Does anyone have any info that suggests a Ripsaw Catfish could survive in an outdoor pond during colder weather?
Oxydoras niger (Ripsaw Catfish)
- Thread starter WV girl
- Start date
Hmm, I’m not quite sure but perhaps
thebiggerthebetter
Rpul
or perhaps
Fishman Dave
knows. I’m not qualified to answer it so all I can do is @ people who are more qualified than me.
thebiggerthebetter
Rpul
or perhaps
Fishman Dave
knows. I’m not qualified to answer it so all I can do is @ people who are more qualified than me.
Firstly we need to establish what we are calling colder weather. What temperatures and for how long?
most of my larger fish spend winter months at 19 to 20 degrees Celsius for periods up to four to five months but this may not be classed as colder weather in many places (albeit my fish are protected indoors).
most of my larger fish spend winter months at 19 to 20 degrees Celsius for periods up to four to five months but this may not be classed as colder weather in many places (albeit my fish are protected indoors).
If you are talking in water below 65 F, I don't think so. It never gets to be this cold in their native habitat it seems, hence, they would not possess a mechanism or ability to cope with it.
From literature: (albeit I am sure their temp range is bigger; our adults have been fine at even up to 86 F).
From literature: (albeit I am sure their temp range is bigger; our adults have been fine at even up to 86 F).
| Tropical 21 - 24°C | South America: Amazon, São Francisco & Essequibo River basins. Possibly in the Orinoco River basin. |
Thanks everybody for the replies...although not what I was hoping to hear.
To explain: Because I have a 15,000 gallon outdoor pond, an elderly gentleman insisted I have his 100 gallon tank with several fish that he could no longer keep up with (it was sold, set up and the fish recommended to him by a local mom & pop aquarium shop). One of these was “a catfish” that was obviously outgrowing the tank that he believed I could put in the outdoor pond.
We did put him in the pond last summer and back in the tank in the fall. Then by this spring he was much bigger, pulling at every hose, tearing up everything in the tank, even making squawking noises to get my attention. So again, we put him in the pond (and he was soooo happy to be there). Now it’s fall again, and there is absolutely no way he can fit back in that tank. We contacted the store that sold him to the elderly gentleman to see if they could re-home him and they insist he can adapt and will be fine in the outdoor pond since at its deepest it is 5 1/2 ft.
At some point along the way I did google search to eventually discover he is a Ripsaw catfish and indigenous to the Amazon. But I was assured he could adapt to the pond. I live in WV where winter temps probably average around 30-40 degrees in the winter but usually dip much colder a few times each winter. We have a heater to ensure the pond doesn’t freeze over solid, which is sufficient for the koi and goldfish that live in it.
But it sounds like there’s absolutely zero chance “Carl” (what we named Mr. Ripsaw Catfish) can survive anything remotely close to those temps. Now I have no idea what to do with the poor guy. And I’m sooo pissed that this aquarium shop sold him to someone along with a 100 gallon tank. ?
To explain: Because I have a 15,000 gallon outdoor pond, an elderly gentleman insisted I have his 100 gallon tank with several fish that he could no longer keep up with (it was sold, set up and the fish recommended to him by a local mom & pop aquarium shop). One of these was “a catfish” that was obviously outgrowing the tank that he believed I could put in the outdoor pond.
We did put him in the pond last summer and back in the tank in the fall. Then by this spring he was much bigger, pulling at every hose, tearing up everything in the tank, even making squawking noises to get my attention. So again, we put him in the pond (and he was soooo happy to be there). Now it’s fall again, and there is absolutely no way he can fit back in that tank. We contacted the store that sold him to the elderly gentleman to see if they could re-home him and they insist he can adapt and will be fine in the outdoor pond since at its deepest it is 5 1/2 ft.
At some point along the way I did google search to eventually discover he is a Ripsaw catfish and indigenous to the Amazon. But I was assured he could adapt to the pond. I live in WV where winter temps probably average around 30-40 degrees in the winter but usually dip much colder a few times each winter. We have a heater to ensure the pond doesn’t freeze over solid, which is sufficient for the koi and goldfish that live in it.
But it sounds like there’s absolutely zero chance “Carl” (what we named Mr. Ripsaw Catfish) can survive anything remotely close to those temps. Now I have no idea what to do with the poor guy. And I’m sooo pissed that this aquarium shop sold him to someone along with a 100 gallon tank. ?
I'm afraid that without pictures of this Monster we can't really provide adequate advice 
. Cats tend to be really hardy fish. I would hate to see you lose Carl to a cold water experiment. Maybe a temporary indoor pond?
. Cats tend to be really hardy fish. I would hate to see you lose Carl to a cold water experiment. Maybe a temporary indoor pond?I highly doubt that that catfish could survive for very long out in that pond durong the winter and shame on the store employee for suggesting so.You could try contacting Ohio Fish Rescue and see if they would take the Ripsaw.
Wow, that's some story! Interesting and unique it would seem. But first things first: sounds like you are not experienced with these fish. It'd be due diligence to confirm the ID on your catfish. Please post a photo or a few. Use "Attach files" button below your post but you may need 5 posts to get this ability granted to you. I am not sure.
If the ID holds, there are a few things you could do for Carl.
-- Ohio Fish Rescue is one.
-- Post him up for adoption in our MarketPlace forum (and/or Craigslist too) to see if anyone with large enough tank is more or less local to you and would take him.
-- Or set up a cheap above ground pond in your basement or garage for Carl, even if temporary, for over winter.
If the ID holds, there are a few things you could do for Carl.
-- Ohio Fish Rescue is one.
-- Post him up for adoption in our MarketPlace forum (and/or Craigslist too) to see if anyone with large enough tank is more or less local to you and would take him.
-- Or set up a cheap above ground pond in your basement or garage for Carl, even if temporary, for over winter.
These are the best pics I could quickly find to show his detail but are all a year old or more. The last pic is last fall after he was put back in the tank and threw a tantrum, tearing everything apart and, we assumed, burnt himself on the heater ? (he was all healed up within a week or so though).
Hmm, how big is he now? Perhaps a stock tank could work, 300 gallons. There also is a 8’ diameter pool at tractor supply you could look into, 2’ high.