Silver-tipped/Tinfoil Catfish (Ariopsis seemanni)

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Frank Castle

Frank Castle

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2016
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Pennsylvannia
So as a result of searching for brackish tank Moray tankmates and being unsuccessful in finding the Mayans and Blackbelts I wanted, I chose to buy 3 of these Colombian Shark Cats today. They are about 3" growing out in my 75g atm and once they are WAY too big to be swallowed by my G. tiles I will acclimate them.

Any help will be accepted, Yes I am aware they get big and I had one before that didn't live very long because I was not informed it needed to be graduated to brackish eventually.


At what size should I begin acclimating to salt? That is my main concern but ANY other bits of info is much appreciated.

thebiggerthebetter thebiggerthebetter moe214 moe214
 
As you said I had 1 awhile back that it too passed away because I didn't know it needed to be in brackish water. Ime mine was always active and ate whatever I feed it. Mine didn't make it pass 5" so I would say start acclimating it sooner. Hopefully someone with better knowledge can chime in.
 
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I think they get about 12-14 inches easily at home and supposedly about the halfway should be in full marine salt.

Once 4-6 inches then should be in full brackish.

Once they are bigger than 7 should be switched over to fill marine.

That's what I remember from a friend who kept a 20 incher years ago.
 
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Sounds about right.

Not just brackish but better full marine for (sub)adults. BTW brackish varies hugely, from low end of ~1000 ppm TDS to high end of ~10,000 ppm and more. Marine is ~30,000-35,000 ppm. Most of it is salinity but it is also very, very hard water.

YMMV, just like everyone else's - some survive (barely) into adulthood in all fresh - we know ~4-5 reports on MFK - but die soon thereafter. Others never make it past several inches.

I too have killed several of these.

Besides the water requirements, these cats are supposed to be very easy, not fussy. They do benefit a lot from schooling, it appears from the reading around about them.

I don't think they can do well in water below 70 F.

This will tell you much more on the topic: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/new-black-fin-shark.545179/page-4#post-6513159
 
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fishnatics said:
As you said I had 1 awhile back that it too passed away because I didn't know it needed to be in brackish water. Ime mine was always active and ate whatever I feed it. Mine didn't make it pass 5" so I would say start acclimating it sooner. Hopefully someone with better knowledge can chime in.
Click to expand...
kno4te said:
I think they get about 12-14 inches easily at home and supposedly about the halfway should be in full marine salt.

Once 4-6 inches then should be in full brackish.

Once they are bigger than 7 should be switched over to fill marine.

That's what I remember from a friend who kept a 20 incher years ago.
Click to expand...
thebiggerthebetter said:
Sounds about right.

Not just brackish but better full marine for (sub)adults. BTW brackish varies hugely, from low end of ~1000 ppm TDS to high end of ~10,000 ppm and more. Marine is ~30,000-35,000 ppm. Most of it is salinity but it is also very, very hard water.

YMMV, just like everyone else's - some survive (barely) into adulthood in all fresh - we know ~4-5 reports on MFK - but die soon thereafter. Others never make it past several inches.

I too have killed several of these.

Besides the water requirements, these cats are supposed to be very easy, not fussy. They do benefit a lot from schooling, it appears from the reading around about them.

I don't think they can do well in water below 70 F.

This will tell you much more on the topic: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/new-black-fin-shark.545179/page-4#post-6513159
Click to expand...
very helpful, thank you......any other crucial tidbits like this are appreciated
 
fishnatics said:
As you said I had 1 awhile back that it too passed away because I didn't know it needed to be in brackish water. Ime mine was always active and ate whatever I feed it. Mine didn't make it pass 5" so I would say start acclimating it sooner. Hopefully someone with better knowledge can chime in.
Click to expand...
kno4te said:
I think they get about 12-14 inches easily at home and supposedly about the halfway should be in full marine salt.

Once 4-6 inches then should be in full brackish.

Once they are bigger than 7 should be switched over to fill marine.

That's what I remember from a friend who kept a 20 incher years ago.
Click to expand...
thebiggerthebetter said:
Sounds about right.

Not just brackish but better full marine for (sub)adults. BTW brackish varies hugely, from low end of ~1000 ppm TDS to high end of ~10,000 ppm and more. Marine is ~30,000-35,000 ppm. Most of it is salinity but it is also very, very hard water.

YMMV, just like everyone else's - some survive (barely) into adulthood in all fresh - we know ~4-5 reports on MFK - but die soon thereafter. Others never make it past several inches.

I too have killed several of these.

Besides the water requirements, these cats are supposed to be very easy, not fussy. They do benefit a lot from schooling, it appears from the reading around about them.

I don't think they can do well in water below 70 F.

This will tell you much more on the topic: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/new-black-fin-shark.545179/page-4#post-6513159
Click to expand...
OMG, I just went to start droppig in frozen treats for my tanks just now and one of the cats died ALREADY. WTH? That's weird, they seemed perfectly healthy, ate 2 minutes after I put them in the tank.....what a drag
 
Sorry to hear.
 
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It happens. I don't recall that these have been reported to be more susceptible to SDS. In fact, I've never experienced it, nor read about it.

They usually start stop feeding, start sulking and waste away as a result of inadequate water. IIRC, they should (almost?) never stop swimming.
 
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