Some cats I'd like to know more about...

[Thedaniokeeper]

Some strange, some unusual, some catfish! I have some cats i'd like to know about:
wave 1:
Sturgeon catfish
Amur catfish
Red Tail Syno
Gulper catfish (don't make the forum JUST about these!)
Zebra/lima shovelnose
Pimelodus ornatus
If you'd like, post another uncommon fave of yours!

 

[ctoychik]

I consider goonch (bagarius bagarius, bararius yarelli) to be fairly uncommon and unusual looking (whiskers in particular + plus LOTS of teeth). Oh, yes, it comes in various colors and patterns. Gets quite huge is you manage to keep one long enough. From what i hear they are quite difficult to keep (high current, high O2 content etc),

Some consider it to be boring because it hides most of the time

 

[fishlover88]

which armored catfish? did you have a cat in particular? Just the entire family?

I own 4 different sp. of doradid cats.

Spotted raphael (Agamyxis pectinifrons)
These cats grow to about 5". Mine hide just about all the time. I generally only see them if i turn the lights off and they will come out and swim. Havent had any problems getting them to eat just about anything.

Striped raphael (Platydoras costatus)
These grow to about 8". Mine is not any where close to this maybe 3 or 4" tops. But i have seen these for sale in stores and owned by people topping 6". Until recently this also was a cat that hid a lot and only came out after lights out.

Giant Raphael (Megalodoras uranoscopus)
This cat grows to 24". Very slowly though. Dont expect this guy to reach that 24" in a few years. This is a great cat though. One of my favorites. Has great personality sometimes swims around other times will hide. Eats just about anything that goes in the tank.

Bacu (Pterodoras granulosus)
Grows to about 3' and is much faster grower than uranoscopus. but ive yet to find out if over all growth is faster. I've been told that to 12" is much faster, so i assume after 12" growth slows down. This guy is not a hider. Likes to be out and swmming. Although like other doradids it does sneak away to a cave and stay there from time to time.


Lima Shovel nose (Sorubim lima)
Grows to 24" but generally not more than 18" in the aquaria. Predatory fish that likes to find a place to sit and stalk its prey.

Sturgeon Catfish (Platystomatichthys sturio)
Smaller cat a little more than 12". From what i've seen and heard if you dont give this cat enough space it will run into the glass and bend its nose.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

I thought that the nose bend was natural.
Min tank size?
This could become a catfish index!
But maybe not.
But Maybe

 

[fishlover88]

Well 75g would for sure be a minimum. but personally to keep the snout pristine i would go for a longer tank so like 125 would be good. But they are definately not supposed to be bent.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

which armored catfish? did you have a cat in particular? Just the entire family.

I was reffering to the Amur cat. Not Armored. Amur.

 

[fishlover88]

I was reffering to the Amur cat. Not Armored. Amur.

wow. I think i need glasses. This is the second time this week that i totally read what i wanted to see and not was actually there. Sorry about that. Ill be more diliberate in my reading in the future.

Also my dad had one. I thought about getting one myself, but they are absolutely hideous catfish. Definately a fish for the enthusiest. hid most of the time only came out after dark.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

Well 75g would for sure be a minimum. but personally to keep the snout pristine i would go for a longer tank so like 125 would be good. But they are definately not supposed to be bent.

In a 75g long (largest tank in these parts) could he be kept with any tankmates?