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Calilasseia, you are just the greatest!!!!! Your knowledge on Corys is second to none. Had it not been for you, my whole Panda population would be wiped out now (remember, the Rhino Plec scenario?) Update: no Panda deaths, and I actually found a "newcomer" (fry) the other day. Keep on with your advice...........it's awesome

I must give credit where credit is due! Yes, Cory Di and Cory Addict very very helpful and knowledgeable. And all give excellent advice and I appreciate them.

Really interesting & great information.
Thanks alot.




http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/album?.dir=b5f2

http://www.deathbydyeing.org/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Mail me at calilasseia@hotmail.com & I'll send them by return.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

If you could, I would forever be appreciative.

Sadly, Today's Fishkeeper doesn't have a website.

If you can get the Jan 2004 edition as a back number, then the article by Schraml on Wood-eaters is on pages 54-56. The article goes into considerable taxonomic depth. I think you'd enjoy it.

If you don't mind huge JPEG files clogging up you rmailbox, I could scan the three pages for you & mail them.

Oh, by the way, the picture of L90 on page 55 is amazing. That fish look BIG.

OOH : UPDATE!

Seems Schraml is credited with spawning L66 on Planet Catfish!

Link:

Spawning L66 Article

Oh yes. Warning. The JPEGs are large. As in 450K or so each. And that's WITH farily hefty compression. The original PSD files are a whopping 7 megs EACH.

Last edited by Calilasseia at 27-Feb-2005 00:04

Last edited by Calilasseia at 27-Feb-2005 00:05

Last edited by Calilasseia at 27-Feb-2005 00:28

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

"...Seidel and Armbruster on Loricariids"

Well, THAT changes everything. I'm a big fan of Ingo's work--do you have a direct link?

Courtesy of RasboramMary: * blushes *

I think Cory_Addict might have something to say about that

Actually, Cory_Di made a request for a special section to be created for my articles, but AcidRain and the other mods seem to think it's a bit premature for such an addition. Plus, I've submitted articles to Adam (including the big Otocinclus article for which I'm so famous) and thus far, I've yet to see them materialise.

UPDATE:

In answer to the query above on Schraml, his arrticle in Today's Fishkeeper cites a scientific paper to which he was a contributor. Namely:

Isbrücker, I.J.H. & Schraml. E. (2001) pp 20-21 in: Isbrücker, I.J.H, Seidel, I, Michels, J.P, Schraml, E. & Werner, A (2001) : Diagnose vierzehn neuer Gattungen der Familie Loricariidae RAFINESQUE 1815 (Teleostei: Ostariophysi) (DATZ-Sonderheft Harnischwelse 2: 17-24)

Schraml has worked alongside Isbrücker, Seidel and Armbruster on Loricariids. There may be more papers with him listed as author or co-author, but this is the one I have a direct reference for.




Last edited by Calilasseia at 26-Feb-2005 19:13

Last edited by Calilasseia at 26-Feb-2005 19:14

Last edited by Calilasseia at 26-Feb-2005 19:14

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Very good article...have you also posted it in the articles section so that it can be kept handy for referral?

Sucking Catfishes - A Newcomer's Guide

After writing my newcomer's guide to Corydoras, I thought I'd produce a similar guide for newcomers who are interested in Sucking Catfishes of various kinds. Which, in this case, will also include a guide as to which Sucking Catfishes are reasonable beginner's choices, and which should be left to the more experienced!

One. Taxonomy.

The vast majority of Sucking Catfishes found in Nature belong to the Family Loricariidae, and are South American in origin. There are odd Sucking Catfishes that belong to other Families (e.g., the Rock Catlets, Genus Chiloglanis, that are related to the Synodontis Upside Down Catfishes and belong in the same Family, the Mochokidae), but these are extremely rarely imported, and so, chances are, if you see a Sucking Catfish in a dealer aquarium, it will be a Loricariid Catfish. Loricariids are characterised by several anatomical features, of which the modification of the mouthparts into a sucking disc and modifications to the teeth for various feeding specialisations are simply the most obvious. The other principal anatomical feature is the presence of bony scutes, armed with spines, although in several Loricariid species, the spines are small and not immediately obvious. All Loricariids have spiny armour, but this tends to be somewhat more lightweight and flexible than the 'battle tank' armour of Doradid Catfishes, for example. Another feature possessed by many (but not all) Loricariids is an adipose fin: where this fin is present, it is supported by a spine at the leading edge, and in several Loricariids this spine is very prominent. There are over 450 species of Loricariid Catfish known to science, and new ones being discovered almost on a weekly basis now that collectors are avidly scouring South America in search of yet more L-numbers!

