I thought it was another Sculpin but when I tossed it into a small bucket of water and looked closely, I noticed it was a Catfish.
About three inches long, all black. Again, I live in So. Cal. and it came into the plant via aqueduct water. Not sure if it was Eastern or Western Sierra Nevada water. (We may be blending both, I don't know)
I am keeping it in my Sculpin tank because they are docile and calm, except at feeding time. Because it is a Catfish I won't be adding salt anymore. I used to add a little, once in a while. About 1/4 the amount advised by API but it is pretty much gone due to normal water changes.
Very different mannerisms from my other fish. I pretty much feed my fish Bloodworms, and am trying to find other foods they like. All my fish are picky eaters.
Is there anything special I need to know about Catfish as far as feeding or keeping them?
I Found A Catfish Today
Started by
Guest_Sombunya_*
, Sep 22 2008 10:42 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Newt_*
Guest_Newt_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 September 2008 - 11:00 PM
Catfish, at least the species you are likely to have out there, are not picky eaters. They tend to be nocturnal/crepuscular, so you might try dropping in some food just before lights out. They can be rough on smaller tank inhabitants.
#3
Guest_CATfishTONY_*
Guest_CATfishTONY_*
-
- Guests
Posted 23 September 2008 - 02:01 PM
I thought it was another Sculpin but when I tossed it into a small bucket of water and looked closely, I noticed it was a Catfish.
About three inches long, all black. Again, I live in So. Cal. and it came into the plant via aqueduct water. Not sure if it was Eastern or Western Sierra Nevada water. (We may be blending both, I don't know)
I am keeping it in my Sculpin tank because they are docile and calm, except at feeding time. Because it is a Catfish I won't be adding salt anymore. I used to add a little, once in a while. About 1/4 the amount advised by API but it is pretty much gone due to normal water changes.
Very different mannerisms from my other fish. I pretty much feed my fish Bloodworms, and am trying to find other foods they like. All my fish are picky eaters.
Is there anything special I need to know about Catfish as far as feeding or keeping them?
3" Is a small one, most catfish i've had would eat crawfish tails or just small craw fry
feed it early am should work it may help to tear it up into small bites.
what does its tail fin look like?
does it have a forked tail?
or more blocked and square?
#4
Guest_Sombunya_*
Guest_Sombunya_*
-
- Guests
Posted 23 September 2008 - 10:56 PM
The tail appears to be sort of blocked or square. The dorsal fin kind of points back, small, almost a hook. Nothing like the Bluegill have.
It is very dark but with a light colored, almost white, underside. It is hard to see because it hides in some of the places the Sculpin used to when I had a Bluegill in there. (now the Sculpin just lounge around on everything, no worries) In fact, I had to chase it out to get another look at it. It then swam around aggressively and settled down in the back, somewhat hidden.
It is only three inches or so, the same as the largest Sculpin in the tank. I was just a little concerned because when it's feeding time the Sculpin know it and gobble everything up. The Catfish stays in hiding. As you can imagine the Sculpin don't even look at it or bother it.
I don't really want to drop any frozen worms in before lights out because the filter will vacuum it all up. I have an AC 70 on one side with the pickup tube plumbed to draw water from the opposite end. Good movement through the tank.
I suppose I could try some frozen brine shrimp before lights out but as the substrate/gravel is light colored it will be hard to see if the Cat ate it. I also have some Crustacean food that sinks fast. Maybe I'll try some of that as well. And if all else fails, I'm sure if it gets hungry enough it will come out when the worms are floating all over the place. That usually lasts about five minutes or so. The Sculpin do a good job of vacuuming up their food.
It is very dark but with a light colored, almost white, underside. It is hard to see because it hides in some of the places the Sculpin used to when I had a Bluegill in there. (now the Sculpin just lounge around on everything, no worries) In fact, I had to chase it out to get another look at it. It then swam around aggressively and settled down in the back, somewhat hidden.
It is only three inches or so, the same as the largest Sculpin in the tank. I was just a little concerned because when it's feeding time the Sculpin know it and gobble everything up. The Catfish stays in hiding. As you can imagine the Sculpin don't even look at it or bother it.
I don't really want to drop any frozen worms in before lights out because the filter will vacuum it all up. I have an AC 70 on one side with the pickup tube plumbed to draw water from the opposite end. Good movement through the tank.
I suppose I could try some frozen brine shrimp before lights out but as the substrate/gravel is light colored it will be hard to see if the Cat ate it. I also have some Crustacean food that sinks fast. Maybe I'll try some of that as well. And if all else fails, I'm sure if it gets hungry enough it will come out when the worms are floating all over the place. That usually lasts about five minutes or so. The Sculpin do a good job of vacuuming up their food.
#5
Guest_threegoldfish_*
Guest_threegoldfish_*
-
- Guests
Posted 24 September 2008 - 08:42 AM
My madtoms really hoover up Hikari's Sinking Carnivore Pellets. They'll come out of hiding when those hit the water much faster than when I throw in frozen food. If your sculpin only goes after floating stuff, that might be an option.
#6
Guest_Sombunya_*
Guest_Sombunya_*
-
- Guests
Posted 24 September 2008 - 10:32 PM
Actually my Sculpin eat the worms when they're at the top or bottom. They just get excited at feeding time. And I feed them quite well...
The Cat hangs inside of a tube, out of sight. Just stays in there and wiggles. I actually put a few bloodworms in the tube with it. Didn't see it eat any. On the contrary, when I had a Bluegill with my Sculpin they'd hide in the tube so I would vacuum some up and squirt them into the tube. They ate them all.
I will look into those Hikari's Sinking Carnivore Pellets. Thanks for the tip!
The Cat hangs inside of a tube, out of sight. Just stays in there and wiggles. I actually put a few bloodworms in the tube with it. Didn't see it eat any. On the contrary, when I had a Bluegill with my Sculpin they'd hide in the tube so I would vacuum some up and squirt them into the tube. They ate them all.
I will look into those Hikari's Sinking Carnivore Pellets. Thanks for the tip!
#7
Guest_smokin_*
Guest_smokin_*
-
- Guests
Posted 04 December 2008 - 08:44 PM
those tropical pellet work great and so do earth worms. ive had 2 channel cats for like 3 or 4 months now they are 6 inches or so. when i got them they were only 1/2 inch long. they really neat they come out mostly at night or right before. congrats
#12
Michael Wolfe
-
- Board of Directors
-
- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 10 December 2008 - 10:53 AM
catfish are bottom feeders. i think you should trying putting some nightcrawlers in when it is dark
You should observe your catfish more often (which is difficult sometimes based on what I am about to say)... they are not really "bottomfeeders".. that's not what the "whiskers" are for they are not sifting through the bottom... they are nocturnal predators... they are "feeling around in the dark for their food"...
Try housing a bullhead in a tank with some small shiners... everything might look OK inthe daytime... but in the morning there are less shiners (and they do not all lay on the bottom to sleep... particularly when there is a catfish prowling about)...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
Reply to this topic
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
NANFA Youtube Channel 
