Where can I get a callichthyis callichthyis?

[EntoStentor]

While we're on the subject, where can I get the armored cat (callichtys callichtys)? I just heard about them and I gotta have one because:

1. They breathe air (EEEEEEK YES)

2. They are armored (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK YES)

3. They get pretty big and look cool (EEE...wait, a lot of fish are like that so I guess above reasons)

Anyway my pet store doesn't carry it (it's the kind of pet store that carries 3 baby pacus in a 5 gallon with 8 black skirts ) so does anyone know of any store or private breeder where I could get one?

P.S. Are they like raphael cats or plecos where they aren't real active, semiactive like cories, or should I expect them to be romping around like pictus cats?

P.P.S. Minimum tank size?

 

[tlindsey]

While we're on the subject, where can I get the armored cat (callichtys callichtys)? I just heard about them and I gotta have one because:

1. They breathe air (EEEEEEK YES)

2. They are armored (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK YES)

3. They get pretty big and look cool (EEE...wait, a lot of fish are like that so I guess above reasons)

Anyway my pet store doesn't carry it (it's the kind of pet store that carries 3 baby pacus in a 5 gallon with 8 black skirts ) so does anyone know of any store or private breeder where I could get one?

P.S. Are they like raphael cats or plecos where they aren't real active, semiactive like cories, or should I expect them to be romping around like pictus cats?

P.P.S. Minimum tank size?

It's possibly a seasonal species. I would check stocklist of the Wetspot and @Tangledupincichlidshttps://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=722

 

[thefredpit]

While we're on the subject, where can I get the armored cat (callichtys callichtys)? I just heard about them and I gotta have one because:

1. They breathe air (EEEEEEK YES)

2. They are armored (EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK YES)

3. They get pretty big and look cool (EEE...wait, a lot of fish are like that so I guess above reasons)

Anyway my pet store doesn't carry it (it's the kind of pet store that carries 3 baby pacus in a 5 gallon with 8 black skirts ) so does anyone know of any store or private breeder where I could get one?

P.S. Are they like raphael cats or plecos where they aren't real active, semiactive like cories, or should I expect them to be romping around like pictus cats?

P.P.S. Minimum tank size?

pretty big??????? I only see the get 7" according to planet catfish

 

[J. H.]

Wikipedia has a good article on these guys. They sound tough as nails.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callichthys_callichthys

 

[EntoStentor]

Oh holy... I knew they breathed air but I didn't know they're basically armored clarias batrachus. As is the case with a lot of exotic catfish, they're not very available. I can't think why, if they can be kept in a 20 gallon and be captive bred and can tolerate a wide range of conditions... I'll be keeping him in a 40 in any case. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

pretty big??????? I only see the get 7" according to planet catfish

Size is relative. On MFK it is small, I agree.

Note please that PCF cites max length as SL standard length, which excludes the caudal fin. So over all, the max could be ~8"-9".

I expect the sarcastic "Well, now that changes everything!" But for a hoplo-type catfish, it is a Goliath... who IIRC stood at 9' tall versus 5'-6' for an average human.

 

[EntoStentor]

What do you think is the minimum tank size for these guys? On wikipedia it says 20 gallon but I doubt the author is very experienced. Based on size a 40 or 55 seems ok. I'm sure a lot of people on MFK have these guys, so if you do, please tell me about em!!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Not every fish reaches champion size.

Bigger is better.

I can't recall ever seeing a post on this catfish on MFK.

FWIW.

 

[J. H.]

Only place I've heard of it before is Axelrod's Handbook of Aquarium Fishes. It as a dream fish for me for a while. I asked my lfs if they could get me one when I was 14, and they said no.

 

[thefredpit]

Size is relative. On MFK it is small, I agree.

Note please that PCF cites max length as SL standard length, which excludes the caudal fin. So over all, the max could be ~8"-9".

I expect the sarcastic "Well, now that changes everything!" But for a hoplo-type catfish, it is a Goliath... who IIRC stood at 9' tall versus 5'-6' for an average human.

ok ok maybe for a hoplo-type it is big but still I only own a couple fishes smaller than that.

I was aware of the way PFC cites max length, that really messed with me in the beginning and still does occasionally