Incidentally, the term 'Plec' or 'Pleco' derives from one of the Loricariid Genera, namely Plecostomus. The fact that most 'Plecs' found in aquaria belong to a diverse range of Genera, including a brace of Genera with tongue-twisting names, seems not to matter: everywhere, these assorted fishes will still be known as 'Plecs'.

Two. Diet.

With over 450 species in the Family, it should come as no surprise to learn that there is considerable variation in the diet of these fishes too. Although many are algae eaters, and very efficient ones at that, several important aquarium species require wood in the diet (these can be identified by their teeth, which are reduced in number and distinctively spoon-shaped), and some are actually carnivorous. Consequently, buying any species other than the mainstays of the aquarium trade should be preceded by much research into the possible specialised needs of such a potential purchase.

Even the 'mainstay' species can deliver some surprises, though, as I have discovered with my collection of Otocinclus Catfishes: the textbooks will all tell you that these are algae eaters, and indeed, they are very efficient at removing algal growths from bogwood decorations and broad-leaved plants such as Amazon Swords. However, this is not the whole story! I now have photographic proof that Otocinclus will eat small live foods, such as Bloodworm, and I now describe these fishes as primarily herbivorous aufwuchs grazers that will add live organisms from the aufwuchs to their diet. Be prepared for dietary oddities of this kind to manifest themselves in any Loricariid Catfish! Be prepared also for Loricariids to produce truly amazing excrement: one of the long-standing sources of humour on this Board is the nature of Pleco poop!

Three. Water Chemistry.

As befits native South Americans, particularly those of Amazonian origin, Loricariids in the main prefer soft, slightly acidic water. There are, however, one or two exceptions. Two of the L-Number species are unique to Lake Valencia, Venezuela, whose natural water chemistry departs somewhat from the 'standard' South American water chemistry model. Also, while many Loricariids are native to 'clearwater' habitats, be prepared for the odd few species that inhabit 'blackwater' habitats such as the Rio Negro, of Cardinal Tetra fame. One or two of these species will benefit from the presence of humic acids in the water, and for these fishes, the addition of something such as Tetra's Blackwater Tonic will be beneficial.

However, many of the 'mainstream' species have been domesticated for some time, and are commercially bred, so these fishes will be more adaptable to a wide range of water chemistry parameters than their wild ancestors. Even so, it is a bad idea to put any Loricariid, even a domesticated one, into a setup such as a Rift Lake aquarium, and under NO circumstances should these fishes (or ANY Catfish apart from a few members of the Family Ariidae) be exposed to salt. These fishes are primary freshwater fishes, and are incapable of withstanding even tiny amounts of salt in the water.

Four. Furnishings.

Loricariids are bottom dwellers that have evolved to live in a range of environments. Some live in fast-flowing streams, others in slower-moving, deeper water. The majority are accustomed to environments in which aquatic plants and submerged tangles of tree roots are major features. A good number live in waters shaded by rainforest canopy trees, and consequently, Loricariids prefer well-furnished aquaria, containing live plants and caves of one sort or another. These caves can be formed either from bogwood pieces or rounded rocks cemented together: quite a few species will utilise flowerpots and pieces of large-diameter plastic piping as both resting places and, in the case of several species, nurseries for their eggs and young. An aquarium for Loricariids should, therefore, be furnished, even for those species whose size makes this a logistical headache. In the case of those that eat wood, bogwood will have to be provided for their long-term well-being, and replaced periodically as the fishes gnaw away at it. Even those that do not need wood for dietary purposes seem to exhibit a definite preference for wood-based decorations as their home, presumably because these most closely resemble the submerged root tangles of their native waters.

Loricariids also like to have at least some shady areas of an aquarium to dwell in. If the aquarium is well-lit, to facilitate growth of plants such as Amazon Swords that need reasonable lighting, then floating plants strategically arranged will be useful in providing the shaded areas that Loricariids like. Even so, be prepared for some species (in my experience, Otocinclus are likely to do this) to clamber among the floating plants seeking out new feeding opportunities, even though this brings them into the full glare of the aquarium lights.

Five. Species And Sizes.

Whether the intended destination is a modest-sized aquarium or a colossal one, there is usually a Loricariid Catfish to suit. Smallest of these are the dear old Otocinclus, subject of one of my biggest posts to date (which, given the size of some of my posts, is saying something!), which usually reach around 4 cm in length, and are ideal algae eaters for the more modest sized aquarium. These fishes should, ideally, be kept in groups: while they do not exhibit quite the degree of social attachment to each other seen in, for example, Panda Corys, they are moderately gregarious fishes, and do best if they have companions of their own species.

