heteropneustes fossillis

susie · Post by **susie** » 15 Aug 2003, 17:37

hi, i have read about it on the catfish of the month, excellent article.
does anyone have any experience of caring for these catfish? if so please tell.

many thanks
sue

Post by **Silurus** » 15 Aug 2003, 19:27

I had one a while back. Pretty easy catfish to care for. Not particularly fussy about food or water conditions, and gets along well with tankmates it cannot eat.

susie · Post by **susie** » 15 Aug 2003, 20:03

thanks, what size tank etc and would they be ok with some big nandus nandus?
sue

Post by **Rusty** » 17 Aug 2003, 05:16

They'll be fine with anything that can't fit in their mouths. They're not very aggressive, but instead quite skittish. It would be hard to get stung by one unless you really tried.

Rusty

susie · Post by **susie** » 20 Aug 2003, 17:14

can one fossil cat eat another fossil cat????? one of mine has vanished!!!!! nowhere around the tank, but i have one that is very fat

susie

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Aug 2003, 17:44

Not unless one is very small, and the other very large.
If they are both the same size, it is more likely that the missing cat has decided to explore the environment outside the tank.

Post by **Dinyar** » 20 Aug 2003, 19:42

These are really hardy, tough fish. Ours is 17-18 cm, and we use it to cycle new tanks. But be a little careful with your hands in a tank containing H. fossilis, as the sting is reportedly extremely painful. Our specimen is skittish, but not all are.

I have never kept Nandus nandus (though I'd like to), but I imagine that N. nandus and H. fossilis would make good tank mates. They occur in similar biotopes in S. Asia, are both greedy nocturnal predators and are both much prized as food fish. It's conceivable, however, that N. nandus might outcompete H. fossilis for food.

As for tank size, I'd say 30 gals/120 l at a minimum.

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Aug 2003, 19:53

I have found Nandus to be a fairly demanding fish to keep. It has been my experience that it is very difficult to wean larger fishes away from live feeders.

susie · Post by **susie** » 20 Aug 2003, 20:02

ive had the nandus for months now, they eat live bloodworm and i am weaning them onto frozen as well.
i have searched everywhere and cannot find the missing fossil cat, they were all about the same size.
can they walk??? maybe hes left the building!! hes not snuck in another tank and there is no smell of decaying fish either, i am very confused.
sue

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Aug 2003, 20:10

can they walk???

Not as well as other clariids, but yes, they can.

susie · Post by **susie** » 20 Aug 2003, 20:28

last question, how long can they stay out of water?

sue

Post by **Silurus** » 20 Aug 2003, 20:32

They will dry out before they suffocate, since they are air breathers. I'd say about a couple hours at most.

susie · Post by **susie** » 20 Aug 2003, 21:18

ok,
thanks for your help. lets hope he made it to my garden pond which is outside the fish house. i will have to count my pond fish tomorrow

sue