How to keep Trichomycterus alternatus?

[sunfish]

Hi,

my LFS has got these little fellas (or some similar species). I'd like to get them, but I couldn't find anything about what kind of water parameters they require. I have the strong suspicion that they are a hillstream species, which wouldn't work too well with my 28°C tank. So, who has kept them and can tell me more?

[MatsP]

The origin/distribution of

Trichomycterus alternatus

is coastal rivers in southern brazil (Sao Paolo state), so it's not really a hillstream species as such. However, it's a decent distance south of the equator, so it's probably safe to assume a bit of variation in temperature during the year, which should be reflected in their captive environment.

--
Mats

[apistomaster]

Are Trichomycterus alternatus non-parasitic species?
I know many of their close relative are which makes keeping parasitic spp impractical but non parasitics as small as these are interesting to learn about.

[sidguppy]

yes they are

I've kept a similar species in the past and they're fun fish. they accept all foods, don't bother any other fish and they're lightning quick.
they're buried in the sand during the day and 'pop up' once food hits the water and race like tiny roadrunners over the sand snatching up little morsels

unfortunately mine didn't last that long, despite them eating and growing very well, wich makes me suspicious.....this might be a fish that does better at roomtemperature instead of 25-26'C.

mine looked exactly like the fishes in the link, they could very well have been T alternatus.

[apistomaster]

I shipped in 25 unknown Trichomyterus sp when i had a fish shop but I never had much luck keeping them. They did not sell and they slowly died out. Mine were all about 2-2.5" fish. They did burrow some but just as many hung out among some bunch plants in their tank.
I found them rather creepy fish. I'm sure my awareness of their parasitical habit colored my attitude.
They were sold as Kuhli Catfish and no allusion of them being one of the Candiru sp was ever mentioned by the wholesaler.
This was circa 1970. These fish are now illegal to import into the USA.

[Dave Rinaldo]

Unless I misread, here in Texas most Trichomycteridae are legal.

From Texas Parks and Wildlife

South American Parasitic Candiru Catfishes, Subfamilies Stegophilinae and Vandelliinae
All species

[apistomaster]

I may be mistaken. I thought they were among the banned fish like snakeheads and such. Maybe it just varies from state to state.

[sunfish]

Hi,

thanks for the information. So I suppose I will have to leave them in the shop.

[sidguppy]

welllll......I only now noticed your location

it's Germany! o.0

may I ask wich shop and where it is??

this IS one of those fish that I weant to take a second -and then properly kept- shot at, because it is such a fun fish to keep

mine lasted about a year, maybe two and grew from 1.5" (3-4cm) to about 3" (6-8cm) in that period

so while they lived, they did just fine. visible, ate well, no damage, very peaceful and funny to watch.
but it just wasn't that long.


the larger Trichomycterids on the other hand, can be surprisingly long lived

we (Marc, me, Patrick) used to have a bunch of Ituglanis (formerly known as Trichomycterus, but large 6"/15cm) spp, and the last survivor of this bunch lasted more than 10 years, wich is impressive for such active buggers.

[sunfish]

Hi,

you got mail. ;)

[Yann]

Hi Tina!!

I keep this species from sometimes now...and their origin is likely to be the same as yours!
Trichomycterus are pretty active fish, mostly at night and during feeding time.
As said before, they are no picky eaters and will eat about anything to commercialy prepared food from flakes to tablets and also like (a lot) frozen or live food...with a preference for blood worms.
During the day they like to burry themselves in the sand.
They are doing fine in a tank of 25-26°c...which makes me doubt about the ID and possible origin.
I also noted that they like good current with good oxygenated water... and dislike behinf in tank with low current flow and low on oxygen.
Beware also as they are great for escaping the tanks. So either plug every possible hole they could use to sneak out of the tank or lower the water level in the tank.
They don't bother other fish...but I haven't seen yet how the behave with much smaller fish such as fry or eggs and if those could be seen as potential food.
They like good and clean water and do not thrive into water of bad condition (as any other fish actually) but can be sensitive to skin or other potential disease if kept in bad conditions!
Cheers
Yann

[sidguppy]

I kept thinking about that tank wich held them, was a long time ago; think 1988-1991 or so
my memory's al screwed up, couldn't remember it at first.....
and it was a fair bit crowded. it also might be the lower oxygen levels, the slower current, the sheer amount of fish in there etc.
luckily I've come a long way since then!
I guess it's amazing that they did as well as they did in there. cause despite not lasting very long (just 1 to a few years) they ate well and grew just fine.

Sunfish, I took a long look at my tanks yesterday and decided not to go for them.
it's not the distance, cause Koln and Marburg are within my driving range.
tnx for the pm!

but can you get me a link from that store or a website or so? a store that stacks these is interesting, cause they look beyond Cory's and L numbers.

[sunfish]

Hi,

they don't have a website (at least none that helps). The shop in question is acutally not a fish shop but the "pet department" of a big DIY-store (Obi) that happens to be quite good. And every now and then they get some cool stuff in.