GOONCH

[hokese]

See this is great info,commenting from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!
You can't find any solid info on them on the net,u don't no how much is true...
Yr 2 fellas that fight,how big are there teeth now..I'm surprised they only bash against each other,having the teeth to back up the aggression,I thawt they would be chomping on each other...
I'm pretty sure it's the goonch that goes by the "dogtooth catfish" due to the size the teeth get in larger goonch!
At what size do these guys become true tank busters,I mean eventually they will just be to big to be kept in tanks!
It must be a great feeling to grow a goonch to the size where it's time for a pond..
The thing I don't really like about ponds,is u go from seeing yr fish everyday in there tank,but when they get put in a pond sometimes u hardly see them..
Anyway they are 1 interesting fish,I like how they are built like a tank,I think there the only catty that has bone inside there barbles,there is a episode of fish warrior where Jakob Vagner catches a LARGE goonch,when he has it in his arms,he taps on the cattys head,and he says it's like stone..Lol




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[Estarego8]

i wouldnt get too used to your goonches being lazy.... i consider this a quick warning to goonch keepers out there..... mine were the most docile fish, except when they struck to eat, or when the lights when out and they started patroling the tank.... but they never attacked a tankmate.... they were growing at a rapid pace, especially since i moved them into my big tank about 2 months ago, then things took a turn for the worst.... the larger goonch, probably an inch or 2 shy of 2 feet, started really becoming very active and then ate a 6 inch datnoid, which is not an easy fish to eat.... i believed he went after this fish cause he was weakened by starvation trying to pellet/frozen food feed .... i've never ever fed either of my goonches live, hoping this would keep them from eating tank mates.... well you cant totally defeat instinct.... i still had hopes that he wouldnt eat anyone else, but about 2 weeks later he ate an 8-9 inch golby ..... i moved both goonches into a separate 220 gallon and the aggression hasnt stopped... they jocky for position in front of a powerhead i have on the bottom of the tank, the larger one ramming the smaller out of the way... .they dont bite, but they smash into eachother really hard, spraying gravel, and dislodging very large and heavy driftwood.... kinda scared to see what their like at 3 feet! i still love them, dont get me wrong, its just a warning to other goonch keepers out there... now i'm powerfeeding everyone in the big tank so they get large enough that i can reintroduce the goonches in 6 months to a year hopefully

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What was your tank temp at?

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[djaalix]

keeping them at about 78 now in this tank, were between 80-82 in the other tank .... i dont want to knock the temp down too much cause i plan on reintroducing them to my other tank, dont want them to get used to colder water and then mess them all up when they go back.... i will get a video of them in action, not sure when i'll be able to post it though....

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[Estarego8]

keeping them at about 78 now in this tank, were between 80-82 in the other tank .... i dont want to knock the temp down too much cause i plan on reintroducing them to my other tank, dont want them to get used to colder water and then mess them all up when they go back.... i will get a video of them in action, not sure when i'll be able to post it though....

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Yea at higher temps they are more aggressive. They are naturally cold water fish meant to be kept in 67-74 degrees maximum in the wild. The higher temps cause a massive aggression spike and a boost in metabolism. I never push the temp past 78.

A lightning snatch by my goonch was just posted in my goonch thread http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?513731-Jeff-Rapps-Goonch-catfish

 

[djaalix]

They are built like a tank, but are fast and powerful swimmers.... i tried to get a pic of the big one in my hands when i was moving him, but it came out too dark... their skin isnt slimy at all, feels more like a shammy cloth if that makes any sense.... his teeth are big, but not huge.... for some reason the smaller one has always had slightly larger teeth... maybe this is because the big one is growing so fast his teeth havent had a chance to catch up, although they are still no joke.... thank god they dont bite eachother..... yet.... or me for that matter.... their funny too, so stubborn, i go to net them and they dont move they just dig into the ground and make it such a pain to get out.... its funny ... but this pushing match that happens when i turn off the lights has me a little worried, i def dont want it to escalate

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