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| Catfish at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford |
| 07/01/2010 |
Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is one of the biggest stores in the Maidenhead Aquatics chain. It is best known for its very large pond section, but it also has a strong reputation as a supplier of catfish. These run from the popular Corydoras species suitable for community tanks through to much larger predatory and suckermouth catfish that will be of interest to advanced aquarists. In between are lots of species that would make good additions to robust community tanks or maintenance alongside medium to large sized cichlids and characins.
The Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford store is within the Wyevale Garden Centre on the London Road in Wheatley, about five miles west of Oxford. Shoppers coming by car will find the London Road easy to reach from the A40, either south of Wheatley at the junction with the M40, or at the junction between the A40 and the London Road just north of Wheatley. Shoppers coming by public transport can use bus route 280, which stops at Ambrose Rise on the London Road very close to the garden centre. This bus can be caught at stop I2 on the High Street in Oxford city centre.
Basic care
In general catfish are hardy and adaptable. Water chemistry is rarely an issue, and most species do well in both hard and soft water. Most species do well across the usual temperature range at which tropical fish are kept, though it is worth noting that some of the South American species, including most Corydoras and some of the Pimelodidae and Loricariidae, are often kept warmer than they like. In the long run, keeping catfish at the right temperature will increase their hardiness and lengthen their lives.
Feeding is almost never a problem, since catfish hunt primarily by smell rather than sight. In short, if it tastes edible, a catfish will eat it! So even the predatory species quickly learn to take things like pellets and frozen foods. Many catfish are at least partially herbivorous in the wild, so including some plant material in their diet is helpful; depending on the species this can include things like courgette, tinned peas, cooked spinach, or algae wafers.
Almost all catfish live close to the substrate, and the aquarist should provide them with adequate hiding places on the bottom of the tank. The simplest and cheapest such caves are terracotta flowerpots turned on their sides, but there are plenty of alternatives including hollow ornaments and artificial tree roots that could be used as well. The choice of substrate can be important. In the case of burrowing species, a soft substrate is preferable, and small catfish will be happiest kept in a tank with a smooth silica sand substrate rather than gravel. Avoid abrasive substrates such as Tahitian Moon Sand that can damage the soft bellies of catfish.
Catfish social behaviour varies considerably. Many of the smaller species are gregarious and should be kept in groups of at least five specimens. This includes all of the Corydoras catfish, as well as such popular species as Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus minor), Dwarf Upside-down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventris), and the Angelicus Pimelodus (Pimelodus pictus). On the other hand, many of the bigger predatory and suckermouth catfish are solitary, even aggressively territorial.
Corydoras
These are the default catfish for many aquarists, and Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford maintain a good selection of Corydoras all year round. All Corydoras are schooling fish, and should always be kept in groups of at least five specimens per species. Most species are very well suited to community tanks, with the one proviso that almost all species are unhappy kept too warm, and are best kept between 22-25 degrees C. One of the very few exceptions is Corydoras sterbai, a catfish that has consequently become very popular with aquarists maintaining “hothouse flowers” like Discus and Gouramis that are happiest at around 28 degrees C.
Among the Corydoras species on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford were old favourites like the Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus) and the Peppered Cory (Corydoras punctatus), including their long-finned and albino variants. These two species are probably the hardiest catfish around, and will do well in almost any community tank from about 60 litres upwards. Because they do well at low to middling tropical temperatures, they are especially good catfish for use with low-end tropicals such as Neons, Danios and Platies.
More experienced aquarists will find Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford stocks such species such as Corydoras duplicareus, Corydoras metae and Corydoras panda. These catfish are a bit less durable than the two species just mentioned, and need a clean, well-maintained aquarium that isn’t too warm to do well. They are a touch fussier about water chemistry, and should be kept in water that is either soft or only moderately hard. On the other hand, like all Corydoras these catfish are peaceful schooling fish that are extremely well suited to community tank settings.
