Tatia galaxias

[MatsP]

I was in one of my LFS's today, and saw T. galaxias at £12 each - looked like they were decent size considering max size in Cat-eLog is 90mm SL.

Anyone got any more info on them? I looked in the Cat-eLog and searched the forum, and very little came up, really.

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Mats

[fishfarmer]

I had some a few years back, these fish were not as shy as perugiae and when there is food in the tank they're right out after it. They were eating anything put in the tank, flake food, brine shrimp, blood worms. They bred a few times for me with two different styles. The first time and one later time they bred overnight and I found the eggs scattered around the tank. The eggs not adhesive by the time I found them. Two other times they bred and I found a ball of eggs (about 4-5 cm in diameter) very well stuck together. In all cases, I moved the eggs to a small hatching tank with aeration. The scattered eggs hatched well although the water tended to foul during the incubation and hatching stages and a slow water changing system was used to keep the water clean as below.

In the first case of the ball of eggs breeding, the ball seemed to decrease the water quality very quickly (hours of placing them in the small tank) and the hatch was lost in a matter of hours. On the next breeding occasion, the eggs were placed in a small tank within a larger tank and a slow flow of tank water into the small tank kept the water quality good and a good hatch was obtained. It appears that the adhesive the fish use to ball the eggs up decomposes within the first day or so and leads to water quality issues.

Steve

[Marc van Arc]

I was in one of my LFS's today, and saw T. galaxias at £12 each - looked like they were decent size considering max size in Cat-eLog is 90mm SL.

A good find if it's the true galaxias. Sure it's not intermedia? Over here these 2 species are mixed up constantly, that is: they're always intermedia

[MatsP]

Marc,

You are of course right - or at least, it's very likely you are right, becuase intermedia looks at least as much like the fish I saw as the T. galaxias does.

From what I can tell, the spots on the rear of the fish is more distinct in T. galaxias, and less distinct in T. intermedia. Also perhaps slightly more oblong spots in the T. intermedia - would that be a fair "id" key?

--
Mats

[Marc van Arc]

From what I can tell, the spots on the rear of the fish is more distinct in T. galaxias, and less distinct in T. intermedia. Also perhaps slightly more oblong spots in the T. intermedia - would that be a fair "id" key?

That's certainly true. Moreover, intermedia has off-white spots that will fade away eventually, while galaxias has white spots that remain clearly visible. Afaik galaxias hardly has any spots in the dorsal, while intermedia does have them. And I also think galaxias is more slender compared to intermedia.
I hope you're able to obtain genuine T. galaxias.

[MatsP]

I hope you're able to obtain genuine T. galaxias.

That would be nice, but it sounds from what you are saying that it may be a bit dificult to find them...

The T. intermedia are certainly in the shop right now under the T. galaxias incorrect ID - I have a feeling they have been there for a while (I seem to remember looking at them a while back, not knowing what they were at all - unless of course they sold the first batch and got another lot in - but I somehow don't think that's the likely case).

As Tatia goes, are they pretty much "average" fish, easy to keep, etc? Would they be good "starter" Auchtenpteridae?

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Mats

[Marc van Arc]

As Tatia goes, are they pretty much "average" fish, easy to keep, etc? Would they be good "starter" Auchtenpteridae?

Of course Auchenipteridae are never average ( ), but yes, I think they're not very difficult. You should take into account that they are not always visible (understatement), that they should have enough hiding spaces and - most important and pretty contradictory - you should see to it that they feed well, which might imply long nights in the first few weeks.
Very rewarding fish in my - biased - book.

[Mezel]

I'm still not convinced that mine are actualy Tatia galaxias, i got them under the name Galaxy Milky way cat. I googled the heck out of them and still haven't found many pictures, or information on the cats. I would really like if someone would post some pictures of a juvinile. Mine are an inch to an inch and a quarter, maby someone out there has had babys and took pictures. Would also like some idea on tank mates that may leave there eggs alone. I understand that more cats would make small work of any eggs ungarded, i am trying a graveyard theme.

[MatsP]

Have a look at

Tatia galaxias

and

Tatia intermedia

- those are the two most likely candidates.

Alternatively, if you take a photo of your fish (and yes, I know exactly how hard it can be to take pictures in complete darkness of fish that are either hyperactive or playing dead in some place you can hardly see).

--
Mats

[Martin S]

The MA closest to me has 'Tatia galaxias' in (again) and when I saw the label my heart skipped a beat! I asked the assistant to lift the wood to see the fish hiding, and was disappointed to see a selection of T. intermedia, various sizes and shades of brown but with the distinctive oval spots.
Someday they'll get the ID right!

[The.Dark.One]

The chances of seeing real galaxias are very slim IMO.

But as a bonus, at the Castleford Aquarst Society night Auction on Wednesday 16/2/11, there will be (amongst other catfish etc) for sale semi adult pairs of 'Tatia neivai' (as identified in the catelog).

[Martin S]

The chances of seeing real galaxias are very slim IMO.

But as a bonus, at the Castleford Aquarst Society night Auction on Wednesday 16/2/11, there will be (amongst other catfish etc) for sale semi adult pairs of 'Tatia neivai' (as identified in the catelog).

A bonus if, like you, you live close enough! I'm now really beginning to think I should look at moving closer, just because you always seem to get the really unusual auchenipterids!

[The.Dark.One]

LOL.

Actually, might be more of a bonus as I have just been photographing them and they aren't 'neivai', they are possibly another new 'form' of intermedia! Pics to follow in the thread i do for the auction is Speak Easy.

They are the same fish in the cat e log as T. jaracatia (although IMO they actually aren't jaracatia).

[Richard B]

@ Steve

Hope the other thread has details of possible other fish to be at the auction. I could well be tempted to make another trip!

[The.Dark.One]

Hi Richard, it will but so as not to keep you in suspense, In terms of known catfish so far it will be:

The Tatia mentioned above
Microglanis carlae
Panaqolus 'LDA01' (young)
Peppermint Ancistrus sp 'L181' (young)
Hypancistrus sp 'L066' (young)
Paraotocinclus jumbo LDA25
Green lazer Corydoras 'CW09'
Black aeneus Corydoras

[Martin S]

@Steve
Can we assume the tatia will most likely get to intermedia sizes?
I'm looking to upgrade my downgrade, and as I only have one of the T.gyrina left, I'm on the lookout for some more small auchenipterids.
Martin

[The.Dark.One]

@Steve
Can we assume the tatia will most likely get to intermedia sizes?
I'm looking to upgrade my downgrade, and as I only have one of the T.gyrina left, I'm on the lookout for some more small auchenipterids.
Martin

Hi

Yes, I thin we are talking 10cm plus tail. They look like neivai to me, but different

[The.Dark.One]

Hi. This is a poor shot of one of the males. They haven't coloured up properly yet. They are about 6-7 cm TL. Very deep caudal peduncle. Similar to the ones on clog ID as

Tatia jaracatia

(although I'm not certain that ID is correct). Similar to neivai as described (though not to the ones in the Tatia revision). Certainly not the fish identified on clog as neivai.