Dr David
Sands discusses the positives and pitfalls of keeping
cats and provides the essential background to some
catfish types for the aquarist who is about to explore
above and beyond their first community aquarium.
nce your initial apprenticeship
of fishkeeping has been served, curiosity naturally
encourages a fully fledged aquarist to explore the
world of the mysterious and unusual. It's not that
there's anything wrong with shoals of guppies and
tetras, colourfully interspersed with gouramies. It's
that the time comes when everyone wants to keep those
fishes experienced aquarists seem to home in on every
time they visit the aquatic store.
Catfishes are popular for a number of reasons;
they hide, partly because they are nocturnal and partly
because they are mysterious. Even though the novice
aquarist has enjoyed keeping the common species, such
as the peppered and bristle nosed catfishes, these
do pale into insignificance when compared to real
exotics. How about a scribbled plec' that is
priced at more than the aquarium! The primary targets
for serious aquarists has always been cichlids and
catfishes. Despite being armed with the latest books
they can be still be difficult to identify and quantify
even into something simple such as community friend
or foe. There are literally hundreds of catfishes
and cichlids and many species have vastly different
juvenile and adult colourations. Little is really
known about their life histories in nature and much
of the aquarium care is based on educated guesswork.
The classification of many unidentified loricariids
(suckermouths) for example, now so numerous that they
are referred to under Log numbers' for discerning
aquarists, is a minefield for this and other reasons.
With so many expensively priced suckermouth species
available, varying in size from a few centimetres
to a metre, it can be extemely costly if the wrong
catfish is purchased on an impulse. The larger stores
also display artificial hybrid species that may appear
familiar but may combine giant species with more modest
sized forms.
In the first part
of this series it is intended to discuss the positives
and pitfalls of purchasing weird and wonderful catfishes
with a build up guide of pointers to enable aquarists
to make a more considered selection. It's not just
about suckermouths, even purchasing rarer forms Corydoras
can set an expensive challenge for the fishkeeper
who wishes to move into the second gear' of aquarium
communities. Corydoras barbatus, for example,
can be extremely difficult to maintain in an established
community system that has become overcrowded, is probably
too acidic and contains a stagnating substrate. These
catfishes are usually imported after being held for
some time at South American export centres following
capture and they often arrive hollow bellied. If they
are not provided with the right water conditions and
diet they rapidly succumb to infections. The terrible
net result' of husbandry mistakes can be an expensive
and sad loss of one of the most beautiful catfish
species available in the hobby. With the right aquarium
maintenance ie 50% partial water change, combined
with an aquascape that includes a shallow sand substrate
and open substrate spaces these superb catfishes may
adapt to captivity. In addition, a diet of finely
shredded shrimp and flaked food should ensure the
bearded catfishes survive the trauma of their incredible
journey from the coastal streams of Rio de Janeiro
to the aquarium in your living room. The following
catfish data sheets provided include tip and a unique
positives and pitfalls' summary. Collect them all
to build up an information library on the rare and
the unusual species that are for sale in the specialist
aquatic stores.
Catfish data sheet 1:Corydoras
barbatus
(Rio form) (Now Scleromystax
barbatus ) the Bearded Catfish,
Southern Brazil. Habitat: flowing coastal creeks on
a sand and pebble substrate. Maximum total length:
100 mm (4 in) Natural diet: Insect larvae, aquatic worms,
small invertebrates and crustaceans. When spawning,
Corydoras barbatus place their eggs high at
the water surface on the aquarium glass in batches
of five and seven at one time. Males are slender when
viewed from above and are more distinctive in colour
than females. In breeding condition, the males display
fine cheek bristles. Maintenance care: pH 6.7 - 7.3, hardness: fairly
soft, aquascape: a sand and pebble substrate, a diet
of finely shredded unshelled' shrimp and flake.
One of the largest Corydoras species known,
the bearded catfish is found in at least two forms,
a white snouted type from Rio de Janeiro and a gold
striped type from Sao Paulo. The two types will certainly
be described as different species in the future because
science has already discovered that both forms have
distinct genetic identities. The male of this handsome
southern Brazilian species is one of a few long snouted
species within the genus that develop cheek bristles
during the breeding season and sometimes beyond. Males
are aggressively territorial (not always acknowledged
in aquarium literature) especially during the spawning
period. These catfishes will thrive in a fairly wide
range of water conditions providing the pH is not
too acidic and the substrate is clean and made up
of shallow sand and pebbles. Once established they
prove relatively easy to spawn in the healthy aquarium. Positives: super colour, relatively large peaceful'
Corydoras, can be bred under aquarium conditions.
