Petting and Handling Sun Catfish?

[Lyre]

Hello, I'm new here! I brought home a sun cat yesterday, which is my first catfish and the largest fish I've owned by far.

I'm a very touchy fish owner and like to pet and hand-feed my loaches and goldfish. I have noticed that this catfish is mostly indifferent to being pet and I would like to get comfortable with touching and handling him a little more often than my other shyer fish. However, I'm a little bit scared.

I have known that catfish can sting and while I'm aware that sun cats aren't venomous, I have not been able to find any information about specifically their stings. Do they sting? How? Has anyone been poked by theirs? Does it hurt? How do I pet and hold him in a way that avoids this?

Here he is!

 

[asian arowana]

handle fish?

 

[asian arowana]

You shouldn't hold any fish

 

[Lyre]

You shouldn't hold any fish

Ah yes, I would not like to lift them out of the water or stress them out too much, however I like to get my fish comfortable and friendly with hands. My loaches swim into my hands to eat and it is my favorite thing! It's a cool way to further engage with the fish.

 

[asian arowana]

ohh I understand now... my dojo loach does the same

 

[Midwater]

I'm a very touchy fish owner and like to pet and hand-feed my loaches and goldfish.

Please don't.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I do not recommend touching your fish besides when absolutely necessary such as if they jumped out of the tank. Also you might want to reconsider keeping the sun catfish with your goldfish due to temperature needs differences also the possibility that the goldfish ends up as food for the catfish. Just because the catfish can’t eat him doesn’t mean he won’t die trying.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello, I'm new here! I brought home a sun cat yesterday, which is my first catfish and the largest fish I've owned by far.

I'm a very touchy fish owner and like to pet and hand-feed my loaches and goldfish. I have noticed that this catfish is mostly indifferent to being pet and I would like to get comfortable with touching and handling him a little more often than my other shyer fish. However, I'm a little bit scared.

I have known that catfish can sting and while I'm aware that sun cats aren't venomous, I have not been able to find any information about specifically their stings. Do they sting? How? Has anyone been poked by theirs? Does it hurt? How do I pet and hold him in a way that avoids this?

Here he is!

View attachment 1543671

Welcome aboard
Most catfish have spines that can inflict pain if they feel endangered if handled. Also agree the sun catfish should not be in the aquarium with goldfish. The lfs should have told you that.

 

[Lyre]

Thank you! I will have the catfish's actual tank finished later today, which will be larger, warmer, and with sand instead of gravel. I took him home a little bit spontaneously because the store was giving him away for free to whoever would take him. He had been "surrendered" on Wednesday and I guess they didn't have the setup for him. While I know that they need different temperatures and environments, I figured I'd put him with the goldfish overnight, since he's spent the at least the last 3 days all cramped in bags and buckets, and the goldfish tank is the biggest tank running right now. All the seller said was that I shouldn't put him with fish that can fit in his mouth and my goldfish is over 5 inches long. However, the goldfish looked really stressed and the catfish seemed a little bit too curious about him, so I did end up putting a divider in the tank.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Sun cats have sharp leading spines in the two pectoral fins and the dorsal fin. They use them for protection and can also stab your hand accidentally. It really hurts but not for long, depends on the depth of the puncture. I doubt they'd be smart enough to learn to not fear your hand but it depends how much time and effort you'd put into it. They are not a smart fish, like goldfish and loach, in my humble experience. YMMV.

I don't have a problem keeping a goldfish in a tropical tank, nor do I have a problem with a peer playing and lightly touching their fish or rather their fish lightly touching their hand. Any interaction of the keeper with their fish is good and desirable in my book that doesn't hurt either participant. The devil may hide in the details.