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Hi all!

On the 24th my dad bought me a beautiful bumblebee catfish from the LFS near him. I thought that they were agressive to each other, so i only got one. I later found out that they arent agressive to each other, and i now am left in a few questions.

First of all, does anybody have any experience in keeping them, or any special needs? I am clueless as to if they need a small shoal of 3+ or if they are better off or ok alone. I like them, and i want to get some more, but i have to wait until i get my 30g tank on Sunday (Maybe. I think they are cute little colorbunches, and are a good bottom feeder. I know that it is indeed an inheringi because i have identified it from other ones.

Thanks,
~Goby

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Haha, coincidentally this is one fish I've been looking into since it would add a pseudopimelodid to my tank. In the past, these fish might even have been considered semi-rare. Lately though, this species has been appearing MUCH more commonly. It's so much more common that it's become the bumblebee catfish while (at least near me), Pseudomystus siamensis, which is the classic bumblebee catfish that gets much larger, get labeled other crazy names (one LFS calls their P. siamensis a "Burma catfish" for some odd reason).

Anyway, they are non-schooling and won't care either which way if there is one or three of them, if I'm not mistaken. Of course, you will probably only see these fish at night. I can pretty much imagine these fish diving for cover only for you to never see them again in true nocturnal catfish fashion. This of course, is their only special need: a place to hide from light and spying eyes.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Ah, one of my favorites. Yes, they can be, as stated, kept in solitary confinement. The only individual I ever kept was housed singularly with pseudacanthicus and leporas. No problems even with these relatively rowdy bottom strata dwellers.

Anyway, they are non-schooling and won't care either which way if there is one or three of them, if I'm not mistaken.

The only individual I ever kept was housed singularly with pseudacanthicus and leporas. No problems even with these relatively rowdy bottom strata dwellers.

Thats good to hear i guess....I mean, i only found it over here at 1 store, and they did have a huge selection. Im just glad that they aren't agressive to each other, or to other bottom dwellers for that matter. I hope that he gets used to the tank soon. I have a large amount of places to hide for him, but he likes to hang in the floating plants in a corner of the tank. He also likes to rest under or on the anubias. I really enjoy these guys, and i was glad i could add some bottom dweller color, as i only have Black Kuhli Loaches (P. oblonga) and BN plecos.

Well, i was looking around, and i still didnt find too much info on feeding yet. What should i be feeding these guys, and how can i know when they are eating? I hope he dosent chose to starve.

PS: I am glad i didnt get the asian P. siamensis, as i plan on keeping small schooling fish with them. I used this site to identify the species of my fish.....Here it is

EDIT: I like the shark look of the P. siamensis a lot too. I would definately add one to a large fish tank, if i could find it!

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Ah, ScotCat's a good site for info, although I've got a bias towards PlanetCatfish (www.planetcatfish.com). There probably isn't much info on feeding because it doesn't matter what you feed them. They aren't picky and will probably pick up flakes that have sunk. My omnivorous and carnivorous catfishes are primarily fed shrimp pellets and frozen bloodworms, which they all seem to enjoy. Honestly, I have no experience with this fish but it's possible that it will start coming out during the day as it becomes more comfortable, as happens with some species of catfish. This may be a greater possibility with dither fish, small fish swimming around that show that it's safe to come out.

Best thing to do is wait until a while after the lights go out and go feed your fish. I feed my fish in almost complete darkness, with a light on around the corner in the NEXT room. Pretty much enough light to see them swimming around but not enough to scare them back into their holes; my shadow alone freaks out my Synodontis and my pleco. That's catfishes for ya, lol. Then I feed and observe to make sure they're picking up the food.

P. siamensis is a good, hardy fish. For some other fishes that have similar body shapes you might look at other catfishes of the families Bagridae; PlanetCatfish has a great gallery in their Cat-eLog.

Usually I don't trust people buying fish for me, it's a problem since some people don't know how to spot a healthy fish or know what's compatible with what I have. You got pretty lucky there, unless of course you were there and helping your dad pick out the fish.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Well, my dad has some experience in the hobby, and is extremely careful as to the fish that he chooses. I am extremely grateful for that . I do have some sinking pellets, but i do not know if he will find them....I also have some floating cichlid food, and maybe he will eat that? Thanks for the replys! I will try to feed in darkness from now on, and 1 feeding in the day as well.

~Goby

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Ah, that's good with your dad, no one else I know has even an inkling about fish, lol.

I doubt he will find a floating food, and almost definitely not at first. Some bottom-feeders will come to the top, but the vast majority of the fish I have kept I wouldn't rely upon to even bother to do so, so I just save them the trouble and feed sinking foods.

I wouldn't worry too much about him finding pellets. What I do is try to throw the pellets (or other food) in so that they sink relatively close to the "target" fish. In the case of frozen foods that sink slower I use a long plastic tube to direct the food. Considering your tank isn't as large or deep as mine this probably won't be a huge challenge. When he makes his rounds around the tank he'll probably come across the pellets eventually.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I tested it yesterday, and boy, the results are amazing!!! I fed the fish right after the lights went out on a timer, with only the TV light on, and whaddya know, the Bumblebee Catfish was out and about, and eating the pellets and granules i dropped. He isnt too scared when i walk by, but any light or sudden movement would creep him out.

Just thought youd like to know!

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Looks like you're on the fast track to catfish happiness there.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.