Next in size are Parotocinclus maculicauda and the various Hypoptopoma species. These reach around 8 cm, but are far less frequently encountered than Otocinclus. This is a pity, because they are good algae eaters, and relatively hardy once properly acclimatised.

Next, we have the perennial favourite of so many people on this Board - the Bristlenoses. These belong to the Genus Ancistrus, and range in size from 8cm to 15cm in length, depending upon species. They are excellent algae eaters, and are characterised by an unusual form of sexual dimorphism: males bear adornments of fleshy protrusions upon the snout when mature. While many people find these fascinating, I find them grotesque, and my aversion to these fishes places me in a very small minority on this Board! For some reason, the more outlandish ones make me shudder, in much the same way as Surinam Toads do after they've shed the tadpoles from their backs ... related to the true Bristlenoses, but with bristles attached to the gill plates instead of the snout, are the Parancistrus Plecs, some of which can reach 20cm.

Among the medium-sized Loricariids are the Peckoltia species, and the sky-high desirable Hypancistrus zebra, which was once classified as a Peckoltia until a revision of the Genus took place. Peckoltias have a certain droll charm all of their own, and this is reflected in the price that will be charged for some of them, although none will reach the astronomical limits of Hypancistrus zebra!!! Incidentally, not only has it been found that Hypancistrus zebra prefers a carnivorous diet, particularly as an adult (although I suspect that juveniles are aufwuchs grazers that add insect larvae and crustaceans to the diet increasingly with age), but one or two of the true Peckoltias has been found to manifest a preference for at least some animal matter in the diet too.

It is at this stage that the 'Whiptails' and related Loricariids should be introduced: these include Loricaria filamentosa, the Farlowella species, the assorted Sturisoma species and the hideously expensive Lamontichthys filamentosus. These are all highly desirable among specialist Loricariid collectors, command high prices, and are better left to the specialist, as they are more demanding than the more familiar Loricariids in their requirements. To be included with these are the 'oddballs' among the Loricariids, the assortment of species that seem to be striving to become flatfishes, of which Pseudohemiodon laticeps is simply the most extreme example. In this group we find the various species of Rineloricaria, Spatuloricaria, Loricariichthys and the quaintly named Pyxiloricaria, which features wing-like pectorals, plus oddities such as my favourite Loricariid tongue-twister, Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus. It is among the 'Whiptails', Farlowellas and the 'oddball flatfish' Loricariids that we principally find vestigial or absent adipose fins.

In the 30cm size range are a range of 'traditional' Plecs, such as Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, the Sailfin Plec, and members of the wood-eating Genus Panaqolus. Fishes in this category are relatively hardy, but are better left alone by newcomers upon account of their size. The same is true of all the following species, some of which are truly huge!

Beyond 30cm, we have the true Panaque species, some of which will exceed 50cm as adults, and beasts such as Pseduorinelepis pellegrini, another species lacking an adipose fin (at least in the photographs in my books!) and which possesses heavy, almost Doradid-specification armour. Included here are a brace of fishes that have been lumped temporarily into Panaque while scientists work out what to do with them, and a brace of L-numbers including L90. All of these fishes possess a certain attractiveness as juveniles, which leads all too many unwary aquarists into purchasing them, only to discover the horrible truth about their eventual size six months later, as some of them exhibit truly stupendous growth rates!

Fortunately, the biggest of them all is rarely imported, usually as a 'special order' by a collector, and is in any case likely to be too expensive for all but the dedicated to even contemplate buying. Two species fall under this heading, Acanthicus adonis, the Adonis Plec, and Acanthicus hystrix, the Black Adonis Plec. Both are enormous when adult (1 metre long!), both are territorial as adults, and tend to lose the attractive juvenile pattern that makes them appealing to many (until they see the price!) as they grow. For those UK aquarists who knew him at fish shows, the late Ted Derrick used to have an Adonis Plec: I saw this beast when he exhibited it at G-Mex in Manchester back in 1995, and this was an 80cm specimen at least. To exhibit it at the show took four people to lift the show tank into place, and another two to carry the fish. This should give the curious some idea of what they will be letting themselves in for if they take on an Adonis Plec! This is the sort of fish that should be reserved for the fishkeeping Gods - but then, those who knew him will know that Ted Derrick was precisely that, a man who took on average more show trophies in a year than most other aquarists hope to in a lifetime. I bet he's now telling God himself how to breed Sturisoma panamense ...

And on that note, it simply remains to say, enjoy your Loricariids, and choose them wisely!



Last edited by Calilasseia at 24-Feb-2005 10:34

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

20 cm??? Still a baby that one.