Active during some daylight hours. Pitfalls: Starved on export, can arrive on
the retail front extremely emaciated, hard to settle
in an established aquarium community. Expensive to
buy.
Catfish data sheet 2:Liosomadorus
oncinus,
the Jaguar Catfish, Brazil. Habitat: Small tributary rivers and streams.
Maximum total length: 150 mm (6 in) Natural diet: crustaceans, small fishes and
assorted invertebrates.
The captive breeding of the Jaguar catfish has not
yet been achieved in aquaria although the spawning
method, through internal fertilisation, is thought
to be the same as that known in other Driftwood catfishes.
Adult males are believed to be more ornately patterned
and are probably smaller and more slender than adult
females. Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5, hardness: soft
to medium, aquascape: a sand and pebble substrate,
bogwood, branches, a diet of unshelled' shrimp, small
earthworms food sticks, granules and flake. The aquarium
maintenance for this species hugely depends on providing
it with good water quality in a larger than average
system. As nocturnal predators, these catfishes should
only be maintained with community fishes of equal
or greater size. As one of the most beautiful of all
South American catfishes, the Jaguar catfish can be
recognised by its striking yellow blotches and dark
lines on a brown and white body. The jaguar catfish
is unique in that it shares distinctive characteristics
of two very different families.
It is scaleless, in keeping with all of the auchenipterids,
and yet it possesses a gill spine and a long-based
adipose fin, which are distinctive traits of the doradids,
or Thorny Catfishes. The Jaguar Catfish can be found
in many colour pattern varieties, some forms are thought
to represent another species. It has proved fairly
easy to maintain because it will accept a broad range
of good water conditions and a wide variety of foods. Positives: Superb juvenile colour pattern,
Large adults reasonably peaceful when maintained in
spacious, uncrowded, aquarium conditions. Pitfalls: Adults are predatory towards small
fishes and are therefore unsuited to small fish aquarium
communities. Extremely nocturnal and totally inactive
during daylight hours.
Catfish data sheet 3:Sorubim
lima,
Shovel-nosed Catfish, Widespread in South America. Habitat: large flowing rivers, Maximum total
Length: 450 mm (18 in) Natural diet: Small fishes, crustaceans and
anything small enough to be eaten!.
Unknown breeding habits and there are no recorded
sexual differences. Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5,
hardness: soft to medium, aquascape: a sand and pebble
substrate, bog wood, branches, a diet of unshelled'
shrimp, earthworms, small strips of fish and food
sticks. Predatory towards smaller fishes, but suitable
for larger catfish/cichlid/barb/ characin fish communitities.
The common Shovel-nosed catfish is one of the few
predatory species that will easily to adapt to prepared
foods. Healthy specimens will consume shrimp, fish
pieces and earthworms if they are offered early and
on a regular basis. Sorubim lima will thrive
in a broad range of pH and hardness conditions, demanding
only bright well-filtered water. They appear to be
one of the few larger pimelodids that can be maintained
together in small groups, especially if introduced
as juveniles. Water quality needs to be high with
dissolved oxygen levels especially important. Frequently
made large scale partial water changes will ensure
the growth and development of this species in captivity. Positives: Smallest of the shovel nosed catfishes',
Large adults reasonably peaceful when maintained alongside
other large fishes. Active during daylight hours. Pitfalls: Adults require large, well oxygenated,
aquaria and are predatory towards small fishes.
Catfish data sheet 4:Platydoras
costatus
( Now Platydoras
armatulus ) the Humbug or Talking
Catfish, from Brazil to Peru. Habitat: small tributary rivers and streams.
Maximum total length: 200 mm (8 in) Natural diet: Snails, insect larvae, etc. Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5,
Hardness: soft to hard, aquascape: a sand and pebble
substrate, a diet of shredded unshelled' shrimp, food
sticks, granules and flake. Success for the Humbug
catfish in captivity is dependant on providing plenty
of caves and wood. They can be extremely territorial
towards their own kind are likely to dispute ownership
of caves, nooks and crannies with other nocturnal
catfish. However, the humbug catfish is not over aggressive
and will do little more than outspread its pectoral
and dorsal fin spines in defence. This action is only
dangerous when directed at scaleless fishes disputing
territory. This black Talking Catfish' has a "humbug"
white stripe across its lateral line and this striking
pattern makes it popular among fishkeepers seeking
an oddity for the community aquarium.
