Info Needed on Plectrochilus Erythrurus Please

Pufferpack · Post by **Pufferpack** » 13 May 2003, 06:28

Anyone with any info on Plectrochilus Erythrurus I would really appreciate it. I bought these guys under the name "Blue Loach Cat", from what I've been able to find so far they are a parasite catfish from South America, they are a relative of the Candiru and may be called "False Candiru"

Thanks

Post by **Silurus** » 13 May 2003, 09:21

Plectrochilus erythrurus is a junior synonym of Vandelia cirrhosa.. These are hematophagous (i.e. they feed on blood), and you would need a constant supply of live fishes for them to feed on. They stick their heads inside the gill covers of the host fish, bite off a chunk from the gills, and proceed to feed on the blood that oozes out. Once they are fully engorged, they will drop off the host fish.
They don't swim very much (and spend a lot of time lying on the bottom) and only do so when they are hungry and looking for a host.
Depending on how many you have, it's a good bet that the host fish will die and you will need constant replenishment.

Pufferpack · Post by **Pufferpack** » 13 May 2003, 10:12

When you say junior synonym do you mean same species with a newer name?

I'll try to post some pics for a positive ID, but in the meantime you can see my pics at http://fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php ... 6ff362c2dd

Thanks

Don.

Post by **Silurus** » 13 May 2003, 11:47

Yup, junior synonym = younger name of the same species that should not be used. In taxonomy, the older name always prevails.
The pictures are those of some kind of vandelliine, probably Vandellia. These things are difficult to identify to species.

Pufferpack · Post by **Pufferpack** » 13 May 2003, 12:03

IYO would these boys be able to survive on bloodworms and beefheart. The lfs that I got them from had them for at least 3 weeks (I had them on hold for that long until my tank was ready for them) in a tank with baby bumblebee gobies. I don't think they were munching on the Gobies (I could be wrong as I forgot to ask what hey had been fed...duh) so I'm hoping I will be able to feed them at home. If not they will have to be returned.

Post by **Silurus** » 13 May 2003, 12:10

Nope, they have a strict diet of blood. You might be able to get young fish to eat bloodworms, but the adults will only feed on blood. They are able to survive for fairly long periods between feedings (which explains why they're still alive).
They are not feeding on the bumblebee gobies because they are too small. If you put a large fish (like a carp) in there, they'd be making straight for the gills.
A very interesting catfish, but one that is very troublesome (and expensive) to feed. A pity...
I also think that it's not very responsible of your LFS to sell fish like that without informing owners of its potential hazards (think of the damage it'll wreak on a cichlid tank).

Pufferpack · Post by **Pufferpack** » 13 May 2003, 12:21

The lfs couldn't even identify these fish, I will be returning them in the next couple of days as it doesn't look like I could keep them alive let alone care for them properly.

Good thing I set them up in their own tank, if I would have dropped them in the wifes C*****d tank I'd be a dead man now

Thanks for the info.

Don

Post by **Silurus** » 13 May 2003, 12:30

BTW, care to contribute your pics to the Cat-eLog? There doesn't seem to be any of Vandellia at the moment.

Pufferpack · Post by **Pufferpack** » 13 May 2003, 14:27

You are more than welcome to them, even though they are not too good. I will e-mail all the pics I have to the site later today or tomorrow. Right now I have a mess to clean up, I just got home from work to find the new tank split down the side and 30gals of water on the floor. Doesn't look like I'll be getting any better pics now. The cats survived, but are in a bucket waiting for the lfs to open.