Eclipse catfish - Aquarium Advice

RoK · 02-28-2005, 09:24 PM

Does anyone here own/have owned these (eclipse catfish; aka sun catfish) before? Wanted to know how big they usually grow in the aquaria? I've read they can get to 18" but is that actually in the aquarium or in the wild? Not totally sure if I'll need a bigger tank when it's an adult.

TCTFish · 02-28-2005, 09:50 PM

The largest specimens I've seen were about 6" or 7".

whitetiger_CJ · 03-01-2005, 05:55 PM

they say around 8 in in an aquarium. i've never kept one but they are a cool looking fish.

rubysoho · 03-01-2005, 06:27 PM

oh no no no, I LOVE these fish and rescued two a while ago. Within three months they grew about 4 inches. If fed properly, they get to be around 18 inches (in the aquarium) and the only reason they stay smaller in tanks is because they die before they reach full size (if the tank isn't big enough or they aren't propely cared for). Alas, I only have a 55 gallon and so I gave them to my [acronym:a1711af0d4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:a1711af0d4]. I love them, great fish, aggressive eaters, and they are very shy. Mine spent their days hiding in my amazon sword plants. I'd always think they were dead, but it is just how they liked to hide. [acronym:a1711af0d4="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:a1711af0d4]!

*edit* they also have a very long lifespan... I'll try to find the information I had when I was researching this species over the summer. Scientific name: Horabagrus brachysoma

RoK · 03-01-2005, 09:53 PM

Well, I will definently not keep it in the 75 if it gets even to say 12-13". Right now I cannot afford a bigger tank but hopefully be able to in the future so I hope this guy takes a few years to grow to a large size. It's only about 2.5-2.8" right now. Whenever I see mine it's always fat, I think he's also eating the algae wafers I put for my plecos.

I have noticed my plecs getting a little skinnier.

rubysoho · 03-01-2005, 11:32 PM

on a side note, they like to be kept in small groups of 3. I would bet your little one is eating anything and everything that sinks in pellet or waffer form to the bottom of the tank. I know mine did. They really enjoy shrimp pellets. To help your pleco out, you might want to feed zuchinis over night in large enough peices that the suncat can't eat. Your little cat should grow a good bit in the next few months, but I think they slow down for a while after they reach a certain length. Not sure about that though. I only kept mine until they were around 5-6 inches and were harassing my other bottom dwellers.

black udder · 03-02-2005, 02:51 AM

I have one I picked up at about 1.5 inches, the next time I saw him he was 3", then after that 4". I haven't seen him in about 2-3 weeks - he stays hidden during the day. Sometimes, he'll come out during a feeding.

He's real peaceful, doesn't bother anybody, but I've heard that they get rather large.

rubysoho · 03-02-2005, 07:18 PM

black udder, they get to be around 18 inches in an aquarium but larger ones have been found in the wild.

RoK · 03-03-2005, 05:04 PM

I just saw it yesterday night and WOW it's gotten bigger. Fatter, a little bit longer and wider. I think I will be moving it to my 75 today.

rubysoho · 03-03-2005, 07:21 PM

haha good choice

02-28-2005, 09:24 PM	#1
RoK Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,224 Images: 11	Eclipse catfish Does anyone here own/have owned these (eclipse catfish; aka sun catfish) before? Wanted to know how big they usually grow in the aquaria? I've read they can get to 18" but is that actually in the aquarium or in the wild? Not totally sure if I'll need a bigger tank when it's an adult. __________________ Current fish (includes all 8 running tanks): Gouramis, polypterids, SA cichlids, convicts, rainbows, plecos, loaches, ACFs, a platy, tetra, & a Ctenopoma

02-28-2005, 09:50 PM	#2
TCTFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,470 Images: 20	The largest specimens I've seen were about 6" or 7". __________________ http://www.tricitytropicals.com ------------------------------------ We, as a people, know so much more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. This lack of knowledge can very well spell the dangers that lay in wait for us. The oceans surely would swallow us before a rock comes down to smite the planet of it's life. Nov/2004

