Petco Talking Catfish...True ID?

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

Been looking at pictures and funky ID names all day since I brought this cool looking cat home. Petco just calls it a Talking Catfish, but I see there are several different types.. Here is a couple of pics that I was able to take. I will try to get more if it helps. Thanks...

[racoll, posts: 4473]

Welcome to PlanetCatfish.

Your catfish is Amblydoras nauticus.

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

Welcome to PlanetCatfish.

Your catfish is Amblydoras nauticus.

Thanks, I wasn't 100% sure which one it was. He sure is fun to watch.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2273]

OTT but thought I'd still say it: they are quite emaciated, poor lil' guys. Are they eating now that they are in your hands?

[Bijn, posts: 392]

He/she looks extremely skinny. Red mosquito larvae & sturgeon food are the types off food I would try.

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

OTT but thought I'd still say it: they are quite emaciated, poor lil' guys. Are they eating now that they are in your hands?

Yes he is eating good. I wait till he swims up to the top of the tank and I put the pellets right by him so he doesnt have to compete with the other fish. He almost will eat out of my fingers.

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

He/she looks extremely skinny. Red mosquito larvae & sturgeon food are the types off food I would try.

Yea I thought he looked awful small for a catfish, I was at petco when these were brought in. There were quite a few and they were all this size. I will have him fattened up soon. . I love this guy, he looks so mean.

[racoll, posts: 4473]

There were quite a few and they were all this size.

They are a really cool catfish. I would suggest getting more if your tank is large enough.

I would also suggest replacing the gravel with a thin layer of sand (silica or river sand). The catfish would then be able to show more natural behaviour, and it would be easier to keep the bottom clean, which is important for catfishes.

[Taratron, posts: 742]

I need to start hitting up PetCo! One near me, years ago, had 5 inch long banjo cats.

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

There were quite a few and they were all this size.

They are a really cool catfish. I would suggest getting more if your tank is large enough.

I would also suggest replacing the gravel with a thin layer of sand (silica or river sand). The catfish would then be able to show more natural behaviour, and it would be easier to keep the bottom clean, which is important for catfishes.

well I am only running a 10gal tank right now. I almost do like the idea of sand though. I may do that when I am able to upgrade to a larger tank.

[Mikey1973, posts: 6]

I need to start hitting up PetCo! One near me, years ago, had 5 inch long banjo cats.

Mine had gotten in some real cool long silver cats, forgot what he called them, but they were already dang near a foot long, had long flat heads.