Here's a quick vid just trying to get a close up shot of this guy.
[video=youtube;Dh-hfYRZWUw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh-hfYRZWUw[/video]
[video=youtube;Dh-hfYRZWUw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh-hfYRZWUw[/video]
Sperata sp. grow out thread.
- Thread starter necrocanis
- Start date
also here's what the tail looks like right now. I will update in a few days to show changes if any. Little camera shy so the best I could get. This little one has been eating like crazy! I hope that the growth rate will actually be better than the flathead so I can get them in the tank together for some comparisons. They will have some company soon also!!! 
That one makes me drool!!! lol I have some updated pics of the caudal growing out some.
Few updated pics. I also have a vid uploading of this one. He is very skittish with the tank lights on so hard to get good shots without the flash. Likes to hide in the croc skull lol.
Finally a good vid of this one!!! Natural lighting. Starting to come out more during the daytime!!
[video=youtube;oOoiGNnPo6s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOoiGNnPo6s[/video]
[video=youtube;oOoiGNnPo6s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOoiGNnPo6s[/video]
Geeze I have never seen anything eat like this catfish lol. I have went through a 4 oz. package of dried shrimp since I got him. definitely seems like it has grown a bit also. I will post up a couple pics to demonstrate that I took last night. This guys is gonna be monster in no time at all. I will definitely have to move him into the 100 gal in short order at the rate it is growing and eating. Temps have been at 78 f. Been supplementing the water with some aquarium salt as well at about 25% of the recommended dosage. Seems his tail will be fully grown back out in another month or so. So fins definitely grow back much slower than whiskers. Another thing I have noticed is it is getting some white markings on the caudal fin as well. The black spot is much darker,and the body is taking on a nice goldish sheen as well. Been feeding blood worms and whole white shrimp. Looking fantastic!!!! So while this one was neglected before I received it, it seems to be thriving now! Can't wait to get it into a bigger tank. Was thinking hard on setting up a 40 gal breeder with a large canister for a while until it is large enough that I feel it can handle it's own with the wels. Since the wels seems to be growing much slower it may end up in the 40 until the sperata goes into the 400 lol. Well it would seem that for this first month at least the growth rates I have heard of are not what I am expiriencing. I have not measured, but surely it is larger by at least 1". Will try to accurately measure soon. And again it is hard to tell which species I have so who knows. lol, love having this fish in my room. Even during the day now it is constantly swimming searching for it's next meal weather that is a tank mate, shrimp or bloodworms. Sadly it has killed one of my banjos, and ate both of my baby bristlenose plecos. I had no choice but to put him into this tank since he was much smaller than anticipated. I am sure the plecos were a very nutritious snack. They were only $1 each so not bad and only had them like 3 weeks. They were cool the way they would push each other around always, but hey sometimes you have to prioritize. Funny thing is there is one banjo catfish in there and it has become active during the day as well. It goes behind the filter when this guy is on the prowl. Must be one smart banjo to outwit the sperata.
Looking very good! Glad I subbed this thread
I wouldn't be sad if something ate my plecos. What a massive waste of Bioload. :banghead:
Sent from my Toaster
At $1 each it's not a huge loss, but really wanted to start up some plecos starting with the cheapies. They are after all catfish also.
I really love this catfish. Quickly becoming one of my favs. Those eyes seem almost intelligent. He sits and just watches me. It's amazing how deep those eyes look. Must have excellent vision. They can turn those eyes like crazy also. Lots of movement lol. Might try to get a close up vid of it one day.