Cats for a Congo Basin Biotope tank

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 04 Jun 2003, 20:36

Im looking for suggestions on cats for my 50G(will be 125-150G soon) Congo Basin Biotope tank. I know about the many Synos, But I know there are some rarer more oddball cats(isnt there a giraffe cat relative?) that hail from there as well which is what im after! I cant have anything small since the tank also houses a handfull of ravenous Bichirs. All comments and suggestions are welcome!

Post by **Silurus** » 04 Jun 2003, 20:52

There are many different types of habitats within the Congo River: rapids, backwater, forest stream, etc.
The species of cats you keep depends on the type of habitat you prefer.
For instance, Chiloglanis, fast-water Synodontis (like S. soloni), Leptoglanis and possibly Microsynodontis would be suitable for a fast-flowing/rapids tank , while clariids would be more suitable in a slow-flowing/stagnant habitat (like a backwater or a swamp).

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 04 Jun 2003, 23:20

Yes sorry I meant to convey that I am doing the basin itself and not really the rivers that it drains into. Its more of a marshy stagnant setup with plants and tangle of roots. I do however have a 40G rapids(lower congo river) tank with only Steatocranus Tinanti but have been looking for other things to add to it. Thanks for the reply

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 04 Jun 2003, 23:43

I looked throught the E log and found these:
Clarias camerunensis
Clarias buettikoferi
Channallabes apus
Clarias angolensis
Gymnallabes typus
Which would be best suited for my tank?

Post by **Silurus** » 04 Jun 2003, 23:45

Only Gymnallabes and possibly Channallabes are easily available. West African Clarias are never imported, except only as contaminants.
Other cats to consider are schilbeids (grasscutter cats) and smaller claroteids (such as Anaspidoglanis), although Anaspidoglanis are diggers and you need to protect your plants accordingly.

Post by **Dinyar** » 05 Jun 2003, 01:35

Silurus wrote:Only Gymnallabes and possibly Channallabes are easily available.

In the US?

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Jun 2003, 01:42

OK, I should have said occasionally available.

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 05 Jun 2003, 03:43

What do they usually come in as contaminants with?
I take it I am in for a major quest? What should I expect to pay when i do find either of these cats?
Thank you so much for all your help!

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Jun 2003, 07:48

Other West African catfish. I was able to obtain a small Clarias supposedly identified as C. angolensis from an importer that I'm trying to grow up now (it's only about 1.5" now and cost me $5). Given that the importation of Clarias is illegal in many states, I doubt that it is easy to find a ready source.
If available, you should expect to pay somewhere between $10-20 for Gymnallabes or Channallabes.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 05 Jun 2003, 10:00

Wish i could get some Channalbes or Gymnallabes here too. I have picked up the only one specimen of G.typys in Finland. I also have Clarias pachynema very rare catfish in these levels.It only cost 6€- because no-one else wanted it.It has behaved well and is nowadays 20 cm long.DonÂ´t seem to be very rapidly growing Clarias.

Post by **Silurus** » 05 Jun 2003, 10:55

This dealer has what looks like Gymnallabes (can't really tell from the pic) for $45 apiece. Expensive, but he seems to be the only one with the fish in stock at the moment (NB: I've never dealt with them before).

SynoPetri · Post by **SynoPetri** » 05 Jun 2003, 14:38

I think S. nigriventris would be a nice idea.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 06 Jun 2003, 14:19

Only Gymnallabes and possibly Channallabes are easily available.

Not over here either.
I keep cats for almost 3 decades and NEVER have encountered them ANYWHERE....

Maybe in the UK, possibly in Germany but not here.

Next to Upside Down catfish, maybe some Eutropiellus, or Physailia? They're nice, small, and not hard to keep, and they combine great with all kinds of small cats, because there's no competition over hiding places. I think a tank with Chiloglanis, Microsynodontis, Syno nigriventris and a shoal of those smaller Shilbeids would look fine to me. But if your Bichirs are that voracious, forget about them and Chiloglanis or Microsyno's. Better get Schilbe's instead. NO fish for anything smaller than 125G btw.

Parauchenoglanis, Auchenoglanis and Anaspidoglanis DO dig a LOT, only well rooted plants and a thick layer of substrate (at least 2") will do, or all your plants will float after a wild night of digging spree.

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Jun 2003, 14:29

One word of caution in keeping Gymnallabes or channallabes: I have found them to be very susceptible to parasite infections, with Channallabes being the more sensitive of the two.

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 07 Jun 2003, 06:46

The Microsynos and anything else that stays under 5-6" would be far too tempting to my Bichirs and in the case of the Synos I think that he would end up choking on their spines and I would lose both

They are already totally P***ed about the Syno Ocellifer I picked up(not a congo basin native but oh well he was getting beat up and I felt bad) since he has taken over a large hollowed out piece of driftwood that they used to dwell in.

What shilbeds are you referring to I thought most Africans stayed pretty small? Thanks for the replies!

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 07 Jun 2003, 06:53

SG_Eurystomus wrote: Next to Upside Down catfish, maybe some Eutropiellus, or Physailia?
Parauchenoglanis, Auchenoglanis and Anaspidoglanis DO dig a LOT, only well rooted plants and a thick layer of substrate (at least 2") will do, or all your plants will float after a wild night of digging spree.

