Stories of Our Fish

All the Fish Stories below are accounts of our own live, ongoing, 1st hand experience of keeping these fish:

Catfishes: Silurids
(Eurasia)

Wels catfish, Silurus glanis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/wels-catfish-albino-10.678844/

Helicopter catfish, Wallago & Wallagonia spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/wallago-and-wallagonia-at-fish-story.719973/

Amur catfish, Silurus asotus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/five-amur-catfish-aka-silurus-asotus.689191/

Ompok catfish, Ompok siluroides & O. pabda: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/ompoks.736085/
Ompok pabda: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=39081

Catfishes: Pangasids
(Asia)

Paroon shark catfish, Pangasius sanitwongsei: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/four-of-6-paroon-sharks-rescued-from-dayton-oh-in-mar-2016.699701/

Iridescent shark catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/four-iridescent-sharks-2.679489/
Problems with small size – see my post #16 and the links therein: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/id-shark-growth-rate.252297/page-2
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/id-sharks-theories.505668/

Black ear shark catfish, Pangasius larnaudii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/black-ear-shark-catfish-1-in-4500-gal-lone-survivor-1-for-5.679548/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/once-upon-a-time-there-were-6-vultures-and-5-black-ears.675034/

Catfishes: Bagrids
(Asia)

Black devil catfish, Hemibagrus wyckii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/our-2-foot-5-year-old-wyckii.712872/

Asian red tail catfish, Hemibagrus wyckioides: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/artc-hemibagrus-wyckioides-mr-crankypants-16.678397/

Hemibagrus nemurus, usually mislabeled Asian red tail catfish by vendors: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/farm-boy-nemurus-stuck-at-1-for-4-years.679720/ https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36790

Indian shovelnose catfish, Sperata aor: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/three-sperata-allegedly-aor-from-ray-chan.688114/

Asian upside down catfish, Mystus leucophasus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/asian-usd-catfish-mystus-leucophasus.698470/

Mystus singaringan: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30935

Harlequin lancer catfish, Bagroides melapterus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/harlequin-lancer-cat.679552/#post-7640403

Black lancer catfish, Bagrichthys macracanthus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/cant-keep-black-lancer-catfish.676843/

Catfishes: Pimelodids
(South America)

Red tail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/rtc-or-red-tail-catfish-at-fish-story-aquariuma-and-rescue.699790/

Tiger shovelnose catfish, Pseudoplatystoma spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/speaking-of-tsn-runts-dinks-and-co.673687/
What species is my TSN? They are almost all P. fasciatum. Wednesday13’s TSN statistics: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/tsn.672286/page-2#post-7552519

Tiger shovelnose x Red tail catfish hybrid: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/tsnxrtc-hybrids-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue.699928/

Tiger shovelnose x marbled pim hybrid catfish: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/tsnxlei-i-think-could-it-be-p-corruscans.564171/

Piraiba catfish, Brachyplatystoma filamentosum: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/true-piraiba-aka-brachyplatystoma-filamentosum.688117/

False piraiba catfish, Brachyplatystoma capapretum: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/false-piraiba-brachyplatystoma-capapretum-10-in-4500-gal.680760/

Dourada catfish, Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/brachyplatystoma-rousseauxii-aka-dorado-catfish-4.678571/

Vaillantii catfish, Brachyplatystoma vaillantii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/true-brachyplatystoma-vaillantii-catfish-12-in-4500-gal.683785/

Tig catfish, Brachyplatystoma tigrinum: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/tig-catfish-brachyplatystoma-tigrinum-15-in-4500-gal.682588/

Juruense catfish, Brachyplatystoma juruense: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/getting-my-jurs-off-live-guppies.514580/

Slobbering or 747 catfish, Brachyplatystoma platynemum: post #8 https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/brachyplatystoma-platynemum-slobbering-catfish-info.643425/#post-7511553

Jau catfish, Zungaro zungaro: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/jau-catfish-zungaro-zungaro-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue.700299/
https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34777

Marbled pim catfish, Leiarius marmoratus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-marble-pim-catfish-male-24-female-28-in-4500-gal.683460/

