Sorubimichthys planiceps
- Thread starter RodG
- Start date
Thanks so much for the post peewee! I have already printed the info off of Planet Catfish. I am looking for info from people that are currently keepiing them here on Monster Fish. There is nothing like first hand experience in keeping these guys. My local LFS can get them for me but I want to hear from others before I take the plunge.
If your local LFS can get them I want their name asap 
so I can grow out a pair or trio of them. I've kept them in the past up to about 30" and they are awesome but I've noticed that they tend to react negatively sooner than other shovelnose species do to water quality issues. They grow fast like 3" a month up to at least 24" and still 2-3" a month after that if you're feeding them appropriately. I fed live nightcrawlers, market shrimp, feeder fish, and hikari massivore pellets. There are a few threads around if you search my name with pics of ones I've kept in the past.
There aren't but a handfull of people on MFK that have them and the last couple ones I saw went to people who didn't really have the room to maintain them and I haven't seen any more pictures so I can only assume the worst.
so I can grow out a pair or trio of them. I've kept them in the past up to about 30" and they are awesome but I've noticed that they tend to react negatively sooner than other shovelnose species do to water quality issues. They grow fast like 3" a month up to at least 24" and still 2-3" a month after that if you're feeding them appropriately. I fed live nightcrawlers, market shrimp, feeder fish, and hikari massivore pellets. There are a few threads around if you search my name with pics of ones I've kept in the past. There aren't but a handfull of people on MFK that have them and the last couple ones I saw went to people who didn't really have the room to maintain them and I haven't seen any more pictures so I can only assume the worst.
I'm the proud owner of said Planiceps.
These are terrific fish, what do you wish to know?
I would say the the 2 most important factors in keeping these fish are space & water quality. They prefer slightly acidic soft water & a large Tank /pond with a good flow.
Them seem to prefer to want to perch on the top of something.
Tank furnishings should be large study pieces of Bogwood & large Round stones.
These fish can be quite skittish & have an amazing burst of speed.
They are not nearly as active / aggressive as RTC etc and I would go as far to say slow moving & peaceful tank mates are preffered.
However any tankmates also have to be considered from the point of view that they are capable of challenging food items a 1/3 of themselves.
Mine regulary take large fillets of white fish that are easily a 3rd of their length and are and as wide as their heads.
You'll eventually need a massive tank or Indoor/Outdoor pond to house one of these.
P.S. They do NOT respond well to water treatments in particular copper based and other Parasite remedies.
These are terrific fish, what do you wish to know?
I would say the the 2 most important factors in keeping these fish are space & water quality. They prefer slightly acidic soft water & a large Tank /pond with a good flow.
Them seem to prefer to want to perch on the top of something.
Tank furnishings should be large study pieces of Bogwood & large Round stones.
These fish can be quite skittish & have an amazing burst of speed.
They are not nearly as active / aggressive as RTC etc and I would go as far to say slow moving & peaceful tank mates are preffered.
However any tankmates also have to be considered from the point of view that they are capable of challenging food items a 1/3 of themselves.
Mine regulary take large fillets of white fish that are easily a 3rd of their length and are and as wide as their heads.
You'll eventually need a massive tank or Indoor/Outdoor pond to house one of these.
P.S. They do NOT respond well to water treatments in particular copper based and other Parasite remedies.
Thanks so much Amazonfishman and Redtailrob for your feedback! This is exactly what I am looking for in regards to these cats. I went by my LFS today and he said
he will talk to the buyer at the wholesaler he does business with and put in a request for planiceps. Told me that they had them in about 4 weeks ago but he decided to pick up some RTC and TSN they had at the time. He even picked up a lone Jau that they had but he did not think anyone would be interested in the planiceps at the time. If he can get some in he would be willing to ship but he just asked to wait until he knew he could get them in for sure before I gave out his contact info. If he does manage to get some I plan to have 1 or 2 as a species only set up. Once again thanks guys!!!
he will talk to the buyer at the wholesaler he does business with and put in a request for planiceps. Told me that they had them in about 4 weeks ago but he decided to pick up some RTC and TSN they had at the time. He even picked up a lone Jau that they had but he did not think anyone would be interested in the planiceps at the time. If he can get some in he would be willing to ship but he just asked to wait until he knew he could get them in for sure before I gave out his contact info. If he does manage to get some I plan to have 1 or 2 as a species only set up. Once again thanks guys!!!