I am pretty new to cats so your gonna have to take it slow with me

I am kinda lost on the above species!?!?!

The last three genera are giraffe cat like fish right? Sorry I am also pretty tired right now as well.

Post by **Silurus** » 07 Jun 2003, 08:02

Eutropiellus are what are commonly referred to as debauwi or swallowtail cats (the correct name is Pareutropius buffei):

Parailia are African glass cats:

They are distinguished from normal (Asian) glass cats in having a very small adipose fin (which Asian glass cats lack), and are much more difficult to find.
Auchenoglanis is the giraffe catfish, while Parauchenoglanis and Anaspidoglanis are the dwarf giraffe catfishes. However Parauchenoglanis is hardly ever exported for the aquarium trade and the dwarf giraffe cats you can get are almost always Anaspidoglanis macrostoma (formerly Parauchenoglanis macrostoma).

Post by **Silurus** » 07 Jun 2003, 08:41

What shilbeds are you referring to I thought most Africans stayed pretty small?

Not Schilbe (grasscutter cats), which grow to be about 50 cm (20"):

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 09 Jun 2003, 04:20

Im still working on finding the Grasscutter and the Clariids.

I emailed a few exporters one of them had a cat that I cant find anything on (Eutropiellus vanderweyeri) he is selling them for $3.50 a piece which sounds good to me regardless of what they are.

I was also wondering how these prices sounded?

Synodontis nigriventris "Zebra form"- $5.00ea
Synodontis soloni- $15.00ea
Parauchenoglanis gutattus- $15.00ea
Leptoglanis cameruensis- $5.00ea

Thanks again for all the help you guys have given me!

Post by **Dinyar** » 09 Jun 2003, 05:17

Reheboth Aquatics, the importer you are referring to in your lat post, seems like a very good source. I don't have any direct experience with them, but Silurus does, and he's been happy with what he's received from them.

The prices you list range from very competitive to competitive. "Eutropiellus vanderweyeri" is a synonym (not the current scientific name) for Pareutropius buffei, a photo of which is included in Silurus' last post. A good choice.

I'd stay away from the Parauchenoglanis gutattus (gets too big) and Leptoglanis cameruensis (too delicate) if I were you. These are fish for specialists.

Dinyar

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 09 Jun 2003, 06:03

Dinyar wrote:Reheboth Aquatics, the importer you are referring to in your lat post, seems like a very good source. I don't have any direct experience with them, but Silurus does, and he's been happy with what he's received from them.

Wow How did you know thats who I was talking about? You guys are good

Dinyar wrote:The prices you list range from very competitive to competitive. "Eutropiellus vanderweyeri" is a synonym (not the current scientific name) for Pareutropius buffei, a photo of which is included in Silurus' last post. A good choice.

Yes, But unfortunatley like I said they would most likely fall prey to my Bichirs

Dinyar wrote:I'd stay away from the Parauchenoglanis gutattus (gets too big)

I thought they stayed under a foot?

Thank you for the reply and all the help!

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Jun 2003, 09:32

I thought they stayed under a foot?

Yes, but they are diggers, so it's not advisable to let them loose in a planted tank. They are also best with more robust fish, which means that it's inadvisable to put them with things like Pareutropius and possibly S. nigriventris.

Email or PM me if you want to know more about my dealings with Rehoboth (FWIW, that's where I got the small African Clarias that came in as a contaminant). Toyin is a fantastic guy and I've never been disappointed each time I ordered from him (I've done three orders with him now). If you want to save on shipping, maybe we can combine orders.

BoBzz · Post by **BoBzz** » 10 Jun 2003, 00:26

The tank has yet to actually be planted.

Its just sand, driftwood, and rocks right now as I am trying to get all the occupants to put on some size( I prefer to purchase juvies so that I can better control and understand the fish when it is an adult). I think that the constant water changes and tank cleanings would be far too harsh on the plants.

Other than the digging would the Parauchenoglanis Gutattus present me with any problems? Aggression? Susceptible to parasites? Sudden death for unknown reasons?

Thanks guys

You really dont know just how incredibly helpful you have been!

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Jun 2003, 00:49

The only problem with Anaspidoglanis would be that of territoriality. They are territorial cats, but if you provide enough hiding spaces, they can co-exist fairly peacefully with other catfishes.
Other than that, they are easy to care for.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 10 Jun 2003, 21:05

I once had an adult pair of Parauchenoglanis panterinus, a few years ago.
Although the male was quite a bugger, the female did fairly well; but then again, it was that same 125G before I changed it into a Tanganyikan tank.
There were some huge pieces of bogwood in there, as well as some rocks, loads of big plants and other fish (8 Schilbe's, Polypterus, Xenomystus to name a few) as distraction worked OK.

The fact that a heatwave took off both panterinus and some other rare catfishes, that I couldn't replace anymore (because the source of rare non-rift catfishes emigrated) sure played a big role in that setup change; unfortunately.
The Amphilius and Mochokiella's are the last survivors of my African riverine setup, and they reside in another tank, nowadays.
It still seems weird to me, that some Amphilius survived, where two 10" panterinus succumbed to the heat.....