Hemisynodontis membranacea the African Moustache Cat

[paddysdaddy, posts: 8]

This fish is my dream fish, had a group in the 90's that were sooooo close to breeding! My ex-wife killed the group. I bought these at 3" from Segrest farm in 1991, they had bulbous growths (looked like calcium deposits) on their spines that did not respond to ANY treatment and the spines were finally clipped off to remove the growths, the spines regenerated and the fish matured into incredibly beautiful specimens. They ranged in size from 8" to 15" (on a ruler).
Now there is a group available and my question to this forum: Do any of the forum readers keep these? I'd heard nearly all of the few exported from Africa go to Europe and I haven't seen them available hardly ever. Does anyone have this species for sale?
My experience is extensive, no worries on the fish's wellbeing or survivability-they will thrive.
Any words of encouragement or discouragement before I spend this INCREDIBLE amount of money? Been doing this for almost 30 years and have never spent this much on 5 fish!

[Birger]

They are on Dave's list http://www.davesfish.com/

I was recently in the UK and juveniles were for sale( I can't exactly remember) for about 45-50 GBP which would work out to about 72-80 US dollars....great fish.

Birger

[jippo, posts: 247]

I have group of six, four adults and two juveniles. Absolutely my favorite cats!

First I had only one very old specimen before I got some more from Germany few years ago. Even one membranacea was stunning but group of them is something you can't discribe.

[Richard B, posts: 6307]

A few years ago MA Stratford had a tank of these that were £7.99 each. Several of them has quite noticeable deformities around the mouth & i summised they had been commercially bred as opposed to wild caught. "Chrysichthys" came over and bought some of them.

[paddysdaddy, posts: 8]

Thanks for the infomation and encouragement! Dave is shipping them tomorrow, my wallet is empty but my excitement level is piqued! Will youtube them after they settle in.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2281]

Forget the group, I've never seen one live. I hope you are in SW FL so that would give me a greater than zero chance to see a group one day but your location tells me you are an anti-pop-in kind of guy Just teasing. Please, do keep us posted.

[paddysdaddy, posts: 8]

They arrived just fine and are gorgeous IMHO. Still timid and learning about aquarium life but they are warming up!
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zEcZ4nXG9o

[Birger]

Nice!

They are larger than the ones I saw in the UK.

Noticed the little angerlica in with them as well.

Birger

[Dave Rinaldo, posts: 1754]

I got to see this group the day after Dave got them!

[arapaimag, posts: 55]

I have two of them. They are the only ones I have ever owned.

Both are around 14".

I bought the first one in 1990 from the Aquarium Center Randlestown Plaza Maryland. It has always been an awesome fish. I thought about 4 years ago it was on it's way out as it stopped eating. But about 6 months later it started eating again and added a bit of the weight it had lost. It resides in my 15k.

I bought the second one also in Maryland at the Catfish Convention in 2008. It is truly a magnificent fish. It is in a 180g (680l) at present.

Best of luck with your group.