Ageneiosus marmoratus hammerhead catfish

[mcaquatic]

Hi I ma trying to find a good cat for my 300 (6x3). I would like something somewhat unusual looking and somewhat active. The tank houses leichardti arowana, tropical gar, dat, SAL, eel tail cat and polypterus among other fish. I really want to get a lince but the tank is too small. I have been looking into the hammerhead cat and not finding much info. Do most people find this to be an active cat? Can it be housed with 9 to 12+ polypterus? Also somewhere I read they like to be in groups of four or so. Is this true? thank you

[Viktor Jarikov]

I've had only one ~10" specimen in a 1500 gal pond for about half a year, so my experience is tiny. I had been having latent water purity problems at that time which I discovered later and which explain why I had difficulties in feeding this water-purity-sensitive cat and perhaps why it eventually perished.

They appear to spend a lot or even most of their time swimming, people write and I've seen mine too. It would hang in the open almost always.

I think if no one can swallow anyone, the cat should be ok with your intended tankmates in terms of predation of it or on it... but as you know some, e.g., SeriouslyFish http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/ag ... armoratus/ suggest that aggressive tankmates be avoided. IDK if you leichardti would take it kindly to this newcomer. Gars are biters in general and mine 4 tropical are in particular, so this is a bit of a gamble too. But you already have rather timid fish there with your gar so it must be working out for you.

The same SeriouslyFish profile suggests 4+ groups, which I have no reason to doubt. From what I observed at LFSs, these cats are ok with each other so the more is likely the merrier.

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Someone with much better knowledge of this cat would be easy to come by on this forum. Please, guys, help out.

[mcaquatic]

thank you for the input. Aggression overall is pretty limited in my tank. that might change as the stock grows but could be ok. My tropical gar will kill anything silver and shiny other then that he is pretty good. I did loose my beautiful tig recently and I did blame him but I am not so sure his the culprit. Most of my tanks are geared towards pairs, rarity and hopefully breeding. MY 300 gallon is my on community and fun tank so I want it to be interesting. Do you think the dynamics of 4 of these cats would be more interesting then one?

Thank you for your time Viktor

[Viktor Jarikov]

From whatever little I have seen at LFSs where there were more than 1 in one tank, I don't think so. I have not witnessed much interaction but they were larger fish in too small and too brightly lit tanks.

Leichardti is silver and shiny ;)

So was your tig's passing a result of violence?

[mcaquatic]

Lol the lei is but he is also a solid 18 inches or so the gar is only 12. The lei is boss. I it was definitely violence out of no where. Just not completely sure who to blame. There are always minor split fins in my tank but typically no more. I think I will start with one of the hammer head cats and take it from there.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Predation or something else?

[mcaquatic]

he was an easy target and never moved. I think either the dat or gar went for him for some reason. he was a gorgeous tig and pushing 12 inches.

[Viktor Jarikov]

@Marc van Arc, @amiidae, @Altifrons, @amazonfishman, @MilkMan, @hockeydude9819, @Industrial, who also notes: "My fish show no boundaries as to what is considered food. Mine ate angelfish half it's size as well as predatory characins 3/4 it's length.", @Steve GT, @kp90, @arapaimag, @unstoppablejayd

[amiidae]

A. marmoratus are not aggressive at all.

[kp90]

I would only put these guys with the most passive of tankmates. I've lost a couple over the years because of aggression, usually at the hand of my cuban gars. My current marmoratus (roughly 10") lives solo.

[mcaquatic]

thanks for all the input. I bought a vulture cat and 4 giant raphael catfish yesterday so I think this should hold me for a bit.

[Viktor Jarikov]

That made me smile... Got his bewhiskered fix Should hold him up a while

[Viktor Jarikov]

I realize it is moot now but thought I'd still post

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Jaguar Dolphin Catfish live freshwater fish

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[mcaquatic]

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[Viktor Jarikov]

The name sounds familiar but perhaps I forgot who it is. I don't think I bought from them but their feedback is extensive and close to perfect.