03-01-2005, 09:53 PM	#5
RoK Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,224 Images: 11	Well, I will definently not keep it in the 75 if it gets even to say 12-13". Right now I cannot afford a bigger tank but hopefully be able to in the future so I hope this guy takes a few years to grow to a large size. It's only about 2.5-2.8" right now. Whenever I see mine it's always fat, I think he's also eating the algae wafers I put for my plecos. I have noticed my plecs getting a little skinnier. __________________ Current fish (includes all 8 running tanks): Gouramis, polypterids, SA cichlids, convicts, rainbows, plecos, loaches, ACFs, a platy, tetra, & a Ctenopoma

03-02-2005, 02:51 AM	#7
black udder Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 149 Images: 9	I have one I picked up at about 1.5 inches, the next time I saw him he was 3", then after that 4". I haven't seen him in about 2-3 weeks - he stays hidden during the day. Sometimes, he'll come out during a feeding. He's real peaceful, doesn't bother anybody, but I've heard that they get rather large. __________________ 46g planted 2 Bristlenose Plecos; 1 Angel; 3 Rafael Cat; 1 plattys; 6 Tetras (2 black skirt 2 serpae, 2 blueberry); 1 Pictus Cat; 1 clown loach; 2 mollies (1 spotted & 1 black); 1 Zebra Danio; 2 Oto; 1 golden wonder killie; 2 Kuhlii loach; 2 SAE; 1 bumblebee cat; 2 upsidedown cats; 2 golden algae eaters

03-03-2005, 05:04 PM	#9
RoK Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,224 Images: 11	I just saw it yesterday night and WOW it's gotten bigger. Fatter, a little bit longer and wider. I think I will be moving it to my 75 today. __________________ Current fish (includes all 8 running tanks): Gouramis, polypterids, SA cichlids, convicts, rainbows, plecos, loaches, ACFs, a platy, tetra, & a Ctenopoma

03-01-2005, 05:55 PM	#3
whitetiger_CJ Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wichita Ks. Posts: 215	they say around 8 in in an aquarium. i've never kept one but they are a cool looking fish.

03-01-2005, 06:27 PM	#4
rubysoho Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,539 Images: 3	oh no no no, I LOVE these fish and rescued two a while ago. Within three months they grew about 4 inches. If fed properly, they get to be around 18 inches (in the aquarium) and the only reason they stay smaller in tanks is because they die before they reach full size (if the tank isn't big enough or they aren't propely cared for). Alas, I only have a 55 gallon and so I gave them to my [acronym:a1711af0d4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:a1711af0d4]. I love them, great fish, aggressive eaters, and they are very shy. Mine spent their days hiding in my amazon sword plants. I'd always think they were dead, but it is just how they liked to hide. [acronym:a1711af0d4="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:a1711af0d4]! edit they also have a very long lifespan... I'll try to find the information I had when I was researching this species over the summer. Scientific name: Horabagrus brachysoma

03-01-2005, 11:32 PM	#6
rubysoho Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,539 Images: 3	on a side note, they like to be kept in small groups of 3. I would bet your little one is eating anything and everything that sinks in pellet or waffer form to the bottom of the tank. I know mine did. They really enjoy shrimp pellets. To help your pleco out, you might want to feed zuchinis over night in large enough peices that the suncat can't eat. Your little cat should grow a good bit in the next few months, but I think they slow down for a while after they reach a certain length. Not sure about that though. I only kept mine until they were around 5-6 inches and were harassing my other bottom dwellers.

03-02-2005, 07:18 PM	#8
rubysoho Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,539 Images: 3	black udder, they get to be around 18 inches in an aquarium but larger ones have been found in the wild.

03-03-2005, 07:21 PM	#10
rubysoho Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,539 Images: 3	haha good choice

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