Sailfin Marbled pim catfish, Leiarius pictus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sailfin-marbled-pim-leiarius-pictus-trio-2-6-years-old-in-4500-gal.681640/

Vulture catfish, Calophysus macropterus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/vulture-cat-6-pack-14-20-2-year-old-in-4500-gal.680573/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/once-upon-a-time-there-were-6-vultures-and-5-black-ears.675034/

Bolt catfish, Aguarunichthys torosus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-bolt-catfish-1-foot-2-years-old-in-4500-gal.683454/

Lima shovelnose catfish, Sorubim lima & S. elongatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/lima-versus-elongatus-id-thread.524497/

Firewood catfish, Sorubimichthys planiceps: many peers report, us included, that youngsters are hard to raise and suffer a lot of losses. They are also very hard to keep long term properly in captivity. They grow up to 5ft & need at least 20x20ft enclosure, otherwise they run into walls and break their snout. Their metabolism is far faster than average, requiring more frequent & heavier feeding. They grow very fast 1.5″-3″ a month & opposite to other big cats don’t really slow down past 2-3ft. They are highly predatory & can be aggressive to tank mates. Activity level is average for such catfish.

Pictus or polka dot catfish, Pimelodus pictus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/27-pictus-catfish.678520/

Ornate pim catfish, Pimelodus ornatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/ornate-pim-pimelodus-ornatus-two-in-240-gal.683739/

Four-line pim catfish, Pimelodus blochii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/four-line-pim-catfish-sextet-8-10-pimelodus-blochii-in-4500-gal.682528/

Pimelodus albicans: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30240

Jumper or blue jumper catfish: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/a-trio-of-pinirampus-pirinampu-from-jeff-rapps.689010/

Platysilurus mucosus, a perfect micro-piraiba, beautiful, graceful, with barbels of many times the body length, not aggressive, easy to feed and to care for, do not interact with tank mates or kin.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/mucosus-catfish.711706/

Catfishes: Doradids
(South America)

Niger or ripsaw catfish, Oxydoras niger, & granulated catfish, Pterodoras granulosus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/five-2-5-3-nigers-and-three-10-18-granulosus-in-4500-gal.680514/

Irwini catfish, Megalodoras uranoscopus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/5-1-irwini-catfish.689104/

Soldier catfish, Lithodoras dorsalis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/soldier-catfish-aka-lithodoras-dorsalis-at-fish-story.741823/

Trachydoras paraguayensis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/one-of-the-rarest-monster-doradidae-trachydoras-paraguayensis.678624/

Catfishes: Auchenipterids
(South America)

Gulper catfish, Asterophysus batrachus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/gulper-catfish-trio-7.678741/

10″ Gulper ate an 8″ herring

Black wood or Iron head catfish, Trachycorystes trachycorystes: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/just-for-you-koltsixx.681777/

Jaguar catfish, Liosomadoras oncinus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/jaguar-catfish-aka-liosomadoras-oncinus-visible.683522/

Colombian wood catfish, Trachelyopterus galeatus: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=31031

12 inch, 5 years old Trachelyopterus galeatus

Catfishes: Ictalurids
(North America)

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/channel-catfish-at-fish-story.722117/

Snail bullhead, Ameiurus brunneus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/a-pair-of-spotted-or-snail-bullheads-ameiurus-brunneus.696696/

Yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/yellow-bullhead-at-fish-story.723774/

Brown bullhead, northern & southern, Ameiurus nebulosus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/our-brown-bullheads-northern-and-southern.698607/

Northern

Southern

Catfishes: Miscellaneous

Giraffe catfish, Auchenoglanis spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/giraffe-catfish-at-fish-story.743340/

Apurensis or yellow jello catfish, Cephalosilurus apurensis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/we-put-away-1-5-mullet-yesterday-4-apurensis.678274/

Giant bumblebee catfish, Pseudopimelodus bufonis: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=37788

Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/walking-catfish-at-fish-story.704473/
https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38699

Grey eel-catfish, Plotosus canius: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/how-bad-is-plotosus-canuis-poke.684379/

Sun or eclipse catfish, Horabagrus brachysoma: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/eight-sun-catfish-9-11-5-8-year-old-in-4500-gal.680969/

Synodontis catfish spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/synodontis-quartet-8-12-in-4500-gal.682549/

