Had a few questions

[nancyw]

Could Goonch or other types of Bagarius catfish survive outdoors in a pond in Nova Scotia Canada? Also is it possible to buy Wels Catfish in Nova Scotia or elsewhere in Canada? thanks

[racoll]

I could be wrong on both counts, but I would be very surprised if the

Bagarius

would survive the winter, or that potentially invasive European catfish would be allowed into Canada.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Bagarius like cool water but it is relative - SE Asia is a hot place, mostly. So, not Canada-winter-cool, I am sure.

As for Wels, I could not find a source in the US for years, if that helps. Could not find one in Toronto LFSs either.

[nancyw]

Isn't there a species of Bagarius Catfish that inhabits Nepal and Burma and is considered a Coldwater fish of Nepal"? I think it is "Bagarius Bagarius" or the Dwarf Goonch? I think Nepal can get pretty cold in the Mountains, certainly its colder then many parts of SE Asia. I don't know what the Goonch's range is like there and there doesn't seem to be anything online at all about their temperature tolerance for any of the species.


http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y3994e/y3994e0u.htm
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X2614E/x2614e03.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y3994e/y3994e0h.htm

[racoll]

Yes, they are found in the Himalayan foothills, but as Victor says, there is cold, and then there is Canada cold! This map shows just how close the north Indian region is to the Tropic of Cancer. Sure, the populations in the hills will be better cold adapted, but most imports will come from the warmer lowland areas, or Indochina.

[Viktor Jarikov]

interesting papers. unfortunately no time to read carefully now.

I don't know what the Goonch's range is like there and there doesn't seem to be anything online at all about their temperature tolerance for any of the species.

I am puzzled by this statement. I have not done a Google search but... Are you saying you have not looked at Cat-eLog (do you not know what it is if you are new here?) ?

Bagarius bagarius

Bagarius suchus

Bagarius yarrelli

all cited at 18.0-23.0°C or 64.4-73.4°F

...I'd like to keep them here in FL too (outside) but I am afraid I will need a chiller as my outside water hits 80-82F easily even in deep shade.

You may wanna consider writing a PM to people like Shovelnose (Balaji), Stackdeck, and Arapaimag (your fellow Canadian Michael Bryce). They are three folks knowledgeable about B. yarrelli that I know of.

[nancyw]

I did glance at cat-e-log but I wasn't sure whether it represented the low end of the tolerance scale/minimum tolerance or simply the preferred temps.It conflicted with some of the info I have read elsewhere online. thanks for the contacts, going to PM them and see if I can get more info

[racoll]

I wasn't sure whether it represented the low end of the tolerance scale/minimum tolerance or simply the preferred temps

It is very difficult to get reliable physiological temperature data for fishes, because except for very few species, they do not exist.

The temperatures listed in the cat-elog are those which have been observed in the aquarium to be the most appropriate for long-term care.

[MatsP]

It is meant to represent the "suitable range", not "dies immediately outside this range", which would be rather unhelpful. But unless you are planning to have heating in your pond, I'm pretty certain it is too cool.

I'm also unable to find any confirmed reference that indicates them being found at high altitude. There are references to Nepal, but one reference is at 200m asl, the other seem to be lower (although I haven't found a concrete level for it), both of which are joining the Ganges river.

--
Mats

[sidguppy]

overlooked is the oxygen issue

it's not a too high temperature, but a too low amount of oxygen that often does these cats in when it gets warm

it's likely that in Northern India on occasion the temperatures go way up, more than usually

but as long as the brooks and rivers where these fish live keep their current and hence watermovement and gas exchange; the fish will survive.

you can use this knowledge by adapting filtration or using other tricks

for example you can hook up a drip-filter (is there a proper English term for this?) during the summer
this is a gadget that mixes air with water by creating many droplets, it's a tiny artificial waterfall and it's a real oxygen booster.

[Stackdeck]

Depends where the fish is from really. I've seen yarelli of varied sizes maintained at 27 ish deg Celsius gor months and look fine.( we usually get Thai fish here)

[Viktor Jarikov]

Lex, Stackdeck, good info but...??

I thought we are concerned with the low end of the temp range here?

... a-a-ah, right, I forgot that I augmented/derailed this thread with questions/statements of my own. Sorry. And thanks guys, much, of course. But I'd rather we help out Nancy/OP.

It'd help for clarity if you quoted me, so that it is obvious who you are addressing.