Did you know fantastic help is an anagram of Planet Catfish? This forum is for those of you with pictures of your catfish who are looking for help identifying them. There are many here to help and a firm ID is the first step towards keeping your catfish in the best conditions.
Hi, I'm brand new to the forum and looking for some help in identifying what kind of catfish I have please.
I've attached a pic.
He's been acting differently in the last week and I've lost 2 new zebra danios overnight with no trace and my choice of culprits is either this one or an asian bumble bee cat I have.
Would it be likely this Synodontis has eaten my new danios overnight?
Before I got the danios last sunday he was sedantery and hid most of the day but since they arrived he's been hyperactive!
He's up and down the front of the glass and swimming round and round. Rarely stops.
I was thinking it was him as he seems to have the biggest mouth in the tank? so thought he'd maybe eaten them whole - no body or bits left (sorry for that vision) - but maybe its the asian bumble bee?
I've left the tank lights on last 2 nights and nothings been taken but I don't know want to keep doing that.
I'd be grateful for any advice you or anyone can give. MANY THANKS
if that is what you have, with the Pseudomystus being possibly more aggressive at night. Small fish like danios and tetras tend to slow down over night and these fish get more active so they are bound to come into contact with them ... who ever passes up a tasty snack.
I've got a pretty hefty (5" total length?) of the same type of Synodontis hybrid, and he doesn't even touch the glowlight tetras I added because I was taking them off someone else's hands. My bet's on the Pseudomystus being the danio-eater!
- Milton Tan
Research Scientist @ Illinois Natural History Survey
I don't think "getting a taste" is an issue as such. These fish are natural predators, they will eat small fish (anything that fits in their mouth really), and danios, small tetras [such as Neons] will be the primary goals.
Larger fish should be safe.
As to what you keep and get rid of, I can't really recommend one thing above another - I personally keep catfish, other fish in the tanks are just for extra pleasure, but are not allowed to "intrude" on the catfish keeping. If there is a conflict, the other fish goes and the catfish stays.