Aluminum or African big-eyed catfish, Chrysichthys spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/aluminum-catfish-aka-african-big-eyed-or-chrysichthys-catfish-trio-1-in-4500-gal.681760/

Pimelodella gracilis: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30934

Silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30204

Grasscutter catfish, Schilbe intermedius: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30930

Suckermouth or plecostomus catfish, pleco: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/golden-sailfin-aka-hypostomus-luteus.699561/

Electric catfish, Malapterus electricus: very hard to raise to sizes past 1ft for a hobbyist. Personable, smart, interactive, very easy to feed, so care should be taken in feeding the right and complete nutrition package. Traumatogenic, adults can generate up to 350 V.

Hoplo or porthole catfish: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/hoplo-or-porthole-catfish-stories-at-the-fish-story.728634/

Can Ariopsis seemanni, Colombian or white/silver-tipped shark catfish be kept in fresh water? See our post #34 and the links therein: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/new-black-fin-shark.545179/page-4#post-6513159

Perches

Tiger or dat perch, Datnioides spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/what-kind-is-my-lonely-datnoid.689379/

Chinese mandarin perch, Siniperca chuatsi, my posts #27, #48, & others: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/my-chinese-perch.656197/
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/siniperca-chuatsi.673255/

Nile perch, Lates niloticus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-nile-perch-from-exotic-fish-shop.689187/

Barramundi perch, Lates calcarifer: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/barramundi-perch-lates-calcarifer-24-in-4500-gal.698472/

Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-17-18-murray-cods-2-year-old.688006/

Giant gourami, Osphronemus spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/giant-gouramies-in-4500-gal-tatushka-22-and-oos-16.680392/

Perches: Cichlids

Peacock bass, Cichla spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-16-xingu-four-10-16-meta-and-one-unknown-1-peacock-bass-in-4500-gal.680467/

Dovii or wolf cichlid, Parachromis dovii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/parachromis-dovii-the-guapote-rainbow-bass-or-wolf-cichlid-at-fish-story.728670/

Jaguar cichlid, Parachromis managuensis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/parachromis-managuensis-aka-jaguar-cichlid-at-fish-story.722118/

Midas cichlid, Amphilophus citrinellus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/midas-aka-amphilophus-citrinellus-at-fish-story.728686/

Nile & Blue tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus & O. aureus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/tilapia-at-fish-story.731684/

Nile

Blue

Hornet tilapia, Heterotilapia buttikoferi: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/four-heterotilapia-buttikoferi-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue.717042/

Starry night cichlid, Heterotilapia polleni: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/polleni-at-fish-story.724000/

Texas cichlid, Herichthys cyanoguttatus, H. carpintis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/green-texas-cichlid-from-joefish-aquatics-at-fish-story.717093/

Cyanoguttatus

Some kind of hybrid, cyanoguttatus x carpintis

Vieja melanura synspilum: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/how-do-vieja-die.677065/

Silver vieja cichlid, Maskoheros argentea: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/maskoheros-or-vieja-argentea-silver-vieja-at-fish-story.728589/

Mayan cichlid, Mayaheros urophthamus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/is-this-whats-called-a-mayan-cichlid.704474/

Umbee cichlid, Kronoheros umbriferus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/umbee-cichlid-14-in-4500-gal.683783/

Flowerhorn hybrid cichlid: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/14-flowerhorn-cichlid-in-4500-gal.683458/

Oscar cichlid: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/oscars-at-fish-story.723998/

Pike cichlid, Crenicichla sp: an easy fish in a community of medium sized tank mates.

African rift lake cichlids: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/african-rift-lake-cichlids-at-fish-story.732026/

Characins

Pacu: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/our-7-1-pacu.689007/

Longnose distichodus, Distichodus lusosso: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-distichodus-lusosso-15-2-years-old-in-4500-gal.683459/

Six-bar distichodus, Distichodus sexfasciatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-distichodus-sexfasciatus-1-and-2-in-4500-gal.698700/

Silver dollar, common, red hook, black bar: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/silver-dollars-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue.699831/
Sexing silver dollars – see post #31.

