chinese algae eater

[phenix]

Is a Chinese algae eater not a catfish? I can't seem to find it in the cat-elog.

Cant find my plecostomus either.

[Silurus]

A Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) is a cypriniform (carp-like) fish, not a catfish.

[MatsP]

Cant find my plecostomus either.

Your "Plecostomus" is most likely

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

- it is the by far most common fish to be sold as "Hypostomus plecostomus" or some such in the shops.

--
Mats

[phenix]

Thanks, I'm taking a real liking to keeping these catz...would it be wise to get a red tailed catfish. Apparenty they grow very big.

[MatsP]

Thanks, I'm taking a real liking to keeping these catz...would it be wise to get a red tailed catfish. Apparenty they grow very big.

I don't think the climate in South Africa is warm enough to keep a fish above 22 degrees C consistantly throughout the year - you will need a pond that is about 6m long, 3m wide and a couple of meters deep [that's the "at least" numbers], and held above 22 degrees. So if you think you can do that, then fine. If you don't think "that's not going to be a problem", then go ahead and get a Red Tailed Catfish [I'm assuming we're talking the South American one:

Phractocephalus hemioliopterus

] - and if you can do that, I'd say you can probably search for one that needs to be "rescued", as there are usually quite a few large ones around.

--
Mats

[phenix]

The one I'm considering is about 2" long and I've got a 1.2m tank.

[MatsP]

The one I'm considering is about 2" long and I've got a 1.2m tank.

It is 2" now, 4" in half a years time, and a year from there it will probably be around 6-10" and starting to reach a size unsuitable for a 1.2m tank - it will (given good care and no accidents) reach over a meter in total length, and (again subject to good care and no accidents) live for over 50 years. One of the members here, Dorad (Chris Ralph,) reported having seen one with the head missing in a market-stall in South America, and it was 1.5 meter (5ft). A head would certainly be about 40 cm, so it wouldn't be far off 2m long.

They are completely unsuitable for aquaria of the regular kind - they need a fairly large pond, and if you are not in a reasonably warm climate, the pond needs to be heated.

I saw one a few days ago in a public aquarium, and it was about 1 meter long.

--
Mats