The talking title is given to members of this family
of catfishes because they are able to create sounds
by grating fin bones in each socket and amplify the
noise via the swim bladder to give potential predators
a fright. In keeping with most catfish species, Platydoras
costatus is extremely nocturnal and in captivity
will predate on small fishes during the hours of darkness. Positives: Inexpensive to buy, attractive colour
pattern, Adults are reasonably peaceful when maintained
alongside medium sized community fishes . Pitfalls: Adults are predatory towards very
small fishes and are therefore unsuited to small fish
aquarium communities. Territorial and extremely nocturnal.
Catfish data sheet 5:Mystus tengara
the False Pyjama Catfish, Asia. Habitat: small tributary creeks and flowing
rivers.
Maximum total length: 125-150 mm (4-5 in) Natural diet: Invertebrate larvae, crustaceans
foods in nature.
Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5, hardness: soft to
hard, aquascape: a sand and pebble substrate, bog
wood, branches, a diet of unshelled' shrimp, small
earthworms, granules and flake. Known breeding information
confirms that they are egg scatterers. Males are smaller
and more slender than females. Whilst this species
is thought to be the most familiar of Asian catfishes
its exact identity has been confused with Mystus
vittatus over the years. The true Pyjama catfish
was spawned in the aquarium. Dr Franke recorded that
several thousand eggs were produced in the one spawning
and that a high percentage hatched after several days.
This spawning information would appear to be true
for most Mystus species. Positives: Inexpensive to buy, Adults are reasonably
peaceful when maintained alongside medium sized community
fishes . Some activity shown during daylight hours. Pitfalls: Adults are predatory towards very
small fishes and are therefore unsuited to small fish
aquarium communities.
Catfish data sheet 6:Synodontis
eupterus,
the Feather Fin Catfish, Africa, Niger River system.
Habitat: Large rivers. Max total length: 150-200
mm (6-8 in) Natural diet: Invertebrates, small fishes and
crustaceans. Breeding: Adult males are smaller than
females. Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5, hardness: soft
to hard, aquascape: a sand and pebble substrate, bog
wood, branches, a diet of unshelled' shrimp, small
chopped earthworms food sticks, granules and flake.
The Feather Fin Catfish, now commercially farm bred
with the use of hormone inducement, when juvenile
is very similar in appearance to Synodontis nigrita.
The latter species lacks the distinctive dorsal fin
extensions, although juvenile Synodontis euptera
do not display them either. Young specimens can be
distinguished by the presence of a high, long-based,
adipose fin. A peaceful species ideally suited to
most medium-sized to large robust community fish systems
where it will take up the role as a true scavenger'
of food other fishes have missed. Positives: Adults display a fantastic dorsal
fin and inexpensive juveniles show an attractive colouration
of spots, Large adults are reasonably peaceful when
maintained in spacious, uncrowded, aquarium conditions.
Active during daylight hours. Pitfalls: Adults can be boisterous towards
small fishes and are therefore unsuited to small fish
aquarium communities.
Catfish data sheet 7:Pseudoacanthicus
species,
the Spiny catfishes, Brazil. Habitat: Large tributary rivers and streams.
Maximum total length: 600 mm (24 in) Natural diet: thought to be green debris, small
crustaceans, small fishes and assorted invertebrates. Maintenance care: pH 6.5 - 7.5, hardness: soft
to medium, aquascape: a spacious sand substrate, bog
wood, branches, a diet of unshelled' shrimp, green
diet, food sticks, granules and flake. The aquarium
maintenance for these species also depends on providing
them with pristine water quality (clean and high in
dissolved oxygen) in a larger than average system.
The spiny catfishes (members of the genera Acanthicus
and Pseudoacanthicus) are large suckermouth
species that have a more varied diet than many of
the commonly known family forms such as Ancistrus
and Hypostomus. They can quickly become emaciated
in crowded aquarium communities and need copious amount
of food to survive captivity. Positives: Rare species, some with extremely
attractive colour patterns, Large adults are fairly
peaceful when maintained in spacious, uncrowded, aquarium
conditions. Partially active during daylight hours. Pitfalls: Expensive, adults are aggressively
territorial towards other suckermouth catfishes and
are therefore unsuited to some aquarium communities.