They don't become adult until they're nearer 50 cm. Even then, they've quite some growing to do. And then, there's the expense of suitable quarters once you've spent that sum of money on your Black Adonis. An aquarium that will house this fellow long-term will blow a hole in your bank account of near five-figure proportions. Not for anyone but the dedicated and wealthy!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I saw a black adonis the other day at my lfs it was about 20cm going for $650 Australian dollars. there was also another really rare catfish going for $750.

The thing is Sirboooks, they remind me of Surinam Toads.

I saw them on a wildflie documentary, complete with the sequence where the tadpoles leave the female's back ... and she ends up looking like she has leprosy or something ... gave me the shudders watching that. BNs remind me of that somehow. Brrr!

Mind you, I have to admit they're superlative algae browsers. It's just that I'd never be able to look at them in any aquarium of mine without being reminded of that squicky Surinam Toad programm.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

A couple of comments on the Ancistrus section: I think there are a couple of species of Ancistrus that exceed 15 cm in length, including the medusa pleco. Plus, even the most common BNs can occasionally exceed normal size, just ask Cory Addict.

And, I can't believe you don't love their looks! These are the best looking plecos ever! I see where you're coming from though, they sure are ugly. That's why they are so endearing.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I'd assume your otto is grazing happily on algae as well, as otherwise he would indeed die of intestinal disorders. The same has been published for ancistrus species that have been consistently fed with a similar diet. Do be reminded that most loricariids, even small ones, are long lived fishes, possibly exceeding several decades in age.

Funny, I always thought Schraml was a cichlid guy (in fact, I have one of his books!). Anyhow, what species is this? I recall you specifically stating that nigrolineatus (L90, among others) was capable of growing to these gargantuan sizes.



Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 24-Feb-2005 14:11

Ah, but remember me posting a link to a photo of one of my Otocinclus munching a live Bloodworm?

Otocinclus Eating Live Bloodworm

And mine also eat freeze dried Tubifex. Without undue ill effects. One of mine lived to be nearly 10 years old on this diet.

Plus, Erwin Schraml wrote an article on Loricariids in which he said that some Panaque species can reach 51 cm. That's a little over 20 inches. Schraml is one of the world's foremost experts on these fishes, alongside his colleague Armbruster, so I think he'd know.

Last edited by Calilasseia at 24-Feb-2005 12:05

Last edited by Calilasseia at 24-Feb-2005 12:07

Last edited by Calilasseia at 24-Feb-2005 12:08

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Excellent article on a personal favorite family of mine! Just a few things:



There are no loricariids that necessitate wood matter in their diet. Pana[qolus], genera famed for their wood eating habits, do not employ their well known triagular tooth composition specifically for the task of chipping off wood, but rather to scrape off detritus. Examination of a wild nigrolineatus gut shows it’s diet consists primarily of rotting vegetation (and matter in general), harvested from surfaces in this way. Having kept (and bred) several species of the genus over extended periods of time, I can say that, from a firsthand account, fibrous vegetables are much more beneficial to these fish than wood, as the latter provides little to no nutritional value. Most panaqolus species are fairly small, topping off at about 7”. This is one of several reasons this new genus was erected; as opposed to the larger, broad headed panaques. Also, even amongst the largest panaque species, there has not been one which is documented to have reached 19+ inches in length as previously said.

Remember also, that loricariids of the genus otocinclus are strict herbivores in the wild (one of few), and will not encounter sources of crude protein. Supplying a principally meaty diet can result (I’ve seen something of this sort on the PC forums before, I believe) in bloating and possibly intestinal blockage. Also, don’t forget-these little ones also have no adipose finnage, one of the distinguishing characteristics between them and those that share a similar namesake, the parotos .

Many, many African mbuna and tang aquarists keeping loricariids with their prize stock without a problem. In fact, rift aquarists are advised to keep some kind of bottom strata feeder; if not synodontis, than loricariids.

Many, if not most, of currently imported L-numbers manifest themselves in banked streams and/or smooth bottomed lakes devoid of heavy vegetation. Therefore, the “ideal” loricariid tank, appealing to a broad spectrum of fish, would likely deviate from what one would describe as a “South American tank”; sandy bottomed, with haphazard rock/woodwork and a gentle current. Rocks should be arranged in such a fashion that individuals of the species can wedge themselves between small crevices, and driftwood tangles. Plantage is always welcome, but not so much as to hinder the movement of a species.

Peckoltias, like their nearly indistinguishable relatives, the hypancistrids, are primarily protein feeders, and preadators at that, which can be evidenced from their stalking of live brine shrimp and bloodworms, carried by the current, and suddeny snatched up from behind the rockwork. Vegetable and fruit matter should be supplemented, however-especially fruit, in which they feed heavily on in their Xingu habitat.