Suckermouth catfish
Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford routinely holds dozens of L-number catfish alongside other suckermouth catfish. This family of catfish is very diverse, and it is difficult to generalise about them, so reading up on the specific needs of a given catfish before purchase is extremely important. At least some L-number and suckermouth catfish can get extremely large, and a few are sufficiently aggressive they can cause problems for their tankmates.
Among the standout L-numbers currently on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is the Blue Panaque, L239 (Baryancistrus beggini). This stunning fish develops a shimmering blue-black colour when properly maintained, heightened further by electric blue stripes along the edges of its fins. Maximum length is about 8 cm. Like other Baryancistrus, this species is omnivorous, and needs a good supply of both vegetable foods such as courgettes alongside suitably small meaty foods like bloodworms. Newly imported specimens may be underweight and off-colour, so take special care to fatten them once at home.
Another exceptional L-number at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is the Green Plec, L200 (Hemiancistrus subviridis). At a maximum size of around 18 cm, this is a species for fairly large community tanks. Wild fish come from fast-flowing streams and rivers, and it doesn’t do well in tanks where flow rates are low. As such, it would make a good companion for fish from similar habitats such as Swordtails, Giant Danios, Striped Barbs, Cherry-fin Loaches and so on.
Acanthicus adonis is a suckermouth catfish on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford that will appeal to advanced hobbyists. One issue is its size, up to 1 metre, but it is also notoriously bad tempered and very hard (often fatally so) on any tankmate it deems a rival for space. This species is normally kept with medium to large midwater fish, and gets on especially well with things like Severums, Oscars and Silver Dollars. Acanthicus adonis is an omnivorous species with a taste for meaty foods, so its diet should include both soft vegetables and things like chopped seafood and strips of white fish.
One catfish at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford that community tank owners will appreciate is Parotocinclus maculicauda. This small, gregarious catfish makes an interesting alternative to Corydoras. It has a slender body and reddish fins. Like other Parotocinclus, this species hardly ever swims away from the substrate, so it isn’t much use as an algae-eater to keep the glass or plant leaves clean. But it is much hardier and easier to keep than Otocinclus. Maximum length is about 5 cm.
Sturisoma nigrirostrum is an uncommonly seen giant whiptail currently on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford. Basic care is much like any other whiptail, but writ large. The species prefers a tank with lots of open space at the bottom, ideally soft sand or pea gravel since it likes to dig. A few smooth bogwood roots can be used to provide hiding places. Like other whiptails, Sturisoma nigrirostrum is essentially a peaceful fish. Males may spar with one another, but given space this species can be maintained in groups. It is completely peaceful towards small fish, even livebearer fry. On the other hand, because it is slow-moving and rather placid, do not mix with anything prone to fin-nipping or territorial aggression. Maximum length is about 25 cm.
South American predatory catfish
Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford regularly receives South American catfish other than Corydoras and suckermouth cats, of which the predatory species such as the pimelodids and driftwoods are the most popular. These tend to be hardy and adaptable, but like Corydoras catfish they often prefer the water temperature to be a little on the cool side. A good water current and plenty of hiding places are also important.
The Peruvian Megamouth (Trachycorystes trachycorystes) is member of the driftwood catfish family. As its name suggests, this big (to 45 cm) catfish has a mouth large enough to swallow surprisingly large prey. It isn’t difficult to maintain or feed, and readily accepts things like earthworms, river shrimps and lancefish, and once settled in, will happily consume pellets. But it is an aggressive animal, and easily alarmed, in which case it tends to thrash about a bit; it is best kept alone.
One of the smallest predatory cats at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is the popular Snowflake Driftwood Catfish (Tatia intermedia). Maximum length is about 12 cm. Both sexes are brown to off-white streaks on their bodies and fins, but males and females can be distinguished by the shape of their anal fins. Like other driftwoods, these cats perform internal fertilisation when breeding, and males use their modified anal fin to direct sperm into the female. In common with driftwood cats generally, this species is extremely shy and tends to hide away in brightly lit tanks. Although gregarious, males of this species are a bit territorial, and shouldn’t be overcrowded.
