I know but its so rare to catch channels on swim baits. Flatheads are a different story.
Catfish Max. Sizes
- Thread starter Frank Castle
- Start date
To keep track
"Hoplo" catfish - possibly one from the Chalcides (spelling?)
Striped/Spotted Raphael ~6", rarely hobbyists report bigger, up to 8"-10"~DB junkie's is over a foot I believe
Chinese Algae-eater~had a 6"
Ottocintus
Peppered Corydoras
Albino Corydoras (ssp)
Pictus/Angelicus catfish ~5"
Eclipse/Indian Sun catfish ~10"-12", a few larger ones have been reported by hobbyists
African Featherfin catfish ~6"-8", very rarely any larger
Rainbow/Redtail shark~ biggest I've seen is 5 inches but 7 inches is supposed to be max
Bala shark ~12"
Pangnasius if Iridescent shark catfish is meant, ~2.5'
Tinfoil catfish/Silvertip shark/Colombian shark (the ones born in fresh, gradually acclimated to salt) almost never survive to adulthood in captivity, very few that did reach ~1.5'
Albino Channel catfish (just for fun) ~3'
Also, looking for some recommendations for some inexpensive but armored catfish that stay between 8"-12" if anyone has any ideas - must be able to coexist with cichlids. ***What cichlids?
"Hoplo" catfish - possibly one from the Chalcides (spelling?)
Striped/Spotted Raphael ~6", rarely hobbyists report bigger, up to 8"-10"~DB junkie's is over a foot I believe
Chinese Algae-eater~had a 6"
Ottocintus
Peppered Corydoras
Albino Corydoras (ssp)
Pictus/Angelicus catfish ~5"
Eclipse/Indian Sun catfish ~10"-12", a few larger ones have been reported by hobbyists
African Featherfin catfish ~6"-8", very rarely any larger
Rainbow/Redtail shark~ biggest I've seen is 5 inches but 7 inches is supposed to be max
Bala shark ~12"
Pangnasius if Iridescent shark catfish is meant, ~2.5'
Tinfoil catfish/Silvertip shark/Colombian shark (the ones born in fresh, gradually acclimated to salt) almost never survive to adulthood in captivity, very few that did reach ~1.5'
Albino Channel catfish (just for fun) ~3'
Also, looking for some recommendations for some inexpensive but armored catfish that stay between 8"-12" if anyone has any ideas - must be able to coexist with cichlids. ***What cichlids?
They never survive to adulthood because people don't acclimate them correctly or they try to keep them in freshwater or why? I don't see what's so hard about them....it's not the EASIEST fish to keep, it's still a relatively simple task to slowly increase the sea salt as they grow to yearlings. Am I totally missing something?
What Cichlids oh boy, hmmmm what cichlids, well 1 tank is relatively peaceful: 1.1 Gymnogeophagus Balzanii, 1.2 Bolivian Ram, 1.1 Black Molly, 1.1 Red Wag Platy, 1.1 Blue wag Platy, .1 Gold Twinbar platy, .1 Sunburst platy, 5 Zebra danios, 5 Longfin Leopard Danios, 4 Tiger barbs, 1.1 Fancy Guppy, 1 Albino rainbow shark, 1 Chinese Algae-eater, 1 Peppered Cory, 1 Albino Cory
Tank 2 is a whole different monster: 2.0 Jaguars, 2.0 Firemouths, 3.0 Jack Dempsey, 0.2 Black Convicts, 2.0 Texas (or Pearl-scaled IDK which yet), 0.1 Green Terror, 0.1 Quetzal (synspilum), 0.1 Red Devil, 1.0 Electric Blue Acara, 0.1, Blue Acara, 0.1 Red-stripe earth-eater, 1 Golden Chinese algae-eater, 1 normal Chinese algae-eater, 1 Albino channel cat, 1 Pictus/Angelicus cat, 1 Eclipse/Indian Sun Cat, 1 albino rainbow shark, 1 polypterus senegalensis
I got another little 3 Gallon tank w/ a Betta and an albino cory and a ottocintus, but I'm not putting any cichlids in there lol. All these tanks are temporary, as I already have some bigger ones on the way. Call these "grow-outs" for now.
FC: They never survive to adulthood because people don't acclimate them correctly or they try to keep them in freshwater or why? I don't see what's so hard about them....it's not the EASIEST fish to keep, it's still a relatively simple task to slowly increase the sea salt as they grow to yearlings. Am I totally missing something?
TBTB: I'd not say so. Sounds about right. I was just giving you the statistics. Few people (I'm yet to meet one) probably want to dedicate these fish what they need for their lifetime of a few decades. Brackish tanks are very few around. Salt tanks are full of pretty little fish that these guys would prey on. People try to keep them in f/w but they do not live, not long anyway.
FC: What Cichlids oh boy,...
TBTB: With small and peaceful, larger hoplos would be fine, they do reach 8"-10". ~ Any smallish doradid would work - browse the family http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/family.php?family_id=12 With aggressive, it is always a gamble. The bigger, more robust doradids may or may not work out.
TBTB: I'd not say so. Sounds about right. I was just giving you the statistics. Few people (I'm yet to meet one) probably want to dedicate these fish what they need for their lifetime of a few decades. Brackish tanks are very few around. Salt tanks are full of pretty little fish that these guys would prey on. People try to keep them in f/w but they do not live, not long anyway.
FC: What Cichlids oh boy,...
TBTB: With small and peaceful, larger hoplos would be fine, they do reach 8"-10". ~ Any smallish doradid would work - browse the family http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/family.php?family_id=12 With aggressive, it is always a gamble. The bigger, more robust doradids may or may not work out.
Yup, 3" Classic daredevle casting Erie from shore at night for nearshore Walleye. Man, that thing was a surprise when it pounded, had no idea what I was catching from shore that was so big on a spoon! PM me if you want the details, I don't want to derail this thread any more lol.
Where did you find your albino channel? I had one in the 45 and as I was getting my 240 up and running he jumped out and died and havent been able to find one again.
You can find them at most Ma & Pa LFSs but if you want a different selection of sizes, morphs, etc your best bet is contact your local state fish hatchery. Channel catfish are practically considered "gamefish" in many states and thus are bred prolifically by many states. If you are in PA, I know for a fact you can find them at hatcheries
For people in SE, SC, NE, and NC PA : http://kurtzlivebaitvending.com/
The local LFS around me gets a bunch of fingerlings in every year. How they do it I don't know because its illegal to sell them in PA without a an actual license to stock, but they are attached to a farm and tractor store so maybe the owner has some sway in getting in natives for "stocking" purposes.
