Catfish and Layout

AgNO3 · 05-16-2008, 04:27 PM

About a year ago I bought a Striped Talking Catfish ( http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/spe...species_id=166 ). I could have sworn he died 6 months ago. 5 months ago I changed out the substrate and switched over to live plants. Today, I found him! He's about 5 inches long and very fat. He has been upside down under the driftwood in a place he must have hollowed out for himself. Unfortunately, I bought a replacement for him shortly after he disappeared, a Pictus ( http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/spe...species_id=276 ). Both the catfish are now about 5-6 inches.

When I layed out the tank I made it for the Pictus, but with this new discovery I need to change it a bit. I need to keep swimming room, but also have a lot of shady hiding places.

Other inhabitants:
1 Evil, huge Blue Gourami (will be trading soon)
4 Gold Tetras
4 Ottos

Any suggestions?

newshound · 05-16-2008, 07:43 PM

didn't see the sizes these guys get but me thinks a pictus gets huge!!!!

AgNO3 · 05-16-2008, 08:16 PM

Yeah, I'm aware of that. I plan on trading the pictus in for a smaller catfish when it gets a little bigger.

**Ozymandias** · 05-16-2008, 08:59 PM

what size tank do you have? for plants i would say add some lilies and nice branchy drift wood

kornphlake · 05-16-2008, 09:50 PM

I don't think your pictus cat will get much bigger, as far as I know they are one of the few cats that stays small enough to fit in a 55g for life. I've never seen a pictus cat returned to a fish store because it got too big, I wish I could say the same for tinfoil barbs, red belly pacus and arowana.

valerietheangel · 05-17-2008, 12:25 AM

Wouldn't it be easier just to purchase fish you are going to be able to house into adulthood??

I have a 10 year old common pleco who is now entirely too large for his tank, but I've had him 10 years and I wouldn't ever consider trading him in. Instead we're going to upgrade to a house so we can upgrade to a 120 gallon. I don't know about you but I get very attached to the animals I keep.

**EdTheEdge** · 05-17-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valerietheangel

Wouldn't it be easier just to purchase fish you are going to be able to house into adulthood??

I have a 10 year old common pleco who is now entirely too large for his tank, but I've had him 10 years and I wouldn't ever consider trading him in. Instead we're going to upgrade to a house so we can upgrade to a 120 gallon. I don't know about you but I get very attached to the animals I keep.

Exactly, about 25 years ago I bought a couple of Red Eared Sliders. They were so cute when they were babies. Well 25 years later they ain't so cute anymore. But I still love them and wouldn't ever get rid of them. Athough they have had their INDIVIDUAL habitats upgraded numerous times over a quarter of a century!!! I have never traded a fish in for any reason either. The way I see it is it is Kinda like the Pottery Barn Rule.... You bought it you own it.

**BruceWatts** · 05-17-2008, 02:48 AM

Pictus cats are known to be night time predators and I would not be surprised to see your gold tetras and your otos start to disappear.

Bruce

**EdTheEdge** · 05-17-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceWatts

Pictus cats are known to be night time predators and I would not be surprised to see your gold tetras and your otos start to disappear.

Bruce

I've had that happen before a long time ago. My male guppy population was slowly decimated by a night time Pictus Cat. They can and will eat ravenously.

**lauraleellbp** · 05-17-2008, 03:45 AM

Same here. With me it was an entire school of Cardinal tetras.

I was NOT a happy camper!!

AgNO3 · 05-17-2008, 05:20 AM

I keep Ghost Shrimp in the tank for that very reason. He loves catching those little guys.

05-16-2008, 04:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
AgNO3 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 22	Catfish and Layout About a year ago I bought a Striped Talking Catfish ( http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/spe...species_id=166 ). I could have sworn he died 6 months ago. 5 months ago I changed out the substrate and switched over to live plants. Today, I found him! He's about 5 inches long and very fat. He has been upside down under the driftwood in a place he must have hollowed out for himself. Unfortunately, I bought a replacement for him shortly after he disappeared, a Pictus ( http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/spe...species_id=276 ). Both the catfish are now about 5-6 inches. When I layed out the tank I made it for the Pictus, but with this new discovery I need to change it a bit. I need to keep swimming room, but also have a lot of shady hiding places. Other inhabitants: 1 Evil, huge Blue Gourami (will be trading soon) 4 Gold Tetras 4 Ottos Any suggestions?

05-16-2008, 07:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
newshound Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2005 Location: northern ontario canada Posts: 457	didn't see the sizes these guys get but me thinks a pictus gets huge!!!! __________________ under stock over filter

05-16-2008, 08:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ozymandias Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IN/NJ Posts: 930	what size tank do you have? for plants i would say add some lilies and nice branchy drift wood __________________ Proud member of NJAGC my 30 gallon rebuild

05-17-2008, 03:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (40) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 9,166	Same here. With me it was an entire school of Cardinal tetras. I was NOT a happy camper!! __________________ 10 gal Shrimpy Jungle http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24524 29 gal Asian themed tank for Betta simplex (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24513 46 gal of Sword Addiction (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24542 90 gal New World Community http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

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05-16-2008, 08:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
AgNO3 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 22	Yeah, I'm aware of that. I plan on trading the pictus in for a smaller catfish when it gets a little bigger.

05-16-2008, 09:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
kornphlake Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 311	I don't think your pictus cat will get much bigger, as far as I know they are one of the few cats that stays small enough to fit in a 55g for life. I've never seen a pictus cat returned to a fish store because it got too big, I wish I could say the same for tinfoil barbs, red belly pacus and arowana.

05-17-2008, 12:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
valerietheangel Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 168	Wouldn't it be easier just to purchase fish you are going to be able to house into adulthood?? I have a 10 year old common pleco who is now entirely too large for his tank, but I've had him 10 years and I wouldn't ever consider trading him in. Instead we're going to upgrade to a house so we can upgrade to a 120 gallon. I don't know about you but I get very attached to the animals I keep.

05-17-2008, 02:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
BruceWatts Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 95	Pictus cats are known to be night time predators and I would not be surprised to see your gold tetras and your otos start to disappear. Bruce

05-17-2008, 05:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
AgNO3 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 22	I keep Ghost Shrimp in the tank for that very reason. He loves catching those little guys.

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