Trachelyichthys exilis adventures

[fishhead0103666]

I got 7 of the above fish in the mail today from aqua imports and would like to share my adventures with them here.

They were very active straight out of the bag which I found interesting.
kno4te

 

[Fishman Dave]

Nice looking dwarf driftwood cats. Keep us updated how u go with them.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Nice looking dwarf driftwood cats. Keep us updated how u go with them.

I certainly will, if luck is on my side in the future then I might one day report a breeding of them.

 

[kno4te]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[fishhead0103666]

These catfish are going to be the death of me I tell ya what. I’m moving the tank to a different position and I go to take all of them out. I end up taking the fake plant out that they like to hide in. I thought I saw two so i go to remove them. I get one out then can’t find the other one. I tear up the area around me looking for the catfish I thought fell. I ended up checking the bucket I put them in and took all the pvc pipe out. I count 3 different times and get 6 each time. I’m going crazy at this point as I’ve been searching for the catfish for 20 minutes so I decide to count again. I count 7 this time and the times afterwards.
Turns out there was only 1 catfish in the plant and I miscounted multiple times, just my luck...

 

[Fishman Dave]

I went to the shop to buy my 7 wood cats ( different variety (tatia)) and the shop keeper removed their wood onto the top of the next tank whilst she caught what was supposed to be the 5 they had in the tank. 2 more came out of the wood after 5 mins of being in top of the tank. So in ended up taking all 7.
They are great. Have bred twice (every 3 months) but can't keep any beyond hatching into the tiniest wrigglers so far.
Really happy how unfussed they seem about the tank lights though.
All the best with them.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Nice, I love those wood cats! Tatia musaica is my favorite by far, just a beautiful wood cat. Good luck with raising the fry if that’s what you’re trying to do.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Well I am officially down 1, just went to do a water change and found a body. The stomach cavity has been consumed which leads me to believe that I am likely not feeding enough. This fish was one of the smallest fish of the group and of all the tank inhabitants so I’m assuming it simply did not get enough food. Given that the stomach cavity was consumed would indicate the other fish were hungry as it has been less than 24 hours since the fish in question was alive.

Conclusion, I am going to feed more.

 

[dr exum]

Sorry for your loss ?

 

[fishhead0103666]

If I could not handle losing a fish then I would not be in the hobby. Losses are to be expected, the important thing is that you learn from them.

I also will be stripping the tank of the two dozen or so hiding places I put in the tank in order to make sure I can observe the fish eating and see which fish eat.