Mystus bocourti advice

[saphphx]

Hello

I have a 6.5x2x2 foot tank with plenty of hides - could I keep 3 of these guy in there happily? Are they as hard to find as the Fish of the Month page on them says?

Other fish would be: 2x plecs, 2x senegal bichir, and some clown loaches in a few years when they are big enough haha. There are some synos in tank at the moment but I think they are going to go to my 5 foot tank once it is sorted out.

And so it isn't text only, this is Malcolm, sitting very unhappily I'm his QT tank. He is about 8 to 10 inches depending an where you stop measuring haha I fell in love with him. He will look so good in my big tank!

[Shane]

I do not see any problems with them fitting into your set up. I can not speak to how rare they are these days as I do not have access to pet shops. However, I spent many years keeping every bagrid catfish I could track down and never saw these for sale. In fact I have only seen them once in real life and that was in the UK.
-Shane

[Birger]

Are they as hard to find as the Fish of the Month page on them says?

I only remember ever seeing one once in my area.

[mikek]

pair had some in about a month ago i brought 1 about 35.00 each they had about 4/5 left
it is in a 5'/2'/18" with corys /discus / uaru /and about 5 other spec of catfish and it gets along fine with them all mike

[Richard B]

pair had some in about a month ago i brought 1 about 35.00 each they had about 4/5 left
it is in a 5'/2'/18" with corys /discus / uaru /and about 5 other spec of catfish and it gets along fine with them all mike

Mikek means Pier aquatics in Wigan - they had 3 or was it 4 a week ago

[saphphx]

That is where this lad came from haha. I've already asked Neil about getting more - he thinks he has two left and will check for me. Going to ask if he can get more in the future or see about making another trip down. They are fantastic looking fish! I've only ever seen them in Pier, but these days I really don't bother with any of the other shops as they just aren't as good.

I tried North Lakes Aquatics in Penrith as I heard good things about them, but I will never ever go back, no matter what fish they manage to get in.

Will have to wait and see what Neil says about getting more, or cross my fingers and hope they are still there at the end of Jan!!

[Richard B]

I do see them about fro time to time, TWA in Birmingham had a couple a fair while ago & one of the MA branches had them (can't remember which one though)

However, as far as selection of fish, a great cuppa & a good chat go - Pier will be hard to beat

[saphphx]

haha Julie makes a good brew - this is true

I am back down at the end of Jan to loaf about the shop for a few days. Whenever I get stressed my husband shoves me on a train for the day and I get to look at fish all day. It is the greatest shop I've set foot in! My husband keeps threatening to limit the number of boxes I can put in his car though

Good to here the Bocourti turn up from time to time, in case they aren't there when I make it back down! I spent to much last time I was there so really shouldn't go again before pay day

[saphphx]

Hello again

I have secured the other two Mystus bocourti They come home this coming sunday. I am so excited. One is missing her lovely dorsal and it gave me trouble IDing her as what remains of it was a solid grey colour, not nice and transparent, but she has the gold flashes behind her gill plates and the long long barbels, she looks just like Malcolm (above) except for that. I did take some photos but with the reflection its impossible to see her haha. I am convinced anyway, I held a picture of Malcolm up to her and I am 99.9% That and they only got them and another large mystus in at the moment ;)

Anyway!!

Question: Due to my Hemibagrus wyckioides being delayed in moving until start of Feb, my synodontis, talking cats and my asian bumblebee are still in my big tank! So, the current stocking is:
3x Synodontis euptera
1x msc synodontis
1x hybred
1x Pseudomystus siamensis
1x gibby plec
1x common plec
1x oscar

Will he be okay with all of these for a while? I have got him hand feeding, so making sure he eats isn't a problem I just don't want him to be picked on. Eventually the synos, siamensis and oscar are going in the 5 foot - before the other two mystus go in for sure!

Is there anything I can do for my missing fin fish? She's eating okay at the shop right now, I've been hand feeding her when in as well haha. She was in a tank of smaller cats and they are so fast I think they ate everything before she had the chance. She's on her own now, and I think the fin is healed - there is no infection or anything. Any idea if it will grow back? Will she need any special care other than fattening up?

Thanks for letting me pick your brains

[saphphx]

I get to see them today, but now not sure they will come home this week as I am unsure if I will be getting a lift in the car :/ May be next week before they can come home now

[saphphx]

first two with fins intact are Midas the last one that is a bit beat up is Matilda. Looking like next week forthem to come home :/ both eating very well now though. Matilda will take food from your hands lol







sorry they are small and rotated weird. Posting from my phone, will replace them when I get home!