PlanetCatfish.com

Hi guys, I need some help from you. I bought a piece of driftwood from my LFS the other day and there was a stow-away inside! Now while I trust my LFS very much I still wash everything I get from their display tanks well before I use them. I was washing this driftwood in very hot tap water and out plops this brown spotted catfish! Now you can imagine my surprise that 1. He was still alive. It is an hour drive home from the store and he had little to no water inside the driftwood cavity. 2. That he survived the dunk in the hot tap water! So here we are two weeks later and he is still alive and kickin'! Now I know nothing about catfish, hadn't planned on having one, nor did the store have any idea what I was talking about when I called them back. I was wondering if you guys could help me out here. He is currently in a 5.5 gal quarantine tank(it was all I had cycled and ready to put him in with as little stress as poss.) and is about 2.5 in. long. I need to get him set up in a proper size tank and on a good diet quickly. But I don't even know what he is or how big he will get or what he will eat. Here are the pictures I took last night while he was out from under his rock for a bit. Sorry this is so long, but I am floundering a bit! I really want to keep him now. He is a beauty and has one hell of a will to survive. Thanks.

Looks like

Nice find!

Truly an amazing story and find. There are a lot of people trying to find this one. Moral of the story; buy all the driftwood you can.

That is so awesome, I've been looking for those, aka Jaguar cats, for a few years now and none of the stores locally have them.

Dave, have you found any in your area lately? I'm still looking.

Ken

Wow you guys are fast! Thanks so much. He is such a beauty. Now I have a ton of questions. How big will he get? Will he be happy by himself or should I get another fish to go in the tank with him. I would like to make a nice display tank for him. What size would he be happy in if he is by himself? I was thinking of keeping him in a species only tank, will this be ok? I really want to do right by him. How much does one of these guys go for retail? I don't even know. Any other info or personal advice you guys can give would be great! I am so greatfull!

Click on the species name in Dave's response and it will take you to the Cat-e-log where the size is listed as 9.8 inches. A little on the large size. Might be a good fish to keep with some SA Cichilds, large Characins and other Catfish, of course.
You could just keep it in a specimen set up where it may be possible to arrange the aquascaping so it is easier to view. They are a reclusive and nocturnal fish. A 40 gallon breeder tank would be about the right size for one full grown fish.

Larry, Thanks so much! You guys are a wealth of info! I am super excited now. I will be keeping him by himself with a setup just as you said, so I can see him but he can feel like he is hiding. Thanks so much for all the help!

Wow

If the prices are the same in the USA as they are here, you have done well.

They are £40 in my LFS, so that makes them about $80 over there!

Wow indeed!

As an employee in an LFS for three years, I was constantly searching the lists for that species. It didn't show up once in three years!... Then someone buys a piece of driftwood... amazing!

Congratulations to a great find!

Yep well done, that is a lovely fish!

I heard of a similar story at a LFS involving a S. angelicus (AU$400!), sadly it did not survive the trip.

What a shock to the system for both you and fish! Welcome to Club Auchenipteridae.(I'm still looking for my first)
Amanda

Thanks guys! Well I am setting up his new home as I type this. He is going to have to live in a 20long for a bit because there is no money in the "fish" account. We hadn't planned on any new additions until this summer when we get our new house. Then he will get to live in a 46g bowfront. With an Angel or two. He is still on a bit of a hunger strike, but I keep making sure he has food available to him. We have named him Steggo. He reminds me and my hubby or a dinosaur with all his boney plates and spines.

You lucky dog!!!!