Columbian Shark

[Red Devil]

They almost all are mass produced in freshwater now and can live a perfectly happy long life in freshwater. Many people prefer to keep them in brackish and that is still good. Hard water with a little salt is always best. Just do not keep them in a ph of 6 with soft water.

They are nice looking when adult (Enjoy)

they have never been bred in captivity to my knowledge....Brackish Fish Species Profile and Care Information
Scientific Name : Hexanematichthys seemanni
Common Names : A very long list of common names: Columbian Cats, Silver Tipped Shark, Tete Sea Catfish, White Tip Shark Catfish, Black Fin Shark, Christian Catfish, Jordan's Catfish, West American Cat Shark
Care Level : Moderate, needs a very large tank as adults
Size : Anywhere from 10 - 20 inches (25-51 cm) and sometimes even larger!
pH : 7 - 8
Temperature : 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 20° dH
Specific Gravity : 1.005 - 1.010, saltwater as adults (1.020 - 1.025)
Lifespan : 10 - 15 years or longer
Origin / Habitat : Wild caught specimens originate from Central America, Guatemala, South America and Southern Mexico. They are often found in coastal waters and brackish rivers.
Temperament / Behavior : Mostly peaceful but may eat smaller fish as it grows larger. Avoid keeping them with small fish such as neon tetras and guppies.
Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Very difficult, not sure if it has been accomplished in an aquarium. Males are mouth brooders.
Tank Size : 75 gallon (284 liters) minimum for one, much larger for multiples. This fish needs a large tank not only for it's size, but because it is a fairly active swimmer.
Compatible Tank Mates : Fish that tolerate brackish water conditions. Scats, Monos, Targetfish. When this freshwater/brackish shark gets big enough, it will start to eat much smaller tankmates.
Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease - Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment
Diet / Fish Food : Being catfish, they are primarily scavengers. They will constantly be looking for bits and pieces on the bottom of the tank. Give them sinking shrimp pellets, catfish pellets, prepared sinking foods and supplement with live or frozen foods such as blood worms. Tank Region : Sometimes middle areas, but mostly on the bottom

 

[matt clark]

they have never been bred in captivity to my knowledge....Brackish Fish Species Profile and Care Information
Scientific Name : Hexanematichthys seemanni
Common Names : A very long list of common names: Columbian Cats, Silver Tipped Shark, Tete Sea Catfish, White Tip Shark Catfish, Black Fin Shark, Christian Catfish, Jordan's Catfish, West American Cat Shark
Care Level : Moderate, needs a very large tank as adults
Size : Anywhere from 10 - 20 inches (25-51 cm) and sometimes even larger!
pH : 7 - 8
Temperature : 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 20° dH
Specific Gravity : 1.005 - 1.010, saltwater as adults (1.020 - 1.025)
Lifespan : 10 - 15 years or longer
Origin / Habitat : Wild caught specimens originate from Central America, Guatemala, South America and Southern Mexico. They are often found in coastal waters and brackish rivers.
Temperament / Behavior : Mostly peaceful but may eat smaller fish as it grows larger. Avoid keeping them with small fish such as neon tetras and guppies.
Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : Very difficult, not sure if it has been accomplished in an aquarium. Males are mouth brooders.
Tank Size : 75 gallon (284 liters) minimum for one, much larger for multiples. This fish needs a large tank not only for it's size, but because it is a fairly active swimmer.
Compatible Tank Mates : Fish that tolerate brackish water conditions. Scats, Monos, Targetfish. When this freshwater/brackish shark gets big enough, it will start to eat much smaller tankmates.
Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease - Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment
Diet / Fish Food : Being catfish, they are primarily scavengers. They will constantly be looking for bits and pieces on the bottom of the tank. Give them sinking shrimp pellets, catfish pellets, prepared sinking foods and supplement with live or frozen foods such as blood worms. Tank Region : Sometimes middle areas, but mostly on the bottom

nice info.you do see them in pet shops alot i have kept them as a kid but didnt have any knowlidge on them and they didnt last long . so these days i tend to over look them. but looking at this i think i will set up a new tank

 

[08trdoffroad]

One of my favorite fish available...going to try raising a group of 5-6 individuals in the future!

 

[Red Devil]

One of my favorite fish available...going to try raising a group of 5-6 individuals in the future!

thats great to hear..

 

[Red Devil]

nice info.you do see them in pet shops alot i have kept them as a kid but didnt have any knowlidge on them and they didnt last long . so these days i tend to over look them. but looking at this i think i will set up a new tank

thats great..can't wait to see them

 

[abiddle]

I'm taking this thing back to the LFS now.
I don't have an extra tank for saltwater.

 

[Red Devil]

I'm taking this thing back to the LFS now.
I don't have an extra tank for saltwater.

sorry to dissapoint you... but better then losing him later... and i hope you tell the LFS store to state facts from now on about the fish they sell

 

[abiddle]

I usually research before I buy.
The guy at the LFS said the nursing home that had him always had him in freshwater and that he was full grown with no problems.

He did seem skinny and had what looked like a red bump/tumor over one eye.

I was able to trade for a nice male red texas (hybrid) cichlid.

 

[Emmaphernandez]

Hello! ive had mine for four years in my freshwater tank. i do increase the salt amount every six month but he does just fine.

He is about 6 inches long and one in thick...

I'm also looking to re-home him if anyone is interested.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I've kept numerous "brackish" fish in full fresh for extended periods of time(1-4 years), monos, leaf fish, chromides, G. tile eels. Typically the #1 issue with keeping brackish fish in fresh I find is that they are extremely prone to parasites and disease since they naturally don't deal with these parasites the flux of full fresh to full salt kills most parasites or cures most disease for them naturally in the wild. But if you keep them in a very very clean tank with hard water and a PH of 7.5 or higher they do exceptionally well and will grow. I had a G. tile (who recently passed away from what I can only guess was a fishy seizure) amlost double in size while being kept in a fresh water tank with african cichlids. Monodactylus argenteus for almost as long but on the move from michigan to chicago they literally killed them selves by ramming into the walls of the 50 galloon tub I had them in. The leaf fish jumped ship after 4 years when fighting a dubosi (who he typically beat). Chromides I've never had luck with even in brackish water. But as you can see I haven't had any deaths from related to fresh water. The black skin issue I read about typically happened when the water needed to be changed or the ph was out of wack. If I had the tank in a rythym of weekly changes day 8 without a change and the monos would be darkening and my frontosa would loose coloration. So keep it clean keep the ph high and the best medication if you do encounter issues is some salt.

just my 2 cents.