Another small driftwood on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is Entomocorus benjamini. This species requires the same basic care as the Snowflake Driftwood Catfish, but is a bit smaller, getting to 7 cm in length. Unusually for a driftwood catfish, this species feeds extensively from the surface, and in the wild these fish consume zooplankton and insect larvae.
Synodontis
Synodontis are easily the most popular of the African catfish on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford. They are hardy animals largely indifferent to water chemistry, but their social behaviour varies considerably. Some species, like Synodontis nigriventris, are gregarious, but most are more or less territorial, at least under aquarium conditions. They can be particularly feisty when it comes to securing hiding places. All are opportunists, and the bigger species will catch very small fish given the chance. Otherwise they are noted for being avid consumers of snails, and their robust temperaments make them good choices for use alongside cichlids.
Among the less often seen species on offer at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford are Synodontis alberti, Synodontis angelicus, Synodontis decorus, Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis flavitaeniatus, and Synodontis pleurops.
Other African catfish
Relatively few African catfish other than Synodontis are regularly traded, but a selection can be found at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford. One of the most interesting species is the Dwarf Giraffe Catfish (Anaspidoglanis macrostoma). This catfish is a close relative of the celebrated Giraffe Catfish (Auchenoglanis occidentalis) but much smaller, 20 cm in length versus 90 cm. In terms of general care it is a hardy, adaptable fish though predatory and territorial. It works well alongside medium-sized midwater fish; things like Nurse Tetras and Ctenopoma would make particularly good companions.
Few catfish enjoy the same degree of notoriety as the Electric Catfish (Malapterurus electricus). This extraordinary animal has been described as looking like a big raw sausage with swollen lips, and certainly its fans aren’t keeping this species because of its looks. But while a fully grown specimen can generate a significant electric shock, up to 400 V, this species tends to be very tame in captivity, and can even be hand fed! Wild fish are said to reach a length of 122 cm, but in captivity they normally only get to around 30 cm long. It is carnivorous, and prefers live foods such as bloodworms, earthworms and river shrimps, but will take wet-frozen foods once settled. For obvious reasons, this fish is usually kept by itself in a single-species aquarium. While finger-sized juveniles deliver little more than a tingle, great care must be taken when handling large specimens; as with handling electric eels, the aquarist should wear rubber boots and rather than touch the fish directly, use a plastic-coated net to move the fish into a bucket.
Asian catfish
Asian catfish tend to be overlooked by aquarists, but Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford regularly gets shipments of these adaptable and often very interesting species. This includes “glass catfish” of various types. The Borneo Glass Catfish (Ompok eugeneiatus) is a classic example of these types of fish. While peaceful and gregarious, it is predatory, so can’t be trusted with bite-size tankmates, such as Neons. Water chemistry isn’t critical, though soft to moderately hard water is preferred. Good water quality is important, and they do like a reasonably strong current that they can swim into.
Two other glass catfish on sale at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford are Kryptopterus bicirrhis and Kryptopterus minor. In the past there was much confusion between the two of them. Older aquarium books invariably use the name Kryptopterus bicirrhis while illustrating and discussing Kryptopterus minor. Both are small, about 8 cm in length when mature, and both are transparent except for the silvery head and the sac that encloses their internal organs. Both species are gregarious and should never be kept in groups of less than six specimens! When kept in insufficient numbers they usually pine away. Kept properly, they are quite adaptable, and though small live foods are preferred, they take wet-frozen foods readily, and eventually flake. They are peaceful, and shouldn’t be kept with nippy or aggressive tankmates. They may eat very small fish such as livebearer fry though.
One of the rarer catfish at Maidenhead Aquatics at Oxford is the Asian Fighting Catfish (Olyra longicaudata). As its name suggests, this species is territorially aggressive towards its own kind, but it is otherwise surprisingly easy to keep in a community tank. It gets to about 11 cm in length, so while predatory, it is a threat only towards very small fish. In the wild these eel-like catfish come from fast-flowing streams, so they’re particularly well suited to hillstream tanks set up to house loaches, danios, and so on.
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