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suggest a catfish

Started by Guest_joshuapope2001_* , Dec 28 2008 11:58 AM

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17 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 28 December 2008 - 11:58 AM

can anyone suggest a catfish that will not destroy the plants in my native tank? I would like to keep a catfish that would be found in the great lakes area....since this is what this tank is geared towards.

Edited by joshuapope2001, 28 December 2008 - 12:41 PM.

#2 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 12:40 AM

Joshua,

Might I suggest the Tadpole Madtom (Noturus gyrinus)? They stay small and love to live among vegetation, but not eat or destroy it. They're also native to the Great Lakes region. I wish I had some available. I only have 1 left and he's in my display tank. I can point you to Sach's Systems Aquaculture, though. Their website is here. Their page says that they have some available. Otherwise, if you'd like to send me your email address, I can put you on the notification list for when I have some available in spring. Hope this helps!

Brian

#3 Guest_NateTessler13_*

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Posted 07 January 2009 - 10:05 AM

I second that notion. The Tadpole Madtom would make a great addition to a planted aquarium. It is found in the Great Lakes Drainage and stays relatively small so you shouldn't have a problem with it eating your fish...unless you're keeping some tiny fish with it (i.e. Least Killifish or small Mosquitofish). They shouldn't be too hard to collect on your own, but be warned, they do deliver a sting much like a bee sting when handled improperly.

#4 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 08 January 2009 - 10:30 PM

I am keeping a large 9" bluegill and a 7" green sunfish.... do you think they will eat thease catfish? they love to eat crayfish

#5 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 10 January 2009 - 05:14 PM

If you get large enough madtoms I don't think you will have to worry about them getting eaten as food. Try to get some adults, at least 2 inches in length. Then you should be OK.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

#6 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 14 January 2009 - 12:29 AM

the bluegill and green sunfish constantly take down 4 inch crayfish..... still think it would be ok?

#7 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 14 January 2009 - 11:14 PM

I'm not sure. Perhaps someone else could chime-in here??

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

#8 Guest_truf_*

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Posted 15 January 2009 - 09:06 AM

I am keeping a large 9" bluegill and a 7" green sunfish.... do you think they will eat thease catfish? they love to eat crayfish

Perhaps a Stonecat would be more appropriate then. They grow a bit larger than the other Madtoms; maxing out at around 12". I don't think you'd get that maximum size in an aquarium though. (I'd say about 7" would be about average??) Other people can chime in on that.
-Thom

#9 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 16 January 2009 - 03:03 AM

Good thinking, Thom. I would agree.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American Native Fish for
your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

Edit: Added signature line.

Edited by BTDarters, 16 January 2009 - 03:04 AM.

#10 Guest_smilingfrog_*

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Posted 17 January 2009 - 04:51 AM

Perhaps a Stonecat would be more appropriate then. They grow a bit larger than the other Madtoms; maxing out at around 12". I don't think you'd get that maximum size in an aquarium though. (I'd say about 7" would be about average??) Other people can chime in on that.
-Thom

I have a stonecat in a 75 gallon tank with various shiners, darters, and dace. I've had it for almost 2 years now. It was about 1.5 to 2 inches when I got it and is about 3.5 to 4 inches now. Mine is from Minnesota though, and I see in Peterson's Field Guide that the ones from the Lake Erie basin are larger than those from the Mississippi River basin. Admittedly my experience with them is rather limited, but if you are planning to buy one it may be a good idea to get one from the Lake Erie area. They are such a slender fish, I'd hate to see what a sunfish that eats 4 inch crayfish would do to mine. :ohmy:

#11 Guest_keepnatives_*

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Posted 17 January 2009 - 08:16 PM

I've got a couple 3-3.5 inch madtoms, Mountain if I recall correctly in my 150 with a large assortment of sunfish some 5-7 inches. They have plenty of hiding spots and when placed in the tank I first fed the sunnies heavily as they act like a school of piranah when hungry and anything is put in the tank including my arm. Now when the sunnies are fed the madtoms usually come out to get a share and don't seem to be bothered. At first they were followed and occassionally nipped but that eventually stopped. I put the madtoms in with the sunnies as they were annoying my darters in the stream tank. Keep in mind Stonecats are really a fast water species, though I'm sure would make do. Around here they can get about a foot long. Also once had a Brook trout attack a smaller madtom he backed off shaking his head so apparently other fish feel the same as we do when stung!

#12 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 26 July 2009 - 05:59 PM

thanks for all of the info guys.......

#13 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

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Posted 26 July 2009 - 06:30 PM

I have two stone cats in my sunfish tank right now one is about 2.5" and the other maybe3.25"
none of the sunfish ever touch it they hide to well all day and come out @ night.
on a side note mine like shrimp pellets now.

#14 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 27 July 2009 - 10:48 AM

Tony where did you pick yours up?

#15 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

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Posted 27 July 2009 - 03:40 PM

A local creek. we used a net and kicked the rocks around in a riffle in the early spring
the other one was in a snakes mouth coming down the riffle in the fight of his life im sure
i picked up the snake and he let go of the small stonecat in my hand im glad he didnt poke me.

#16 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 27 July 2009 - 04:17 PM

I have a stonecat I caught in the Maumee River. I keep it with a longear sunfish in a 29 gallon tank. I've had them both for a year. They ignore each other.

#17 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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Posted 27 July 2009 - 10:14 PM

Joshua,

Might I suggest the Tadpole Madtom (Noturus gyrinus)? They stay small and love to live among vegetation, but not eat or destroy it. They're also native to the Great Lakes region. I wish I had some available. I only have 1 left and he's in my display tank. I can point you to Sach's Systems Aquaculture, though. Their website is here. Their page says that they have some available. Otherwise, if you'd like to send me your email address, I can put you on the notification list for when I have some available in spring. Hope this helps!

Brian

When I ordered from Sachs they were out of stock of tadpole madtoms and sent a speckled instead. I never see it though, it spends all its time hiding.

How big is the tank? with a 7 inch and a 9 inch fish would a small bullhead be a possibility?