Oxydoras Niger?

[WOLF2013]

Thinking about getting one of these guys.
I've seen the giant ones. Haven't seen that many less than 12''. Do any of you have pics/ video of the youngins niger catfish?
How do they eat and what to feed them?

 

[Dloks]

They eat everything, pellets, shrimp, cut fish. This is him prior to being 2ft. They are truly gentle giants ive kept 20”+ Nigers with 2-3” fishes and not once has it every harassed my fish. They are basically logs at smaller sizes and great cleaners

 

[WOLF2013]

They eat everything, pellets, shrimp, cut fish. This is him prior to being 2ft. They are truly gentle giants ive kept 20”+ Nigers with 2-3” fishes and not once has it every harassed my fish. They are basically logs at smaller sizes and great cleaners

View attachment 1315070

Oh wow! He is a beauty! How is their growth rate? Do they grow as quick as a RTC?

 

[Dloks]

Oh wow! He is a beauty! How is their growth rate? Do they grow as quick as a RTC?

I got him at 10” and by the time I rehomed him he was 22”? That was within 5-6months it vacuumed massivore pellets like crazy that tank went through a kilo every 5 weeks

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

Oh wow! He is a beauty! How is their growth rate? Do they grow as quick as a RTC?

No, rtc growth around 3" a month. Niger only growth around 1-1.5" a month. That's in my care, IDK for other aquarist, probably had higher rate than mine.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I'd say IME and in ideal circumstances, niger and RTC grow on par on average. An average RTC may grow a tad faster to 2' but really it's rather splitting hairs.

They are indeed vacuum cleaners at all sizes but mine always preferred pellets to anything meaty.

If you are wondering what the young fish look like, PCF (Planet Catfish) has the photos in their Cat-eLog.

I got him at 10” and by the time I rehomed him he was 22”? That was within 5-6months it vacuumed massivore pellets like crazy that tank went through a kilo every 5 weeks

Wow. Good genes plus power feeding.

 

[WOLF2013]

I'm getting a niger catfish in 2 weeks! excited as heck!
Also getting for catfish a juruense and a granulated catfish for my 150 gallon.