Info on Tatia Galaxias

[Martin S]

I think I've found some of these at Maidenhead in Cambridge, but the manager is down this way and is willing to trasfer me some down to a more local store when he comes down. I was therefore wondering if they would be suitable companions for

Centromochlus perugiae

. Do they have similar feeding habits to the smaller Centromochlus? Are they more or less nocturnal?
Before i ask him to go ahead and get them for me, I wanted to know that I am doing the right thing. What sort of size group - is 2F/1M a suitable group? And if so, is sexing only by the length of the upper caudal fin lobe, or is it similar to Centromochlus? The fish are at least 2.5" - is this large enough to sex accurately? Should I be happy that they are what they say?
Sorry for all the questions
Thanks
Martin

[Silurus]

I was therefore wondering if they would be suitable companions for

Centromochlus perugiae

.

Yes

Do they have similar feeding habits to the smaller Centromochlus?

Yes

Are they more or less nocturnal?

Yes (there is no more or less about it; they are nocturnal, period. That said, you can easily get them to come out at feeding time).

[Martin S]

Thanks HH
My only concern now is actually getting the sexes I want as am relying on them being picked by someone else. Can anyone confirm that sexing is possible using the same methods for Centromochlus, i.e. the modified anal fin, and is the caudal fin lobe an extra check?
Thanks again
Martin

[Richard B]

If i may be as bold - PM Marc (van arc) for he is the "king" of woodcats & will tell you all you'll ever need to know

[MatsP]

I would suggest, however, that you PM Marc to ask for his comments in this thread, rather than ask him for the answer in a PM - that way, we can get an answer others can use/see as well.

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Mats

[Martin S]

I was sort of hoping Marc would have responded...but agreed, will PM him and point him to the thread as it may be info that can be used by someone else in the future.
Thanks
Martin

[sidguppy]

Marc's on a well deserved holiday to France with his wife and kids and won't surface for at least 2 weeks

just tellin' the news

[Martin S]

Marc's on a well deserved holiday to France with his wife and kids and won't surface for at least 2 weeks

just tellin' the news

Ahhhh - that would explain why he hasn't responded to this post - he always quick to share his experience and knowledge, so I was surprised when he hadn't replied.
Have a nice holiday Marc, and thanks Sid
Martin

[Martin S]

One of the guys at the LFS who has these fish has taken some pictures for me to confirm their ID. As a catfish enthusiast, he has confirmed that he believes they are galaxias, and from the images I'd agree, but just wanted to make sure no-one thought differently.
Images are taken with a mobile phone.



Thanks
Martin

[MatsP]

Marc would be the guy here, but

Tatia intermedia

is apparently quite often sold as T. galaxias.

Marc posted a suggestion on how to differntiate them, but I can't remember and I didn't change the Cat-eLog to reflect it.

Edit: Found the old thread: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =7&t=22662

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Mats

[Martin S]

Marc would be the guy here, but

Tatia intermedia

is apparently quite often sold as T. galaxias.

Marc posted a suggestion on how to differntiate them, but I can't remember and I didn't change the Cat-eLog to reflect it.

Edit: Found the old thread: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =7&t=22662

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Mats

Hi Mats
Thanks for that - now you have me thinking they may well be intermedia...
The fish in the pictures are about 2.5", but the dorsal fin is not clear enough to determine if they are spotted or not.
Don't know what to do now as really wanted to stick with the smaller woodcats (galaxias are 90mm as opposed to intermedia being 130mm).
Thanks again
Martin

[MatsP]

Oh, and a further comment: The fish I referred to in my original post were at Maidenhead Aquatics @ Farnham.

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Mats

[Martin S]

Mats
These are at Maidenhead in Cambridge...think I will ask how long they have had them, but it looks like they are the same fish.
Thanks again
Martin

[Martin S]

I have spoken with the relevant branch, and have been assured they have both galaxias and intermedia - the previous delivery were all intermedia (sent in as galaxias), but they have had another batch in about two months ago that is a mixture of both species...I'm just hoping they manage to pick me three galaxias!
Fingers crossed.
Martin

[Marc van Arc]

Hello Martin & everyone involved,
Just a few lines from a tired traveller.

- The fishes pictured are indeed T. intermedia
- Pls note that T. intermedia is far less shy compared to C. perugiae, so see to it that the latter gets food and won't starve. T. intermedia has a voracious appetite and will eat with lights on, leaving nothing for the perugiaes which react later. For this reason I've separated both species over here.
- I truly hope you can lay your hands on some genuine galaxias. Isn't is possible for that LFS to mail you a/some pictures of that particular species?

[Martin S]

Just a few lines from a tired traveller.

I hope you had a pleasant break, and thanks for replying.

- The fishes pictured are indeed T. intermedia

OK, thanks - maybe they are all intermedia, as Mats already summised.

- Pls note that T. intermedia is far less shy compared to C. perugiae, so see to it that the latter gets food and won't starve. T. intermedia has a voracious appetite and will eat with lights on, leaving nothing for the perugiaes which react later. For this reason I've separated both species over here.

