Honeycomb catfish

[Luna112]

Does anyone own one?

 

[siva]

I started the same thread with no replies. I really want some but I don't know if I'll ever even see them.

 

[Luna112]

Oh really? They are suppose to be really hard to find and keep. I have one for about 4 months now. I never saw him eat. He lodges himself behind my heater and doesn't move. I found out that he will only eat floating food. Ever since then I taught him how to hand feed. He is a voracious eater!
I came about him by chance, I use to work at a really big lfs, I was cleaning the tanks(algae) when I saw something dart out from one of the corners of the tank. I asked my manager about him, and he said we hadn't had those for at least a year. They all starved. Well I saved him from those hungry firemouths he was with. And he has been awesome ever since. I just want to know more about them. How big they grow, ph, foods, temp. You know. I can't find any info on them.

 

[xfactor6699]

Oh really? They are suppose to be really hard to find and keep. I have one for about 4 months now. I never saw him eat. He lodges himself behind my heater and doesn't move. I found out that he will only eat floating food. Ever since then I taught him how to hand feed. He is a voracious eater!
I came about him by chance, I use to work at a really big lfs, I was cleaning the tanks(algae) when I saw something dart out from one of the corners of the tank. I asked my manager about him, and he said we hadn't had those for at least a year. They all starved. Well I saved him from those hungry firemouths he was with. And he has been awesome ever since. I just want to know more about them. How big they grow, ph, foods, temp. You know. I can't find any info on them.

They are only really active at night and their very hardy they can survive in a wide range
Ph 7.2-8.1
Temp. 72f-85f
Size 5"-6"inch
Food shrimp pellets, chopped up vegs, and brine shrimp
If u go to aquariumfish.net u can get another one there for $10

 

[Luna112]

Thanks for the info. Are they schooling fish? Mine is barely and inch long.

 

[xfactor6699]

No they will make territories u could keep 2 in a 55g

 

[Luna112]

Do you know how fast they grow, I can't imagine my little guy 1 inch, growing to a colossal 5 inches

 

[xfactor6699]

They are fairly slow growers they dont get full size for like 3 years maybe longer depending on how much he's eating

 

[Luna112]

Oh really? Because before I bought him, he must have been at the lfs for at least a year. They only ordered them once.

 

[xfactor6699]

If he isn't eating much he will grow slower

 

[siva]

Oh really? They are suppose to be really hard to find and keep. I have one for about 4 months now. I never saw him eat. He lodges himself behind my heater and doesn't move. I found out that he will only eat floating food. Ever since then I taught him how to hand feed. He is a voracious eater!
I came about him by chance, I use to work at a really big lfs, I was cleaning the tanks(algae) when I saw something dart out from one of the corners of the tank. I asked my manager about him, and he said we hadn't had those for at least a year. They all starved. Well I saved him from those hungry firemouths he was with. And he has been awesome ever since. I just want to know more about them. How big they grow, ph, foods, temp. You know. I can't find any info on them.

Really I see them around..they are available on a couple sites I wanted to order from. Do you have driftwood in the tank? They need driftwood, that's what they prefer to hide under/behind. Their absolute max size is 3", and I think 2 should work in a 20 depending on the rest of the stock. They are supposed to hide most the day, but become pretty active at night, actually using different parts of the water column. Like most catfish they do better with atleast one buddy. They are carnivores and should prefer thawed frozen food that will sink such as tubifex worms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp. If you're searching for info on them, make sure you also look for oil catfish and driftwood catfish since those are common names for them. Don't worry about pH with them, temp they are pretty versitile on as well, whatever you need to keep it at for the other tankmates should work..anywhere from 76-82 would be good.

 

[Luna112]

I do have driftwood. My little guy stays behind the filter

 

[siva]

Oh wow that's surprising! Usually they will spend the time the light is on down low under something if possible. Do you ever see it doing..anything? LOL I want to order a pair but I'm not sure..

 

[xfactor6699]

Really I see them around..they are available on a couple sites I wanted to order from. Do you have driftwood in the tank? They need driftwood, that's what they prefer to hide under/behind. Their absolute max size is 3", and I think 2 should work in a 20 depending on the rest of the stock. They are supposed to hide most the day, but become pretty active at night, actually using different parts of the water column. Like most catfish they do better with atleast one buddy. They are carnivores and should prefer thawed frozen food that will sink such as tubifex worms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp. If you're searching for info on them, make sure you also look for oil catfish and driftwood catfish since those are common names for them. Don't worry about pH with them, temp they are pretty versitile on as well, whatever you need to keep it at for the other tankmates should work..anywhere from 76-82 would be good.

I have one and he's around 5"so the 3"max is alittle off but agree with the rest

 

[Luna112]

He comes out when I feed. He positions himself upward so that if I feed he will see the floating pellets an he zooms out!! Its so cute.

 

[siva]

I have one and he's around 5"so the 3"max is alittle off but agree with the rest

If it is truly a Tatia perugiae then that would be the largest one I've ever heard of. They typically don't even reach 3" in captivity.

 

[Luna112]

So 3'' or 5''?

 

[siva]

This fish ^^ the Tatua/Tatia perugiae aka honeycomb/driftwood/oil catfish grows to a max of 3" in captivity, usually closer to 2", or so says every source I've seen prior to this conversation.

 

[Luna112]

Oh okay. That's good to know. So he will be okay in a 29gallon?

 

[Luna112]

If it is truly a Tatia perugiae then that would be the largest one I've ever heard of. They typically don't even reach 3" in captivity.

Will they be okay on pellet food? I use spectrum pellets. That's the brand.