Maelys the flash zebra catfish (Brachyplatystoma juruense) growout thread

Hendre

Bawitius
Staff member
Moderator
MFK Member
Jan 14, 2016
9,852
10,953
438
South Africa
This is probably the sorta fish I'd never be able to get here :(
 

jaws7777

Probation Member
Probation Member
Mar 1, 2014
17,773
20,946
740
White house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington
Having a juru delivered tomorrow. Other than a decent flow, higher 02 in the tank anything else i should keep in mind ?

I chose the 2nd one even though the one ontop looks nicer. I figured there maybe a decent chance of it developing odd ball patterns.
Screenshot_20170628-222503.png Screenshot_20170628-222510.png
 

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
You normally have to spot feed these guys, and they're very susceptible to bullying. Other than that, you're on the right track.

Good choice picking the oddball. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: jaws7777

jaws7777

Probation Member
Probation Member
Mar 1, 2014
17,773
20,946
740
White house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington
You normally have to spot feed these guys, and they're very susceptible to bullying. Other than that, you're on the right track.

Good choice picking the oddball. :)
thx man. Have some tongs and pvc pipes ready !
 

jaws7777

Probation Member
Probation Member
Mar 1, 2014
17,773
20,946
740
White house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington
How long dows it take them to feed on there own with out being spot fed
 

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
I've kept two of these guys now. If there's no competition, they both seemed to eventually find the food once it got good and stinky. If there was something else after the food, they basically never got it on their own unless it happened to hit their barbels by pure luck and trigger a feeding response. That didn't happen very often, however.
 

jaws7777

Probation Member
Probation Member
Mar 1, 2014
17,773
20,946
740
White house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington
I've kept two of these guys now. If there's no competition, they both seemed to eventually find the food once it got good and stinky. If there was something else after the food, they basically never got it on their own unless it happened to hit their barbels by pure luck and trigger a feeding response. That didn't happen very often, however.
Wow that is interesting. Its odd that it wouldnt get hungry enough to seek out food.
 

Chicxulub

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Aug 29, 2009
11,403
7,488
1,955
Wow that is interesting. Its odd that it wouldnt get hungry enough to seek out food.
They DO, they're just extremely bad at it.

They're natural behavior is to be a sit and wait ambush predator, and they're not well suited for hunting. When they get really hungry, they'll dash around the tank looking for food that they can smell, but they have a hard time finding it when it's just sitting there. They're more sight based than most other catfish it would seem, and fast moving things can trigger a feeding response. Hell my current one will sometimes chase a laser lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: moe214

jaws7777

Probation Member
Probation Member
Mar 1, 2014
17,773
20,946
740
White house 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington
They DO, they're just extremely bad at it.

They're natural behavior is to be a sit and wait ambush predator, and they're not well suited for hunting. When they get really hungry, they'll dash around the tank looking for food that they can smell, but they have a hard time finding it when it's just sitting there. They're more sight based than most other catfish it would seem, and fast moving things can trigger a feeding response. Hell my current one will sometimes chase a laser lol

Hahah thats awesome and appreciate the tips man. Im really looking forward to growing it out and learning more. I also got a vulture and and still planning on a bolt but im thinking long term the juru may di better with my extremely slow eating polypterus
 

shookONES

Casper... the not so friendly ghost
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2005
4,961
1,764
179
35
Totowa, NJ
I always joke that small Brachy. cats are stupid, and I don't mean it in a bad way. Every small one I've grown out (tigrinus, juruense, platynema) have done best in small enclosures. I usually start out babies in small acrylic boxes hung in my main tank with minimal decor. In a confined space, they're much better at eating and less inclined to bash their faces into the side of the tank when startled.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store