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Fishes Catalogue - Catfishes (Family: Various)Contents
Catfishes are an extremely varied and primitive group and in general can endure far worse conditions than most other species, managing quite well in water that is muddy, short of oxygen and suffused with bacteria. Being bottom feeders they can survive where many species would perish. A specialised feature of some catfishes is the development of a suckermouth, which not only allows them to feed on algae, but to also attach themselves, by this curious suckermouth, to rocks or stones in the fast flowing waters of their native environment. Being algae eaters they are of great interest and value to many fishkeepers, helping to keep the aquarium clean and tidy. Some catfishes can be seen swimming upside-down at times (some Synodontis ), and these are quite popular with fishkeepers, although some can grow quite large. They are naked in as much as they have no scales, or scutes. The genus, Corydoras, are quite interesting because of their ability to use atmospheric air to supplement their gills, although they are not unique in this ability (see Labyrinth fishes). They are known as the “mailed” or “armoured” catfish, and are very common in the aquarist’s world, they get their name from the two rows of bony plates, or scutes, that overlap like a knights armour, along the flanks of the fish. There are over four hundred Catfishes that belong to the Loricariidae Family, or armour-plated catfish, and over one thousand Catfishes and close relations in total. This catalogue will list only those that of are interest to fishkeepers.
Pleco is just one of over a hundred species of Hypostomus, and being one of the hardiest is perfect for your first community aquarium. These suckermouthed catfish originate from the jungles of South America (River Amazon Basin) and are of great interest and value to the aquarist. As algae eaters they will help to keep the aquarium clean and tidy. With the numerous rows of teeth inside their suckermouth, they will rasp algae from the glass, rocks, and plant leaves, as well as feeding from the aquarium floor. They eat worms, plant matter, and dried food, and their diet can be supplemented with foodstuffs such as algae wafers, blanched lettuce and spinach leaves, and slices of cucumber. Their bodies are covered with an armour of bony plates (instead of scales), and many small spines stick out from these plates, which gives them a great deal of protection against predators, and the buffeting they receive in their native turbulent rivers, where they can be found anchored onto rocks with their underslung suckermouth. To get the best growth from of your catfish, a minimum tank size of 36 inches (90cms) is recommended, Plecs can reach two feet (60cms) in their natural habitat. Out of the three that I have, two of them have reached one foot (30cms), and the other is not far behind. Plecs are mainly nocturnal, therefore, sufficient dark hiding places should be provided for them to feel secure. Upside-Down Catfish The genus, Synodontis, can be found in still or slow moving waters over most of tropical Africa. There are about 150 species, with sizes ranging from a few inches, right up to the giant, Synodontis longirostris, which is 18-24 inches (46-60cms) in length. In the main they are crepuscular by nature, this means that they will only venture out at dusk, during the day they will rest with their heads down; under submerged tree roots or other such structures. These conditions can be emulated in the aquarium by using materials such as bogwood and /or slate, also, a fine substrate and an open swimming space is important for this fish’s well being. At nightfall they will feel around the substrate with their sensitive barbels for small crustaceans and other small invertebrates. This means that they are an ideal choice as bottom feeders in a community aquarium, and will readily accept live foods such as river shrimp and earthworm, as well as dried; flake, and algae tablet foods. The Synodontis have three pairs of barbels on the heavily boned head, two on the lower lip, and the remaining pair, and the longest, on the upper lip. The head is made up of bony plates, and is part of its defence system, preventing the head from being crushed. They have a stiff serrated spine; this is formed from the first rays of the dorsal and pectoral fins; which have fused together, when locked into position; these spines form a “T” shape, making the fish very hard to swallow by its predators. The Synodontis does not have any scales, and for this reason is referred to as being “naked”. They do however come in a variety of guises, many of which are extremely beautiful, and range in colour from golden-brown, to grey or black, all with their own unique markings, surely an attractive fish for any community aquarium set up. Two species, S. batensoda, and S. nigriventris, have adapted to live most of their lives in an upside-down position. It has been suggested that this may be a result of some sort of balance change that has become genetically fixed through its years of use. Also, as specimens get older they spend more and more time in the inverted position; this is a result of their air bladders becoming enlarged with age.
This species is found in Central West Africa around the Zaire basin, in Angola, the Congo, and Gabon. The male grows to 3 inches (7.5cms), with the female being the larger of the two and growing up to 4 inches (10cms). These are very peaceful fish, even with their own kind, and are recommended for most community aquariums. Decorate the tank with broad-leaved plants such as Echinodorus (these fish like to browse the underside of leaves for insect larvae), and have roots i.e. Bogwood, as well as stones for hiding places. Through evolution, this species lives most of its life swimming upside-down, so consequently, although it is ideally built for bottom feeding, it has evolved into a surface feeding fish. In addition to this, its colouration is reversed in comparison to “normal” catfish, so that it has a dark coloured belly; with a lighter coloured back, this gives the fish protection from predators, from above and below. The overall colour is pale grey or cream, with a mass of dark brown spots and blotches all over. Its fins are colourless with a number of brown spots. The female is paler in colour and has a more rounded, and deeper body. Synodontis nigriventris is not a fussy feeder, and will enjoy live food, frozen bloodworm, insect larvae, and flakes, and will come out from his/her resting place in a flurry of activity when food is put into the tank. |
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