My Electric Catfish/Some Questions

[Voke]

So I bought an electric catfish at my local pet store and he was very small when I got him with a little shock now he is bigger and I'm still working on getting pictures and measuring him but I will post that later I seen his underside and he has one big hole so I'm not quite sure whether he is male or female and on his head it kinda looks like a butt? which my mom thinks he's fat or something but I'm not sure.

I've been feeding him 2 frozen bloodworm cubes in the morning and then 2 at night which I figured would be plenty unless someone can correct me and let me know if I'm over feeding him it does make his stomach bulge a bit.

As I said I will post pictures hopefully later as an update and I will measure him so you guys can get an idea of what he looks like.

[Silurus]

I've been feeding him 2 frozen bloodworm cubes in the morning and then 2 at night

That sounds like too much to me. I'd halve that amount if I were you.

[Richard B]

frozen bloodworm shouldn't be the only thing he'll eat - try earthworms (nightcrawlers) or aquarium tablet food - most electric cats have proved unfussy feeders. (but yes cut down the quantity!)

[Voke]

Yeah I have fed him earthworms that me and my mom find and buy when I mentioned bloodworms it wasn't the only thing I feed him I wanted the opinion on if I'm feeding him to much with the quantity and thank you for the feedback I really appreciate it.

[Voke]

Alright I measured him and he is about 9 and a half inches that and I got a couple photos

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... 2751_o.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... 4934_o.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... 3062_o.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... NY0237.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... NY0238.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... NY0239.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h40 ... NY0240.jpg

And can anyone tell me if one hole on his front side means male? or female? I cannot remember.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Welcome to the forum, Voke!

Good looking cat. Probably Malapterurus electricus http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... ies_id=109 but I can't be sure - they are not easy to ID, e.g., see this:

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =+electric.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =+electric

If it is Malapterurus electricus, it can grow to 3' like this fish: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =+electric

Sexing them is far from easy. Forget the holes The datasheet I linked first says: "Sexing" : Males are more slender.

That's not an easy call.

[Viktor Jarikov]

I am not sure if Silurus and Richard B (great experts BTW) would still repeat the quantity advice having learned of its size but I'd say bloodworms for a 9.5" e-catfish is a way too expensive way to go. My e-cat takes everything, from fish pieces to pellets. All foods are relished.

Do you have a plan when it reaches 2'-3'? There is a chance it may stop at 1'-2'. It depends on the exact species: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/ge ... _id=46#109

When one saw an e-cat before, it had always been ID-ed as Malapterurus electricus but this genus was revised recently... and lots of info, including the adult size is still soft or missing. As you can see most datasheets don't even have the live fish photos.

[Voke]

It stopping at 1 foot would be nice but the place I got it at did tell me if I wanted to give it to them when it got to big for my tank then I could because I highly doubt I will be able to even afford a tank for a 3foot E-catfish let alone I'd be frightened lol.

We will see how it goes and to reply to Viktor when I got my e-cat it did not look like the one with the big stomach the way mine looks now is how he looked when he was younger but he was more pink of course.

I do not know if mine is in juvenile stages or is past that?

About the food thing I would really appreciate a new reply on how much food I should be giving him as he is 9.5 inches.

[Suckermouth]

I'd definitely be feeding something dried and pelleted, I agree with Viktor that you'll burn a hole in your wallet quick on a diet of frozen bloodworms. General shrimp pellets or carnivore pellets from the pet store should do this fish juuuuuust fine.

[Viktor Jarikov]

V: ... but the place I got it at did tell me if I wanted to give it to them when it got to big for my tank...
VJ: hopefully they meant it (not always the case)

V: ... then I could because I highly doubt I will be able to even afford a tank for a 3foot E-catfish let alone I'd be frightened lol.
VJ: I'd be too

V: ... when I got my e-cat it did not look like the one with the big stomach the way mine looks now is how he looked when he was younger but he was more pink of course.
VJ: you mean the colors/patterns or literally the big stomach? Of course, it got a big stomach because it ate real well. Nothing unusual for a cat. That's their design: rare but big meals = big mouth + big throat + highly stretchable stomach and super strong tummy juices.

V: I do not know if mine is in juvenile stages or is past that?
VJ: since we don't know its firm ID and hence its final size, it is hard to say.

V: About the food thing I would really appreciate a new reply on how much food I should be giving him as he is 9.5 inches.
VJ: I'd give him enough food so his stomach bulges quite visibly (you saw how much babies can eat) and then fast him until the stomach's flat again or at least 1-2 days. That way you can feed him say 3 times a week until clearly full.