Monster Catfish!
- Thread starter necrocanis
- Start date
I owned a Piraiba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) from 1997 to 2009 when it disappeared in my big tank. Ironically my goonch (Bagarius yarelli) bought the same day in 1997 also disappeared in 2009. Both were bought from Oliver Lucanus and his partner Sean when they co owned Biotope Imports in Montreal Canada. Both were probably killed by my female Wallago Leerii. I had a large increase in cichlids by the end of 2009 probably because of their demise.Crazyfish88;3824499; said:
My Piraiba, Filhote (Brazil) Zungaro, Salton (Peru) Pirahiba Lechero, Valenton (Columbia), and also called the Jumper cat and Salton in North America only grew to about 36" or so in the 12 or so years I owned it.
A book (The Catfish Connection) written by scientists Ronaldo Barthem and Michael Goulding and published by Columbia University Press in 1997 has the results of their studies of ecology, migration and conservation of the 13 large predatory catfish of the Amazon and is worth reading. I bought my copy from Lee Finley a few years ago.
The measurement they use in their book is fork length which falls between SL and TL and actually is a good measurement.
Their findings of more than 34 years (combined) studying the big cats and the research of Eigenmann, Goeldi, Mees, Goulding, Barletta and Zuanon from 1890 to 1996 shows the longest ever scientifically measured was 280cm.
They use length-weight relationship charts and the heaviest recorded on their charts was about 140kg (a 220cm fish) which was just slightly more than a 135kg 270cm speciman weighed. The heavier shorter fish was likely a female and the longer fish was likely a male.
Thats great info tnks. mines about 8.5" now and only 6 month or so old but out growing everyone else I'll try to get some photos on here. he has a lot of black on him but you can still see the spots. I only feed him about every 2-3 days so he doesnt outgrow my tank before he can be upgraded again.
Congrats on having one of my all time favourite fish.fishfeeder;4299287; said:Thats great info tnks. mines about 8.5" now and only 6 month or so old but out growing everyone else I'll try to get some photos on here. he has a lot of black on him but you can still see the spots. I only feed him about every 2-3 days so he doesnt outgrow my tank before he can be upgraded again.
My experience when owning baby monsters is too give them special treatment when they are smaller than 12" (And are capable of growing 3/4' or more).
Your system has worked well for you as you have kept the fish alive and healthy for 6 months already.
For me I have had good results raising my baby Tigrinis, Arapaimas, Salton, Arowanas, Pac Man cat, Aba Aba etc. by increasing the water temp 2/3 degrees from my normals, feed the fish a lot every day, keep a supply of feeders in the tank at all time so it can eat when hungary (Note: I breed/raise all my own feeders ie. guppies, fat head minnows, goldfish, cichlids etc. to make sure they are healthy and carry no introduced disease), and raising by themselves for a few months then gradually introducing appropriate tank mates after they are about 12" or more.
Of course some of my fish like the Aba Aba and electric eels are not able to have tankmates when large. I have seen Aquariums large enough (1300 gallons and bigger) having dwarf cichlids etc. in a tank with a young adult Aba Aba (36") and thriving. I am sure they do provide a small source of food and activity for the Aba at times.
Again you are doing well with your system so best wishes and don't change anything....................
Nice work on the catfish profiling necrocaniser (probbely spelled wrong :-/ )
Theese animals just keep impressing me, so is this site.
This is surrely the place to be if you want to enjoy monster fish
Theese animals just keep impressing me, so is this site.
This is surrely the place to be if you want to enjoy monster fish
