Recognize this Catfish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
koltsixx

koltsixx

Global Moderator
Staff member
Global Moderator
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2007
5,318
2,144
1,678
Bronx, NYC
The not often seen Trachycorystes Trachycorystes. I'm not sure whether it's due to low demand or that collection is difficult but here's my two Black Monster Cat's. A Driftwood catfish in the same family as Gulper cats, Auchenipteridae. Despite the description on planetcatfish I've never had a problem with aggression from these guys except between each other when competing for a hide and even then it's just low energy non serious posturing, the only result of which is a very audible grunts or growls. There's also never been a problem with them eating tankmates though I've avoided small bottom dwellers in their tanks. They have been kept with fish that can easily fit in their mouths with no loss or even attempted predation(knock on wood). Readily eating pellets and more than willing to eat from the surface means feeding these guys is no problem.

I've also got say in advance please forgive the bad angles this tanks hard to get to for videoing and for the massive amount of free floating particles caused by them feeding, it's the only way they come out of their fake driftwood.

[YT]cCf4FKdSsYY[/YT]
 
Nice looking pair. How big are they now and what's their growth history? That is one of the largest driftwood cats that can approach 2'.
 
msjinkzd said:
Do you have any video with their audible grunts?
Click to expand...

Sorry no, they like to do it in the middle of the night seems they get more boisterous while I'm trying to sleep. To be honest it scared the living daylights out of me the first couple of times it happened woke me up. They're even worse now as they regularly grunt and slide the fake driftwood from one side of the tank to the other and it grates across the glass. Every morning the tank looks different the driftwood we'll be in the middle or other side of the tank and one side of the tank will be devoid of sand. They where better when I first got them as youngsters I had 4 originally sold 2 they where content to lay about together without complaint.
 
Awesome cats. I can't believe you have them feeding from the surface. Is that just with the lights off or do they surface feed with the lights on? Have you tried them on earthworms yet? They grow a little more quickly if they can pound down the high protein earthworms provide.
 
There's a way to record nearly any fish sounds in an aquarium. They're a bit pricey but, for about $150 it's possible to record fish sounds with a digital stethoscope. The 2nd gen ones have output ports that can be conected to a stereo sound system or recorded into a PC.
 
you can get the nikon underwater camera for $130 from best buy- it is an aw100, or something. I just picked one up for my presentations. work pretty well
 
Oddball said:
Awesome cats. I can't believe you have them feeding from the surface. Is that just with the lights off or do they surface feed with the lights on? Have you tried them on earthworms yet? They grow a little more quickly if they can pound down the high protein earthworms provide. There's a way to record nearly any fish sounds in an aquarium. They're a bit pricey but, for about $150 it's possible to record fish sounds with a digital stethoscope. The 2nd gen ones have output ports that can be conected to a stereo sound system or recorded into a PC.
Click to expand...
They feed from the surface with the lights on, they used to eat Aro sticks but I feed them sinking Cichlid Gold now. They generally go to the right hand side of the tank and I drop the pellets right down there mouths they actually look quite cute looking down at them mouthing the surface in anticipation. As for those sounds there's no need for any specialized equipment as they're really loud I'd just have to set up a vid camera with the necessary memory to watch the tank all night. Or are you stating that a lot of fish make noise that's usually inaudible to us?

msjinkzd said:
you can get the nikon underwater camera for $130 from best buy- it is an aw100, or something. I just picked one up for my presentations. work pretty well. p.s.= really enjoyed the vid you posted
Click to expand...
Thanks for the compliment and suggestion. Right now I'm saving up for a high watt U.V. sterilizer and hopefully a new lens for my DSLR and remote over head flash. Here's an old vid of them eating the Aro Sticks. Please excuse the horrible quality.

[YT]Ys6Mru7DV3I[/YT]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom