In a naiive sort of way)]; it is somehow extremely refreshing to realise, that some of the much more advanced academeia(in every sense of the word) are prepared to share just a little of their world with us. Words like 'thanks','appreciation' and 'humility' spring easily to mind. This is not merely ...

:? It may be that you are confusing young Pangasius with very similar species. Indeed: small offspring can easily be confused with juvenile Emporer tetras(Nematobrycon palmeri). The 'delayed' onset of such whitespot may be related to their possible expectations of territory, and also to eventual siz...

:? Perhaps this was a false assumption, based on the way that the fish was portrayed in some internationally displayed photographs. The rather immflamatory accompanying text (of the 'press'), certainly did not help either I make no apologies for the way that my feelings regarding endangered species(...

Thank you Beng,

I will do. I'm quite sure, however, that there is at least one species of 'marine catfish'

Catfish in Antartica? Hmmm! That's a very good question :the mind boggles.

I'll send you a p.m. as I do not want to appear to 'hijack' the 'thread'.




Nick

:( I read very recently that a record-breaking example of this fish was captured in some sort of admirable(?) 'sporting-quest'. I'm quite sure that I could find the precise details/reports of this. It's very difficult not to be drawn into the moral and philosophical issues raised by the curiosity of...

Indeed! I have had the great pleasure and honour of reading this report and can highly recommend it. There's some astounding stuff in there including a reference to a brackish cat (A. similis)



Nick

:) Hi Peter, Do you realise that unlike the short-lived creatures with which you hope to accompany them with, that the catfish may take many years in which to reach sexual maturity? Figures like 3-10 years are not unfamiliar to me. Please correct me if I am wrong. 'Apples and pears' - ye plant for y...

:) Hi Julian, Ah yes, (s)he :?: seems to be recovering well. Fingers crossed. Do you think that he might benefit from a slightly more suitable hiding place, such as a clay pipe? Going slightly off-topic: I see that you have what appears to be a lovely shoal of Neolamprologous tretochephalus. They ca...

Definately, Silurus,

Do we need anything 'stronger' than Adobe Acrobat Reader v5.0? - apart from a 'cat's' natural curiosity and obvious intelligence (incomparable to your own) ?




Nick

:( Something must have startled him. If he lives on his own, then perhaps it was a 'nightmare'(involuntary reaction to outside tank movement(?)). Otherwise expect a few (other) casualties to surface with the next few days, assuming that they haven't been eaten. These fish are commonly kept as juveni...

:) Interesting 'shots', Natalie. Do you still have the specimens? If enough genuine interest and 'proof' is provided, this could turn out to be a most valuable find. Having said that; it would not be the first time that 'introduced' species have been given 'satellite' homes :? It make you think thou...

Hi, I don't know which species of panagas(s)ius that you are talking about, but I have rarely seen this to be problem. Ick(whitespot - let's forget about the scientific name... should rarely be a problem, unless you are introducing your waterchanges too cold, + too quickly. I appreciate your dilemma...

:? In the absence of any scarring or obvious injuries immediately prior to this, this may indicate totally natural strengthening of extremeties. On the other hand: the whiteness may indicate a lack of bloodflow as a result of lack of bloodflow or possible iron deficiency and/or too low a pH/temp, or...

Your point is still a 'good' one. The effects of organo-phosphates (more recently), and to give it it's short name: D.D.T.(from the 60's, and their long term effects are still relatively unknown. What is known, is that once these chemicals are inside a living creature, they tend to 'hang around'. To...

Hi

My pair sometimes become slightly paler in 'patches'. This is usually an indication that I have been neglecting my waterchange duties




Nick

Pesticides. Yes that's smart thinking JD. They could have built up to a lethal level over a period of time in the local water supply. This sometimes (but very rarely) happens after heavy rainfall on fields close to the water processing plant's input source . Another unfortunate consequence is that t...

:oops: :oops: . Thank you for that correction Silurus. A four year old misconception has been put to rest. I've had another look at them (well as much as their behaviour allows me), and they appear to more closely resemble Pareutropius buffei but for a few differences. They have 2(?) pairs of barbel...

Hi Jim,

I'll p.m you on this, otherwise isolation for treatment seems to be sound advice.




Nick

Thank you Silurus, Most informative. The cats were sold to me as P.debauwi, but I am almost(?) certain that they are in fact P.regani. Some 'savage' water changing appears to be what is needed here, combined with increased lighting duration/rainfall imitation. [Bearing in mind of course, that these ...

:D Ah Sir, You mean the endangered 'giant'. What news on the Vietnamese/Thailand breeding project? I keep a photograph of an 'anglered' specimen, complete with angler as my screen-saver. Unpleasant as it may be - it reminds me not to confuse Pangionassius with Pangassius spp. A cruel, if efficient r...

I think Mike has given you an almost 'perfect' answer here. The only thing that I could possibly add is that some Oto's like to hang around in groups (shoal) in groups of more than 5 or 6. I once learned (from a late coleague), that Otocinclus vitatus are perhaps a wee bit hardier (but don't take 'o...

For the benefit of some of the less 'au fait' (to do) folks from Western Europe - catfish is considered a delicacy in many parts of the States - indeed many will consider it so, without even ever knowing the truth. I refuse to cast judgement on such matters. To each his/her own, I say. However sever...

The only improvements that I could possibly make to this: are as follows:- 1) compare the 'normal' and recent nitrate levels (assuming that they have been taken on a weekly (or even monthly ) basis. 2) Ask whether the diet has been led by a rather protein-based alternative - it is possible that some...

:( Hi all, Ive had a 'rolling' collection of these for over 4 years now, but never managed to breed them. Most (90%) of them are original, but despite one incidence of a display of 'multiple substrate-spawning behaviour', they remain generally both nocturnal and carnivorous - not that they cant be t...

:( This is obviously a case of poisoning of the neural networks (brain and spine). Any consequent bacterial infection will show itself up as a necrotis(z -U.S.)ing blackness of the gills. I saw the same thing in some some undescribed Aspidoraras species (which look very similar to Corydoras, a few y...