Columbian Shark Cat

[kanzaris]

Hi There

I ve' got one Columbian Shark catfish in a 240 litre tank. When I first set up the tank I bought two cats and then found out that they grow very big so I returned one to the shop. ( I know I should have done my research before and I should know better) Then I read more about them and it said that they should be kept in two or threes. That explains why he is very shy and only comes out for feeding. I am now in the process of buying a 350 litre corner tank and would like to get him a mate. The problem is that he is about 7 inches long and the only cat fish I have seen in my lfs are about half his size. Would he show aggession towards the other cat fish or would the size difference not matter ??? And is a 350 litre tank big enough for two to three cat fish? (I know they get about 12 inch long) I only would have my archer ,mono and my GSP in that tank.

Thanks

Sabby

 

[diademhill]

They get much bigger than 12" - 20" is not uncommon - & a 350l won't be big enough - a 7'x2'x3' is more the size needed.

 

[kanzaris]

They get much bigger than 12" - 20" is not uncommon - & a 350l won't be big enough - a 7'x2'x3' is more the size needed.

Hi

Thanks looks like I will have a problem in the near future. ( Teaches me to do my research).
7 ft tank is definitely out of the question as I already got 4 tanks.

Thanks

Sabby

 

[Fella]

He looks lovely though!

 

[nmonks]

To be honest, I've not seen many of these fish above 30 cm in home aquaria; I know they _can_ get bigger, but like archer fish, they don't always seem to. But you're right to plan for the "worst".

Anyway, years ago, when I was looking after a couple of 200 gallon tanks at university, we did introduce a younger shark to a pair of older ones. They got along fine. There's no aggression in this species at all (they're actually pussy cats rather than shark cats!) and I think they're just happy to have friends. But that was my own experience on a one-time thing, so no promises!

Cheers,

Neale

They get much bigger than 12" - 20" is not uncommon - & a 350l won't be big enough - a 7'x2'x3' is more the size needed.

 

[kanzaris]

He looks lovely though!

Thanks

He is lovley even the smaller fish bully him around. My puffer sits in the cave with him. The two make a funny pair.

Sabby

 

[CFC]

As said by nmonks there should be no problem, when we introduced 2 new 4" shark cats to a tank with a 8" shark cat there was no aggression problems at all and all 3 took to shoaling together immiedietly.

 

[nmonks]

Good -- I'm glad someone else has observed the same thing. I think these fish really are about the sweetest-natured predatory catfish I've ever encountered.

When you see them in the wild, you understand them even better. They live in massive groups and often in very shallow water. I remember having lunch at a place called Conchy Joe's in Florida, and the restaurant was built on a terrace overhanging the river. Anyway, the catfish swirl about in the water underneath, taking hand-outs thrown to them by the diners. Very amusing, but not sure deep friend clams are exactly what we should be feeding our shark catfish!

Cheers,

Neale

As said by nmonks there should be no problem, when we introduced 2 new 4" shark cats to a tank with a 8" shark cat there was no aggression problems at all and all 3 took to shoaling together immiedietly.

 

[kanzaris]

As said by nmonks there should be no problem, when we introduced 2 new 4" shark cats to a tank with a 8" shark cat there was no aggression problems at all and all 3 took to shoaling together immiedietly.

Hi CFC

Well I just bought the second cat fish he is about 4 inches.I will find out in an hour or so.

By the way if you got three cat fish how big is your tank.

Thanks

Sabby

 

[CFC]

My brackish tank is 150 gallons but unfortunately i no longer have the shark cats since we lost over half the fish from that tank after moving house recently What we were left with were 3 moray eels up to 2 feet in length, a 10 inch Dorminator maculatus and a equally large toad fish so finding replacements for the scats monos archers and shark cats we lost is proving difficult as small specimins (anything under 4") are eaten during the night.

 

[kanzaris]

My brackish tank is 150 gallons but unfortunately i no longer have the shark cats since we lost over half the fish from that tank after moving house recently What we were left with were 3 moray eels up to 2 feet in length, a 10 inch Dorminator maculatus and a equally large toad fish so finding replacements for the scats monos archers and shark cats we lost is proving difficult as small specimins (anything under 4") are eaten during the night.

Hi again

Sorry to hear about your fish. This has happened to me before in my malawi tank. Terrible feeling.
There is allways people who got bigger fish but can't accommodate them anymore it's worth a try.
Well I got myself another catfish this morning he is about 4 inches but they both keeping them selves to them selves just have to wait and see. Good luck in getting some new fish.

Thanks

Sabby