thebiggerthebetter are ur tanks in direct sunlight or under a shade cloth still? I thought of ur specimen when i figured out my lights were too bright. Worth a shot to see if he feeds better in the shade.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

No catfish will eat every day 24/7 as they dont in the wild either....esp. when there spolied so much in or tanks. Its not uncommon for them to go weeks without food under normal circumstances in the wild. Im gonna have to disagree on larger tanks making them feed more. Recently came across another factor i never thought much of before which is lighting... i had a bulb burn out last week, changed it to what was a brighter bulb and my guy was pissed lol... he refused his normal meal until i changed back to a dimmer bulb. I dont think this is coincidence. Id wager tempature, water quality and lighting have more to do with apetite than space. My specimen can bearly turn around...but hed gladly consume 2lbs of fillets in one sitting no prob then beg for more on an "on" day.... catfish even indoors are prone to weather patterns and moon phases. Ive seen this with my rays also during rain storms and seasons. Big fish are programed to "power feed" during certain times of the year/day regardless if they live in a stream of 2' of water...or 20' down in a large lake... u cant discredit their natural behaviors even when spolied with easy meals indoors. It cant be coincidence my specimens appetite turns on with vigor during spring and fall like it would in the wild...and he goes absolutly beserk begging for food if a storms moving in... i often go by my fish' behavior indoors for fishing outdoors. thebiggerthebetter are ur tanks in direct sunlight or under a shade cloth still? I thought of ur specimen when i figured out my lights were too bright. Worth a shot to see if he feeds better in the shade.

Actually catfish do eat every day in the wild, however most of what they eat is really small items , catfish with more space exercise and therefore eat and grow more, they are also less likely to be affected by their own pheromones in larger bodies of water (particularly wels, I.d sharks and flatheads are sensitive to this).

The best specimens of catfish tend to occur in waters with plenty of food and clean water.

Most catfish prefer dimmer light, so for a catfish only tank no lights are necessary

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

... Im gonna have to disagree on larger tanks making them feed more.
*****I know of our difference atm. Didn't feel like playing your advocate. Glad you did. That's why Michael's input would be valuable. And that of other keeper's. T Texasrockwell keeps his in large quarters, no?


Recently came across another factor i never thought much of before which is lighting... i had a bulb burn out last week, changed it to what was a brighter bulb and my guy was pissed lol... he refused his normal meal until i changed back to a dimmer bulb.
*****Just as I generalized - any change and they don't like it and sulk or protest. Often. Not always.


I dont think this is coincidence. Id wager tempature, water quality and lighting have more to do with apetite than space. My specimen can bearly turn around...but hed gladly consume 2lbs of fillets in one sitting no prob then beg for more on an "on" day....
*****Yes, your guy's and my guy's behavior differs significantly in some parts and is very similar in others. Mine never begs. That's what worries me. It is just lying in its corner as if driftwood. But recently, a week or two ago, I gave it many tank mates suddenly. And it started feeding exceptionally well. Although he drives them away from his tank end and bites them knocking out scales every now and then. The tank mates are two large giant siamese carp, two bala sharks, three tinfoils, and three red hooks.


catfish even indoors are prone to weather patterns and moon phases. Ive seen this with my rays also during rain storms and seasons. Big fish are programed to "power feed" during certain times of the year/day regardless if they live in a stream of 2' of water...or 20' down in a large lake... u cant discredit their natural behaviors even when spolied with easy meals indoors. It cant be coincidence my specimens appetite turns on with vigor during spring and fall like it would in the wild...and he goes absolutly beserk begging for food if a storms moving in... i often go by my fish' behavior indoors for fishing outdoors.
*****All you say about their natural inclinations cannot be disagreed with. But this is a different matter. I am trying to separate out feed refusals that are beyond that and that MAY BE subject to space... and also lighting, etc.

are ur tanks in direct sunlight or under a shade cloth still? I thought of ur specimen when i figured out my lights were too bright. Worth a shot to see if he feeds better in the shade.
*****Mine lives in a dungeon. If I cut down on its light, I'll need a flashlight to walk around in my fish house at high noon on a sunny day

 

[wednesday13]

Actually catfish do eat every day in the wild, however most of what they eat is really small items , catfish with more space exercise and therefore eat and grow more, they are also less likely to be affected by their own pheromones in larger bodies of water (particularly wels, I.d sharks and flatheads are sensitive to this).

