Pls advice on if these fish combinations are right!!

classic2pal · Post by **classic2pal** » 28 Nov 2006, 11:03

hai friends..i have the following fish in one tank..all are small of the size2 2 -3 inches, except for the aligator gar which is 5-6 inches.. i have a pair in the below fish in a cement tank(7/2/2)..with three pieces of pvc pipes in them..

1.Upside Down Catfish 2 Nos. 2 inches.

2.Aligator Gar 2 Nos. 5-6 inches.

3.Redtail Catfish 2 Nos. 3 inches.

4.ShovelNose Catfish 2.Nos. 4 inches.

5.Doradidae Platydoras costatus Catfish 2.Nos. 2 inches.

6.Mochokidae Synodontis ocellifer Catfish 2.Nos 2 inches.

7.BumbleBee Catfish 2.Nos. 1.5 inches

Pls advice if its ok to keep all these together..
happy fish keeping,
regards,
naveen

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 28 Nov 2006, 12:44

Can I assume that the redtail catfish is this....

and the shovelnose is this.....

classic2pal · Post by **classic2pal** » 28 Nov 2006, 13:18

ya...those are what you call a redtail and a shovelnose..but mine are much much smaller!!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 28 Nov 2006, 13:26

As long as they are smaller it will be fine, but both will grow BIG - in the wild, some of the members of this forum have seen Red-tail Catfish that are more than 5 foot long, which means that your "tank" should really be several feet deep, and about 10 x 20 feet in "surface area", at the very least.

There is a "Big Cats Sticky" in the "Other South American" that discusses the "problems" of trying to keep very large catfish in captivity.

The Red-tail will also eat most things that aren't similar in size, so you probably won't be able to keep the fish together for any long period of time, as the smaller ones are likely to become "food" for the bigger ones.

It's very hard to write this in a way that is "positive" and "encouraging", because there is very little positive and encouraging about the situation - big cats are difficult to keep for everyone - you MAY be better of in India, because the labour costs of building big tanks may be somewhat less problematic. However, I doubt that materials and equipment cost will be much smaller, and those are large costs...

--
Mats

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 28 Nov 2006, 13:35

You have a mix of very predatory fish there.

I would immediately separate the gars, shovelnose and redtails from the others.

All the above fish have the potential to eat or try to eat the others.

As most of these are rather spiny, this could cause considerable damage to both parties.

The redtails, shovelnoses and gars (depending on species) will all grow to over 1 metre in length.

You will need to upgrade your 7x2x2 foot cement tank to a 7x2x2 metre cement pond at the very least. Preferably larger though for that many fish.

Is your cement treated?, as the water may be far too alkaline for these fish, which may account for why the redtail is not feeding.

Have you read the big cats sticky?

classic2pal · Post by **classic2pal** » 28 Nov 2006, 15:40

hai..i have separated them..the gars are separate.. the redtail(only 1 is left, one died!!!!!) and the shovel nose are together...the bumblebee and upsidedown are together in glass tanks!!! thanks a lot ppl for your advice!!am new and have found this forum very active and co-operative, not to mention right information that gets passed around here..
thanks again..
happy fish keeping,
regards,
naveen

Pls advice on if these fish combinations are right!!

Pls advice on if these fish combinations are right!!

ya

read it..have separated them..