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SubscribeCatfish War
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Fingerling
Posts: 21
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Registered: 12-May-2006
male usa
Hi everyone. I recently aquired an enormous 9 inch striped raphael catfish for my 120 gallon tank. However, when I put him in my 8 inch featherfin catfish (synodontis eruptus) began to repeatedly attack him by coming at him sideways, I assume to try and stab him with his spiney fin. Since then, I have moved the synodontis to another tank (29 gallon). Any thoughts on what could have provoked my featherfin's attacks on my raphael? One of my theories is territory. I am planning on aquascaping the tank with driftwood fairly soon, adding in some more hiding places. Might this change reduce the aggression? Right now I only have a sand substrate with a couple of rocks becuase I am waiting for some driftwood and other rocks to put in the tank. I also plan on adding more plants. I really like both my catfish and hope to keep them in the same tank.
Post InfoPosted 24-Dec-2006 23:50Profile PM Edit Report 
Calilasseia
 
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male uk
In theory, more hiding places should do the trick. The more intricate and gnarled your bogwood is, the better.

Given that your setup is a 120 gallon, I'm a little surprised at this, though if the featherfin has been used to having the substrate region of the aquarium all to himself, then chances are it's territorial. However, I would have thought that your Raphael Cat was more than adequately equipped to cope with the Featherfin. Especially as your Raphael is a nine inch monster specimen that should, if it's a proper Raphael, be armoured like an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and covered in its own fishy razor wire to boot. I'd have thought that your Featherfin would quickly learn that a Raphael is too prickly a customer to continue attacking for long.

Mind you, on a completely different note, I cannot help but think of the kittenwar.com site as a result of you giving this thread the title "Catfish War" ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Post InfoPosted 25-Dec-2006 14:07Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
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Fingerling
Posts: 21
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Registered: 12-May-2006
male usa
Thank you for your reply. Hopfully with a rearranging of the tank my two catfish can live together in harmony. I'm so excited about my raphael. It's huge, coming close to 9.5 inches. probably one of the biggest in captivity. I liked the comparison to the battle tank.
Post InfoPosted 25-Dec-2006 17:14Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Calilasseia
 
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male uk
Doradid catfishes are, pound for pound, the most heavily armoured aquarium fishes there are. Even the small ones are built like tanks, and the larger ones add to their already heavy armour a truly vicious looking array of serrations and spines running along their bodies. The other feature that marks Doradids out as being capable in a tough environment (tough as in replete with predators and aggressive fishes) is the fact that they can use their pectorals as weapons.

Many fishes have fairly modest musculature controlling the pectoral fins, but Doradids have developed a combination of powerful pectoral musculature and spiny anterior rays (in large species these are frequently adorned with triple rows of serrations). The pectoral fin can be clasped with a vice-like grip to the body, and where the pectoral is clasped to the body during the fish's defensive reaction, there is a matching set of body serrations. Basically, if you get your finger caught in between the pectoral fin and the body of even a modest sized Doradid catfish, you are going to experience a LOT of pain. Either you will have to grin and bear it until the catfish decides to relinquish its grip (could take five or ten minutes during which your finger is being compressed between two spiny edges) or you could try an pull your finger loose (which will almost inevitably result in badly torn flesh). One of the defensive reactions of a Doradid is to try and clamp an attacker's fins or limbs in this fashion and hold on tight. Most fishes that experience this once do NOT return for a second helping.

Additionally, they are unpalatable even to creatures that could theroetically eat them. If a Doradid is attacked by a large predator such as a Spectacled Cayman, its response is to hold the pectorals and dorsal fin stiffly erect, locking them into place. Since these fins all possess stiff, serrated rays ending in sharp points, the resulting mouthful is very difficult to swallow indeed.

Mind you, by the standards of naked catfishes (i.e., catfishes that possess no bony scutes), Synodontis species can be tough bruisers. Featherfins are well and truly capable of looking after themselves amidst some feisty company, and some of the members of the Genus are particularly well equipped to fend off unwelcome attentions from fishes such as large Cichlids. One species I have particularly in mind here is Synodontis acanthomias, which will reach 12 inches in an aquarium with ease and which will stand its ground against Green Terrors.

Oh, when you get chance, post a photo of this monster Raphael you've just acquired - ideally with a ruler nearby so we can warn people how big these fishes can grow!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Post InfoPosted 25-Dec-2006 23:10Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
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Fingerling
Posts: 21
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male usa
I'll try to post a picture later, but I don't really know how.
Post InfoPosted 25-Dec-2006 23:51Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
DeletedPosted 26-Dec-2006 02:57
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DeletedPosted 26-Dec-2006 03:06
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Calilasseia
 
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Panda Funster
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male uk
If you're not a premium member, you'll have to upload the pic to a Webshots or PhotoBucket account or something similar (there's quite a few websites devoted to hosting free pics) and then link to the picture in here.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Post InfoPosted 26-Dec-2006 16:50Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
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Fingerling
Posts: 21
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Registered: 12-May-2006
male usa
Ok, I'll try it. I have a really good picture of the Raphael next to a ruler.
Post InfoPosted 26-Dec-2006 18:27Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
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Fingerling
Posts: 21
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Votes: 2
Registered: 12-May-2006
male usa
Post InfoPosted 26-Dec-2006 18:52Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Cup_of_Lifenoodles
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male usa
Eups are generally not overtly aggressive fish, and are only modestly territorial as most synodontis go (angelicus and co. really set the bar, there), so I'm not exactly sure as to why they are tussling violently, but, IMO, both fish are perfectly capable of defending themselves.
Post InfoPosted 26-Dec-2006 22:36Profile AIM MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
Calilasseia
 
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male uk
Just took a look at the photos - good job!

That's a nice specimen. I'd be wary of trusting it with small fishes though.

By the way Cup, my undertanding re Synodontis was that angelicus was avowedly territorial but not as problematic in an aquarium as three other species - acanthomias, notatus and schal being three big predatory species that will face off with big Cichlids and quite likely win the contest ... I'm sure I recall someone posting here a while back who mentioned that they had an 11 inch acanthomias and that it told his Cichlids where to get off if they came too close to its cave ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Post InfoPosted 26-Dec-2006 23:45Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
Cup_of_Lifenoodles
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acanthomias, notatus and schal

S. notatus is amongst the most personable of the large synodontis. I assume its "aggressive" reputation (honestly, I have nevever heard of anyone owning a one spot that wreaked havoc) came from its piscivorous habits--I would know; I lost several smaller fish to mine. S. schall is a bit more territorial, but not much more; they can certainly, like most other synodontis, take care of themselves, but do not generally go out of their way to aggravate tankmates. They tend to be quite active as well, perhaps spooking more quietly disposed fish. I've never personally kept s. acanthomias, so I can't account for its personality. Whitewater riverine congo species, however, do tend to be largely abusive towards tankmates (understandable, given the scarcity of resources in the area), and I've heard contrasting accounts of their treatment towards congenial animals, so its most definitely possible.
Post InfoPosted 27-Dec-2006 04:40Profile AIM MSN PM Edit Delete Report 
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