The best specimens of catfish tend to occur in waters with plenty of food and clean water.

Most catfish prefer dimmer light, so for a catfish only tank no lights are necessary

Kindly tip my hat to ya...and agree to disagree...theres exceptions to every rule.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Kindly tip my hat to ya...and agree to disagree...theres exceptions to every rule.

Same to you Russ. Everyone knows you are the Wels Boss. But I wanna know the rule before I claim exceptions!

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Same to you Russ. Everyone knows you are the Wels Boss. But I wanna know the rule before I claim exceptions!

Well here's some more info (regarding studies on wild wels), wels catfish are most likely to be caught when the water temp is 70 to 80 degrees f, catch rates declined when water was in the 60s, and in the fifties fish were not caught.

So it would appear the ideal temps for feeding are in the mid 70s to low 80s

 

[wednesday13]

... Im gonna have to disagree on larger tanks making them feed more.
*****I know of our difference atm. Didn't feel like playing your advocate. Glad you did. That's why Michael's input would be valuable. And that of other keeper's. T Texasrockwell keeps his in large quarters, no?


Recently came across another factor i never thought much of before which is lighting... i had a bulb burn out last week, changed it to what was a brighter bulb and my guy was pissed lol... he refused his normal meal until i changed back to a dimmer bulb.
*****Just as I generalized - any change and they don't like it and sulk or protest. Often. Not always.


I dont think this is coincidence. Id wager tempature, water quality and lighting have more to do with apetite than space. My specimen can bearly turn around...but hed gladly consume 2lbs of fillets in one sitting no prob then beg for more on an "on" day....
*****Yes, your guy's and my guy's behavior differs significantly in some parts and is very similar in others. Mine never begs. That's what worries me. It is just lying in its corner as if driftwood. But recently, a week or two ago, I gave it many tank mates suddenly. And it started feeding exceptionally well. Although he drives them away from his tank end and bites them knocking out scales every now and then. The tank mates are two large giant siamese carp, two bala sharks, three tinfoils, and three red hooks.


catfish even indoors are prone to weather patterns and moon phases. Ive seen this with my rays also during rain storms and seasons. Big fish are programed to "power feed" during certain times of the year/day regardless if they live in a stream of 2' of water...or 20' down in a large lake... u cant discredit their natural behaviors even when spolied with easy meals indoors. It cant be coincidence my specimens appetite turns on with vigor during spring and fall like it would in the wild...and he goes absolutly beserk begging for food if a storms moving in... i often go by my fish' behavior indoors for fishing outdoors.
*****All you say about their natural inclinations cannot be disagreed with. But this is a different matter. I am trying to separate out feed refusals that are beyond that and that MAY BE subject to space... and also lighting, etc.

are ur tanks in direct sunlight or under a shade cloth still? I thought of ur specimen when i figured out my lights were too bright. Worth a shot to see if he feeds better in the shade.
*****Mine lives in a dungeon. If I cut down on its light, I'll need a flashlight to walk around in my fish house at high noon on a sunny day

I had to be "that guy" haha... all in good fun my friend. Im surprised ur guy is already "kept in the dark" so to speak...was hoping that was an easy fix for ya to a bigger appetite but im glad to hear a bit of competition you added into the mix is helping him eat more . I've had that happen in solo fish tanks aswell. Always interesting across the board for comparison i agree as we all keep them very differently. Wish someone else had a specimen left from my batch. Last ive heard of another was from Lei himself and this was yrs. ago now when they were around the 3yr mark. I've been on a weather kick lately i guess being trapped indoors reading fishing articles, studying weather patterns and comparing them to what i have goin on both indoors and out. I'm wondering if its just the climate difference down there thats changing his feeding patterns. Like most large fish outdoors, my specimen does not feed as much during the summer when my temps are the highest and the warmest he ever gets is around 74-76. Can still be irrelevant as u should be experiencing a pretty consistent change in seasons also for the time uve had him much like the rio ebro in spain compared to other parts of europe where they live under ice. I may be experiencing a bit of a more "natural" temp fluctuation being on unheated autodrip as it consistently changes with the outdoor ground tempatures through the year. I'd like to hear Mikes views/observations aswell. Not everything is always left to chance....patterns emerge and things line up to happen for a reason. deciphering why...is the never ending battle we face in home aquaria and out on the water hahaha...