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What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 12:48
by Grimfilth


If anyone could tell me what they are doing... It sure looks violent and one of them already has an (already healing) infection. This happens usually after feeding time, after they've had enough.
My aquarium water stats;
temperature 24*C
ph; 6,5 - 7,5
gH; 8 - 9
80 litres, 1 x 15w lamp, eheim 2211 pump.
7 ghost catfishes, bought from different dealers. (explains why some have big eyes, and another smaller eyes) They NEVER form a group, always smaller groups. 6 out of 7 are doing this weird behaviour. The fish on the bottom is a Gold Spot Dwarf Pleco (Parotocinclus spilosoma)

[Mod edit: fix youtube tags --Mats]

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 13:14
by Grimfilth
oh and one of my ghost catfishes suffers from a stress involved narcolepsy, and he 'sleeps' for 15 minutes or so. Usually happens when he's spooked by me or bumping into another fish and he'll totally freak out and then goes KO.

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 13:27
by Silurus
I've seen similar behavior in , which I take to be some form of sparring for dominance.

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 15:30
by exasperatus2002
Grimfilth wrote:oh and one of my ghost catfishes suffers from a stress involved narcolepsy, and he 'sleeps' for 15 minutes or so. Usually happens when he's spooked by me or bumping into another fish and he'll totally freak out and then goes KO.
Hmmm, which came first, the fainting goat or the fainting catfish?

Looks like they're reinforcing a pecking order to me.

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 18:21
by Grimfilth
exasperatus2002 wrote:
Grimfilth wrote:oh and one of my ghost catfishes suffers from a stress involved narcolepsy, and he 'sleeps' for 15 minutes or so. Usually happens when he's spooked by me or bumping into another fish and he'll totally freak out and then goes KO.
Hmmm, which came first, the fainting goat or the fainting catfish?

Looks like they're reinforcing a pecking order to me.
Fainting goats don't go berserk, but yes, it's similar. and it's always the same fish. (i can tell from his internal features)

Pecking order... sounds plausible, but why? There are unoccupied spots where they usually hang out, what would they be fighting over then?

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 05 Apr 2011, 20:23
by naturalart
"Male stuff". The privileges of "dominance": rights to go wherever he wants to go, choice of females, first choice of foods, etc,. The other fish are just fighting for their dignity. A larger tank may reduce the intensity of this behavior.

And I realize this is a purely anthropomorphic statement.

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 25 Apr 2011, 13:48
by kingkashif
ve seen similar behavior in Hyalobagrus flavus, which I take to be some form of sparring for dominance.
Yeah I agree with you..

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 02 May 2011, 02:52
by Anthonyck
Is this the species kryptopterus minor, sold in the US as glass catfish? I just picked up 6 myself today.

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 02 May 2011, 03:04
by Silurus
Anthonyck wrote:Is this the species kryptopterus minor, sold in the US as glass catfish?
Yes

Re: What are you doing ghost catfishes?

Posted: 02 May 2011, 03:07
by Anthonyck
Thanks, Silurus. I am trying a group out in my 20gal planted tank with some tetras and rasboras.