Silurus glanis Question

[GiantFishKeeper101]

I had a chance to get an albino wels catfish but I know nothing about this cat. It is still in shop, around 5". So many question running through my mind right now.

Does it exactly the same as Wallago in terms of behave or feeding, etc? Can they be mix with other catfish, eg piraiba?

There's a lot of videos that shows wels can be active in bright light, or is it depends on individual fish?

How's the growth rate? I heard from shop owner that they can get from 5" to 8" in 2 weeks.

What size I could expect it to grow in its first, 2nd & 3rd year? Can they thrive in warmer waters?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I had a chance to get an albino wels catfish
*****There you go!

but I know nothing about this cat. It is still in shop, around 5". So many question running through my mind right now.

Does it exactly the same as Wallago in terms of behave or feeding, etc?
*****I don't think so in terms of behavior - wels are more sedentary in the day time and don't hover like the helicopter catfish leerii but swim around and examine. In terms of feeding both my wels and my leerii take pellets or thawed fish or both.

Can they be mix with other catfish, eg piraiba?
*****IDK. Not if one can fit in the other's mouth but other than that it could be tried. In small tanks wels is not fond of other bottom dwelling catfish.

There's a lot of videos that shows wels can be active in bright light, or is it depends on individual fish?
*****Can be doesn't equal prefer. They are nocturnal fish by nature.

How's the growth rate? I heard from shop owner that they can get from 5" to 8" in 2 weeks.
*****I doubt it but know not of statistics.

What size I could expect it to grow in its first, 2nd & 3rd year?
*****Starting from 5", I'd guesstimate 12"-18" in the first year (in captivity in smallish tanks), 2'-3' in the second year, 4' in about 5 years. YMMV greatly.

Can they thrive in warmer waters?
*****IDK about thrive as my wels experience is insufficient but my water temps are 85-90 F for half a year.

wednesday13 Kingrancher2011

 

[wynnyelle]

They are not as aggressive as wallagos. They are strictly predatory like them though. If you keep fish in with them that can fit in their mouths, that's where they will eventually wind up. They DO get aggressive with each other if they are kept in too close a space with them. Particularly if you keep two together for some reason. If you keep them in a larger pond where they all feel like they got enough room, they should leave each other alone and sometimes even hang out together and be ok.

In my experience they hate the light--really, really hate it--and prefer a place to completely hide during the day. Some are more shy this way than others. I had one feeding from my hand relatively quickly but another one I treated the same in same conditions remained too shy to come out at all unless it was the dead of night. (Then he was all over the place.)

I had one put on an inch a week for a while. If you keep them in warm water with good food regularly (try nightcrawlers!) and in good water conditions, with little stress, they will grow scary fast.

They do thrive in warmer waters but can survive in moderately cold water too. I wouldn't let it get below 40 degrees for them though. Make sure yours has a bubbler, I lost one of mine years ago to insufficient oxygen. Also keep that lid on that tank/that net on that pond. I lost another one to jumping out much more recently.

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

thebiggerthebetter it's a dumb luck for me when one of the shop's customer cancelled his order, he called me. The price around 40usd, it is indeed true wels, 6 barbels & all. Really that cheap?

wynnyelle didn't know they could jump. Thank u for your info. Most of my tank doesn't have cover. Was going to kept him in a rooted & branch-ed environment, hopefully he won't jump

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

thebiggerthebetter it's a dumb luck for me when one of the shop's customer cancelled his order, he called me. The price around 40usd, it is indeed true wels, 6 barbels & all. Really that cheap?

You are on their native continent, albeit not in the native range. $40 is amazingly cheap by the US and EU standards, I'd say. Not to mention that wels are now banned in the US.

 

[GiantFishKeeper101]

The wels are finally arrived. Already starting to eat after a few hours in the new tank. Unlike Wallago, takes a while to adjust to new environment.

 

[Tobiassorensen]

You are on their native continent, albeit not in the native range. $40 is amazingly cheap by the US and EU standards, I'd say. Not to mention that wels are now banned in the US.

Id say thay 40usd is a normal price for a wels in that size. Or at least here in sweden. The same store i bought my clarotes from offered me a 90cm true wildcolored wels for 1000sek wich is about 110usd. If i would have the space for it i would pick it up. But my pool would be too small for a large wels with its footprint of 260x170cm. It would work for now but i wanna house it for a whole lifespan

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Id say thay 40usd is a normal price for a wels in that size. Or at least here in sweden. The same store i bought my clarotes from offered me a 90cm true wildcolored wels for 1000sek wich is about 110usd. If i would have the space for it i would pick it up. But my pool would be too small for a large wels with its footprint of 260x170cm. It would work for now but i wanna house it for a whole lifespan

Thanks, Tobias! I stand corrected. Take the EU out. Have you taken any photos of the wels by chance? Would be fun to see.

 

[Tobiassorensen]

Thanks, Tobias! I stand corrected. Take the EU out. Have you taken any photos of the wels by chance? Would be fun to see.

I didnt take any pics of it when i was there but might go there next week again. Ill take some pics then. They got an massive eeltail catfish there to i estimate it to be about 120cm

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I didnt take any pics of it when i was there but might go there next week again. Ill take some pics then. They got an massive eeltail catfish there to i estimate it to be about 120cm

No way! Really? Is it Plotosus canuis by chance? I got a pair at 80 cm currently.