Pseudodoras niger

[Oolichan]

I'm in the process of stocking a 125G growout. The fish in the tank will eventually end up moving to a 345 or 370.

I have 3 5" Chiclasoma Temensis on order and would like to add a catfish. After reading these forums I really dig Pseudodoras Niger.

Ideally I could grow out a juvie but I've found a guy that can bring in 10" fish. My question is how long would it take for a 10" niger to outgrow a 6' 125G? How would it's growth rates compare to a 5" chicla? Lastly, any chance the niger would try to chew the chicla.

 

[toehead11183]

I say 6-9 months

 

[Oolichan]

I say 6-9 months

Is that based on experience or just a guess? 've heard it can take 5 years for oneof these fish to break 20"s.

Can anyone verify growth rates of over 1" per month on this cat?

 

[cl0wn knife]

get a small baby granulosus 2 go with it about 4 inches or so they great fish go well with niger cat

 

[pseudodoras]

if fed and kept properly they can reach 24 inches and more in about 2 years . and this is from experience . i have 2 right now that have had that groth rate and i had a 28 incher that i donated to sea world a few years back

 

[Tom500]

I think the niger would be ok with the other fish and i wouldnt reccomend buying a niger for a 6ft tank unless there are deffinite plans in the near future for a bigger tank id love a niger cat but i only have a 100"x30"x30" and wouldnt even consider one for a as small as mine.

 

[Oolichan]

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. I have a space that is 120x36xwhatever that is on slab that will house a new tank in the net twelve months. I just don't want him to be sausaged in the tank in the next 6 months. I'll probably end up with a 96x36x36 from Tenecor sooner rather than later.

 

[Dan F]

Is that based on experience or just a guess? 've heard it can take 5 years for oneof these fish to break 20"s.

Can anyone verify growth rates of over 1" per month on this cat?

I've heard a lot about super-high growth rates, but I've owned three and they were fairly slow growers. My first two grew from about 4" to 22" and 24" over a three year + period before an August power outage killed them.

My current fish has gone from about 5" to about 12" in a year. Being fairly sedentary, I would say you could grow a juvenile up for about two years in a 125. If he was already ten inches it could work for a year or more.

 

[Oolichan]

Dan - your experience is in line with the info provided by the seller.

I ended up buying the fish and the niger is now in my tank. He's pretty skittish right now and only comes out when the tank and room lights are off.

What did you guys feed your niger and any ways to get them more active?

 

[toehead11183]

I just got one a few hours ago. I fed the cichlids some freeze dry krill and later i threw in some Hikari sinking carnivore pellets and mine ate. Try stinky meaty foods like frozen krill, bloodworms, silver sides...etc, freeze dry foods and fresh market shrimp and raw bay scallops.