Columbian Shark Cats

[kanzaris]

Hi There

I got my cat fish in a standard Jewal 240 Tank. (Aslo got an Eheim Pro External Filter). Yesterday I added a powerhead to give the Cat Fish more flow and they absolutely love it. But today I have noticed that they started flicking their side of the head against the gravel. The other fish are ok. It only started since the powerhead. Is this a coincidence or something serious ?

Sabby

 

[AMS]

Are you using a sand substrate with gravel sprinkled on top or is it all gravel? Also what is the GPH of the powerhead?

 

[kanzaris]

Are you using a sand substrate with gravel sprinkled on top or is it all gravel? Also what is the GPH of the powerhead?

Hi AMS

Where the Cat Fish swim is fine gravel the other side of the tank is sand but the cat fish don't go there. The powerhead is a Maxijet 900. ( I think its 900/hour ? )

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

I bet it's the upwelling light from the bright sand. Catfish don't like light coloured substrates. If you mixed in some black sand with the coral/silica sand, they'd perhaps be happier.

One other thing. Each time I've talked with people who've kept these cats, and the time I kept them too, we all noticed they had favourite corners. I haven't really got my head around Colombian sharks, they're quite odd fish.

Cheers,

Neale

Where the Cat Fish swim is fine gravel the other side of the tank is sand but the cat fish don't go there. The powerhead is a Maxijet 900. ( I think its 900/hour ? )

 

[kanzaris]

I bet it's the upwelling light from the bright sand. Catfish don't like light coloured substrates. If you mixed in some black sand with the coral/silica sand, they'd perhaps be happier.

One other thing. Each time I've talked with people who've kept these cats, and the time I kept them too, we all noticed they had favourite corners. I haven't really got my head around Colombian sharks, they're quite odd fish.

Cheers,

Neale

Where the Cat Fish swim is fine gravel the other side of the tank is sand but the cat fish don't go there. The powerhead is a Maxijet 900. ( I think its 900/hour ? )

Hi Neale

The cat fish have always been in the same corner (Gravel no Sand) and I only noticed today ( I sit and watch my fish everyday) and the powerhead was put into the tank yesterday. Could the flow of the powerhead be to strong ?

Thanks

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

Unlikely; these fish live in estuaries and coastal waters where the water current is extremely strong (think: the kinds of hidden currents that drown bathers and swimmers). I think it's more to do with the catfish "wanting" to swim down/up stream. I haven't figured out in my mind which way they're trying to go, but it seems to be some kind of migratory instinct anyway. All Colombian sharks seem to do this.

One thing might be to have two powerheads, each on different timers, so that there's a sort of tidal effect in the tank. Or at least have the one powerhead only sometimes on (perhaps against the filter?) so that there's some variety in the tank at least.

Either way, I'd suggest that Colombian sharks don't ever seem to become exactly tame in the sense of becoming adjusted to captive life, like a pufferfish or cichlids does, say.

Cheers,

Neale

Could the flow of the powerhead be to strong ?