Useful info Marc - many thanks. Definitely don't have the tanks to separate them, so unless I can get some guaranteed galaxias (are these better companians than intermedia to perugiae?), I think I should cancel my order - better to know now, than after having paid for them!

- I truly hope you can lay your hands on some genuine galaxias. Isn't is possible for that LFS to mail you a/some pictures of that particular species?

Me too - I believe that their resident expert has set aside three fish to a separate tank - I will call today and see if he can send some more pictures of the fish he believes to be galaxias.
Thanks again Marc
Regards
Martin

[Marc van Arc]

I hope you had a pleasant break

Thanks for bringing this up; it gives me a great opportunity to squeeze in some terribly off topic pictures
And to answer to your remark: yes we did. Have a look at the river Dordogne (France) and see why!

[Martin S]

Nice photos Marc!
After a week in Cornwall, I have just returned from Maidenhead Aquatics where only one of the three tatias transferred down survived
Apparently the heater stuck on and the temperature got up to 35C (heated room). Much of their stock survived as it was well settled, but the tatias had only arrived the previous day.
Anyway, the pics below are of the remaining specimen - any idea if it's galaxias or intermedia?


Looks like galaxias to me, (definitely a female anyway) so before I ask to get some more down to replace the lost ones, any ideas?
Thanks
Martin

[Marc van Arc]

Hi Martin,
Hope you enjoyed your holiday as well.
Sorry to disappoint you here, but the fish pictured is definitely (a nicely patterned) T. Intermedia.

[Martin S]

Hi Martin,
Hope you enjoyed your holiday as well.

Yes thanks - the weather could have been better, but that's the chance you take holidaying in the UK!

Sorry to disappoint you here, but the fish pictured is definitely (a nicely patterned) T. Intermedia.

OK, thanks. Will not ask them to get me any more then!
Hope you don't mind me asking, but what indicators do you use to confirm the ID as T. Intermedia? I'm just wary now that if I ever come across any real galaxias, I'll be wary that they are correctly ID'd!
Martin

[MatsP]

I'm entering this:

<em>T. intermedia</em> is often confused with <em>T. galaxias</em>. Both species have dark base with light spots, but on <em>T. intermedia</em> spots are off-white and oblong and fade with age. In <em>T. galaxias</em> the spots are bright white and round. The body shape of <em>T. galaxias</em> is also more slender.

into the Cat-eLog for T. intermedia (and with relevant edits on T. galaxias). This based on my interpretation of Marc's comments in the linked thread.

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Mats

[Martin S]

Thanks Mats - should have read more of the linked thread
Martin

[Marc van Arc]

Well, that says it all, doesn't it
Small addition: T. galaxias has a shiny velvet black colour, whereas T. intermedia has a somewhat faded black colouration.

[MatsP]

Well, that says it all, doesn't it
Small addition: T. galaxias has a shiny velvet black colour, whereas T. intermedia has a somewhat faded black colouration.

Ok, will add that. Jools has already applied my previous changes...

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Mats

[Marc van Arc]

Okay. To be very honest the galaxias may also have some oblong spots (see pictures 1, 2 & 4 in the Clog)*. The thing is that the description has to be very precise, whereas when you compare them on a picture the differences seem rather obvious (to me at least).
However, there are people who think they are 1 species. I have a contact in the Netherlands who is able to get me some Tatias from Eastern Europe, which are neither intermedia nor galaxias (samespecies according to the seller ), yet black and 9 cms TL atm. No further description or picture are available, so I think I'll have to refuse this (kind) offer. It's a little too vague imo. I talked it over with a friend and he came to the same conclusion. Unless the contact has found out any interesting additional information....

* I'm not really sure about picture 3 (male with enlarged upper caudal lobe). I'd think this is aulopygia rather than galaxias afaik.

[Martin S]

Hi Marc
Looking again at the images of galaxias/intermedia, it seems more obvious that I originally thought, so will, in future only look at fish that I can see first hand!
I'll have to just keep looking I suppose...
Thanks again for all the advice and help - it is much appreciated
Martin

[Marc van Arc]

Thanks again for all the advice and help

Anytime (so don't hesitate to ask when in doubt or in need of an answer. Not that I know everything, but I'll do my best).

[MatsP]

Okay. To be very honest the galaxias may also have some oblong spots (see pictures 1, 2 & 4 in the Clog).

Updated.

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Mats

[ali12345]

Hi Martin,
If you are in doubt about them I will quite happily take a few of the intermedia from you if the order comes wrong, assuming a reasonable price.
As you know I have room for lots of woodcats....
Alison

[MatsP]

Hi Martin,
If you are in doubt about them I will quite happily take a few of the intermedia from you if the order comes wrong, assuming a reasonable price.
As you know I have room for lots of woodcats....
Alison

If you are intentionally after the Intermedia, they do have them in the Farnham branch of Maidenhead Aquatics [or at least did a few weeks ago when I last went in there].

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Mats