New growout, a fish absent from the hobby... Ictalurus furcatus the Blue Catfish

[4wheelvfr]

Very cool. I hope you keep up with the updates. It's not often you see blue cats in aquariums. Be careful though, when I worked for USFWS my most painful sting (that wasn't from a madtom) came from a 4-5" blue cat. It felt like getting hit by a hornet or red wasp.

 

[tanharold]

Looks awesome! Keep us updated

 

[Chub_by]

Finally you post this thread, a secret I couldn't have kept any longer!

Nice fish, can't wait to see her at 20"+.

 

[tbinchrist]

Here's my blue cat... about 14"-15" long and very freindly !! Had him since 6"

Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[neildie]

love the sheen on it.. great fish !

 

[Chicxulub]

^That's a boss looking fish!

 

[Chicxulub]

Well it looks like her fins are starting to heal already. I suppose I may have underestimated how Wolverine-like a catfish can heal. Do you all reckon the scars and scratches on her flanks will go away too?

 

[strollo22]

They did on mine


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[Chub_by]

Yes, as long as your water is pristine. Lowering the temp also helps IME.

 

[Chicxulub]

Thanks guys. She definitely has noticeable new growth on her fins. I'm concerned however with the water quality in the 20 I'm using as a hospital tank. I do daily 80% water changes, but I feel she'd heal better in the big tank. She seems to be doing well though. The water is staying pristine and she's doing well.

I adore this fish and want her to heal back up.

Before I did the water change today, I got the bright idea to stick my finger in the tank to see what happened. Instead of freaking like most fish or ignoring it, she swam right up to my finger, sniffed it, bumped into it and calmly swam off.

I can not wait to get her in the big tank!

Anyhoo, here's a fresh cell phone pic from tonight. Her colors are darkening up already.