Banded leporinus, Leporinus fasciatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/a-pair-of-10-banded-leporinus-in-4500-gal.680047/

Prochilodus, flagtail red fin, flagtail yellow fin, streaked: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/flagtail-prochilodus-red-fin-and-yellow-fin.698930/

Flagtail red-fin

Flagtail yellow-fin

Streaked

Golden dorado, Salminus franciscanus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/my-first-dip-with-dorado-sold-as-brassie-by-rapps-thought-to-be-frankie.688910/

Vittatus African tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-vittatus-african-tigerfish-16-in-4500-gal.683787/

Goliath African tigerfish, Hydrocynus goliath: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/six-gatf-from-wes.688913/

Green wolf fish, cf. Hoplias lacerdae: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/quartet-of-hoplias-lacerdae-green-wolf-fish-argentina.709088/

Carps

Giant Siamese Carp, Catlocarpio siamensis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-siamese-giant-carp-12-2-years-old-in-4500-gal.683461/

South Asian carp, Labeo or Catla catla: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/catla-catla-in-4500-gal-1-has-anyone-kept-them.679903/

Mahseer carp, Tor spp & Neolissochilus spp: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/mahseer-tor-and-neolissochilus-at-fish-story.680024/

Tor khudree

Neolissochilus benasi: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/neolissochilus-benasi-at-fish-story.717595/

Pheonix barb, Spinibarbus denticulatus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/phoenix-barb-trio-spinibarbus-denticulatus-2.679241/

Black shark, Labeo chrysophekadion: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/black-shark-labeo-chrysophekadion-1-for-3-10-presently.696697/

Purple labeo, Harlequin or calico shark, Labeo congoro: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/purple-labeo-a-hippo-sucking-aquarist-nightmare-from-africa.688909/
NEVER house iridescent shark catfish or channel catfish with a Harlequin shark (nor with a pacu): https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=41670

Dolphin head labeo, Incisilabeo behri: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/incisilabeo-behri-bangana-behri-labeo-behri-dolphin-head-or-bump-head-or-jungle-labeo-at-fish-story.717500/

Mad barb, cigar shark, Leptobarbus hoevenii; https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/two-mad-barbs-aka-cigar-sharks-20-in-4500-gal.679809/

Esok, 7-stripe carp, Probarbus labeamajor: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/four-esok-aka-probarbus-labeamajor-at-fish-story.717359/

Hampala barb, Hampala macrolepidota: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/hampala-macrolepidota-aka-the-hampala-barb-or-jungle-perch-at-fish-story.717373/

Aral or Caspian barbel, Luciobarbus brachycephalus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/luciobarbus-brachycephalus-aka-aral-barbel-or-caspian-barbel.683741/

Yellowcheek, Elopichthys bambusa: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/2-yellowcheek-aka-elopichthys-bambusa-1-for-5-so-far.688009/

Golden orfe, Leuciscus idus, starting from post #39 & onward: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/koi-adventure-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue-naples-fl.699496/page-4#post-8218547

Koi, goldfish, shubunkin, koi x goldfish hybrid: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/koi-adventure-at-fish-story-aquarium-and-rescue-naples-fl.699496/
Our koi pond: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30929

Lemon fin barb, Hypsibarbus wetmorei: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/hypsibarbus-wetmorei-the-golden-belly-barb-lemon-fin-barb-or-lemon-barb.717495/

Tinfoil barb, Barbonymus altus & B. schwanenfeldii: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/lowly-tinfoil-barbs-getting-their-own-thread.721459/

Bala shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus: a well known staple in our hobby. Extinct in the wild, remains only in captivity. Assertive. Can be aggressive to smaller, timid tank mates in smaller tanks. Good candidate for large tanks and tankmates. Grows to over 1 foot.

Small scale mud carp, Cirrhinus microlepis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/cirrhinus-microlepis-aka-small-scale-mud-carp-at-fish-story.717372/

Chinese high-fin banded shark, Myxocyprinus asiaticus: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/chinese-hi-fin-banded-loaches-at-fish-story.744201/ Our main learning they cannot tolerate water temps higher than 80-85 F, so we couldn’t keep ours as our water gets warmer than that in summers, except the 25,000 gal exhibit, which however is not suitable for small fish grow out.