Name of Catfish

[jd67]

[attachment=1] Just require these but don't know names.

[Suckermouth]

#1 is a

Synodontis

of some sort. I think a better picture might be needed, but I'm no Syno expert.

#2 is not a catfish. It appears to be a Labeo species such as the black shark or a red tailed black shark.

#3 looks like

Hemibagrus wyckioides

or

Hemibagrus wyckii

, although wait a little and someone will probably ID it.

[Richard B]

pic 1 is a riverine synodontis
pic 2 is a black shark (not a catfish) Labeo chrysophekadion
pic 3 is the highly aggressive asian red tail catfish

Hemibagrus wyckioides

How big is the tank? the black shark gets huge & the Asian RTC should not be kept with anything else & gets huge too

[jd67]

Tank is 3'x21"x12 Bought tank already set up with these fish. There is a smaller fish bronze colour it hides most of the time unable to get decent picture. I notice the 2 larger fish keep swiming with mouths gasping. Temp and oxygen okay. I s this normal?

[Richard B]

any pic of the unknown fish will be better than none. The black shark & asian RTC are not suitable at all for such a small tank & the syno depending on species might get too big. Have you checked the nitrates? The swimming with mouths gasping is not a good sign - how big are the fish at the moment? What filtration is there?

[MatsP]

That is far too small a tank for all but, perhaps, the Synodontis (since we don't know what it is from your current pictures beyond the genus, it may grow large or stay small - there is really no way to tell).

The Hemibagrus CERTAINLY would need a MUCH larger tank eventually - it may be OK now, if it's less than about 6". Anything bigger, and you really need a bigger tank. The ultimate size of the Hemibagrus is nearly a meter, which if we go by the usual rule of 4L x 2L x 2L, you need an 16000 liter (approx 4000 gal) tank to keep it. It's likely that it will take a little while to get that big, and if it's been kept in a poorly maintained tank for a long time, it may not reach it's full potential ever. But it should get to at least 18"/45cm, probably more like 24"/60cm - which means you need a tank of around 1500-2500 liter to keep the fish in. It's probably best to try to find it a home before it's too big, in my opinion.

--
Mats

[jd67]

I have the FLUVAL 204 filter If the asian red tail catfish Hemibagrus wyckioides was removed would the other 2 be okay together. What do I use if it is a lack of nitrates? I am new to fish keeping.

[Richard B]

I have the FLUVAL 204 filter If the asian red tail catfish Hemibagrus wyckioides was removed would the other 2 be okay together. What do I use if it is a lack of nitrates? I am new to fish keeping.

I would get rid of the black shark too as these get too big & are territorial.

Nitrates need to be removed as the build up of these cause problems - this is accomplished by filtration & partial water changes - it would be advisible to get a test kit or have your water checked by a lfs so you know what the levels are.

[MatsP]

How long has that filter been running on that tank and with the stock it's got now - it is possible that the filter is not mature. I'd say it's more likely that ammonia or nitrite is causing breathing problems than nitrate.

There are products that claim to remove nitrate, but they are either fairly expensive or fairly ineffecient for large fish that produce a lot of waste. Plants will help to a small degree, but in the end, unless your water rates are stupidly high (not likely in the UK - and I take it you are from Northern Ireland [Home town of Joey Dunlop if my brain is still funcitoning]), changing a large amount of water each week is the most effective way to keep the nitrate at sane levels.

--
Mats

[jd67]

I'm live in Ballymoney Joey and Robert Dunlop's town. Robert was killed last year at NW200
If I was able to sell the larger fish what could I sell them for?
Thanks to everyone for their help. Will do another water and filter change. I maybe should have started with smaller communial tank.

[MatsP]

You could try to sell them, but it's likely that you won't be able to find a buyer very easily. My suggestion is that you find a local fish shop that is willing to take them on - I wouldn't expect to get anything, because it's unlikely that they shop will find a suitable keeper very quickly, but at least they should be able to house them for a bit.

"used" fish are rarely "valuable".

--
Mats