Some of my guys from 55 and 120 gal

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

odds and ends

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

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[Richard B, posts: 6306]

some nice fish there Viktor, the alberti & nigriventris look nice individuals. Is there a surinam toad in there too?

The giraffe might like a smaller grain substrate so it can more effectively filter feed. There is an immense collection of catfishes there.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

some nice fish there Viktor, the alberti & nigriventris look nice individuals.

Thanx, Richard.

Is there a surinam toad in there too?

No, the toad and the frogs are in a neighboring 27 gal hex along with two small Hemibagrus wykiis and a Malapterus electricus.

The giraffe might like a smaller grain substrate so it can more effectively filter feed.

Yeah. They rattle them pebbles around for hours after food is thrown in. I can hear that everywhere in the house, even in the basement. Galaxies help them too.

There is an immense collection of catfishes there.

Yeah, somewhat. I think you are politely conveying a mild concern. People are concerned too, like Adrian (ad8) from Oklahoma and I understand why. The pics are largely misleading. Not all the fish are in the same tank - I have 27, 27, 55, 55, 120, and 150 gal, apart from the 2 ponds. Only two, one of the 55's and the 120 are stocked close to, but still under, an inch of fish per 1 gal. And the pics are taken during feeding when everybody crawls out of their holes to make an appearance of a throng of fish.

Still, the downside of having a very diverse mix, esp. in 120, is that the administering care to the fishes requiring somewhat different care is a challenge.

It took some time but I got the water to be good steady: NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 0-5 ppm, pH 7.2. It's been like that for over 8 months with a weekly 50% water change. The fish are behaving more or less right and growing well. I do have to reshuffle every few months, of course.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

Richard, do you think the ocellifer and soloni are genuine?

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

Richard, do you think the ocellifer and soloni are genuine?

Soloni -yes

The spotted "ocellifer" of which there seem several examples, no they mostly seem hybrids but i need to check all the pics & the work PC is being really slow at present

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

I think you are politely conveying a mild concern

- not really - i know there are multiple tanks & you recognise the needs of the fishes which is key - plus you cater for them!

'Immense' as in 'big'

My personal preference is to keep species in groups where possible as the best & typical behaviours are seen but each to their own. Some people like to keep for example one of each pleco they find - this is ok in itself as long as the fish needs are met & sometimes this becomes an issue when you keep veggie eaters with meat eaters or species that need high & low temps together. If these problems are known about & catered for then all is well

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

Thanx, Richard.

Yeah, there are two hybrids resembling an ocellifer but the one I hope is genuine is in the two repeated pics below (behind one of the ocellifer look-alikes in the 2nd pic):

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

Some people like to keep for example one of each pl*co they find - this is ok in itself as long as the fish needs are met & sometimes this becomes an issue when you keep veggie eaters with meat eaters or species that need high & low temps together. If these problems are known about & catered for then all is well

I try my best, but like in the case with the giraffe cats that you pointed out, I cannot make it perfect for all fish at all times. Plus my knowledge is still in infancy. Temperature and food are the two biggest ones to take into account, I assume.

[Birger]

Yeah, there are two hybrids resembling an ocellifer but the one I hope is genuine is in the two repeated pics below (behind one of the ocellifer look-alikes in the 2nd pic):

I agree with Richard on the S.soloni and the ocelifer type hybrids...can you get a better shot of the one in question??

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

Thanks, Birger. I'll try again. He is a hider and rarely comes out in the open during feeding, preferring to feed in the back or around the furniture.

[bigamefish, posts: 311]

Sorry I dug up this old post! But I just got a S. Ocellifer and I absolutely adore him ! And how do I know if he's genuine? I know he's farm raised and has a mild fin defourmation! I'll upload a video if you want and some pics!

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

No problem at all - it is always good to know what people read. The answer, I think, is a new thread in the "What's my catfish?" forum with good pics and a video is a great plus. With good media (pics and vid), I am sure ID will quickly and hopefully firmly established.