Denticetopsis seducta stocking?

[CatWhat]

I decided to go with some Denticetopsis seducta, just got to order them from the distributor next week. I was just wondering how many would be good in a 30 gallon? It's bare bottom, lots of driftwood and lots of flow.( 3 Aqua Clear HOB filters and 1 impeller creating current along the bottom ).Being catfish I am assuming they will take pretty much anything in terms of food? Would that be a good set up for these catfish? I'm hoping to get 8 or so because I would like to take a stab at breeding them, as I cannot find much on them. So I'm very interested in seeing these catfish action as I cannot find very much on them in general. Thanks for the help.

[sidguppy]

the tank is big enough for 8, it's a tiny fish.

as for food, if it's a bit like the bigger cetopsis then stuff like bloodworms, artemia, live plancton (daphnia etc) will be accepted

[racoll]

These guys aren't from the main river channels like

Cetopsis

. They come from small forest creeks.

Gentle water movement, yes, but blasting them with current might not be such a good idea.

I would definitely add a sand substrate, and maybe some floating plants and leaf litter too. See where they choose to hide.

Best to treat them like the smaller woodcats.

[CatWhat]

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I will go with some dark beachsand that I use in my african tanks. I like the idea of leaf litter on the bottom as well. I guess I could use the leaves of the tress that litter my pond every fall, they don't seem to bother the fish in there.

Also I was wondering if anyone knew where I might find some breeding info on these guys? Even just the spawning method.

Sidguppy, the catfish in your display pic looks a lot like a Denticetopsis seducta.

[racoll]

I guess I could use the leaves of the tress that litter my pond every fall, they don't seem to bother the fish in there.

Yes, as long as they are dead, dry and not poisonous they will be fine. Choose tough leaves like oak if you can, as these will last a lot longer. Don't dredge them from the pond though, as they will be partly decomposed, and you could introduce disease. It pays to presoak the leaves for a couple of days too.

Also I was wondering if anyone knew where I might find some breeding info on these guys? Even just the spawning method.

As far as I know, nothing is known at all about breeding these. I assume they are egg scatters that show no parental care. You could be one of the first people to breed a cetopsid!

There will be four key elements to getting a spawn, and this will be a good place to start:

(1) having males and females - obvious but important.
(2) getting them in perfect breeding condition with lots and lots of live foods.
(3) stopping them eating their own eggs - requires a tank with sufficient refuge for fry (e.g. plants, leaf litter, wood, stones etc).
(4) patience, and lots of it ...

[CatWhat]

So I should only put dried fallen leaves in my tank? Fresh leaves wouldn't be a good idea?
I figured that might be the case about breeding them, being the first that is. Well I'm hoping to having some what of a male to female ratio by getting 8-10, being that they are impossible to sex. The ones I will be getting are wild caught so hopefully I wont have much trouble with them taking frozen foods etc.. There isn't much for live foods in my area other then growing out brine shrimp myself. But I have had no trouble with catfish taking earth worms and meal womrs in the past, so I'll try them as well.

[racoll]

So I should only put dried fallen leaves in my tank? Fresh leaves wouldn't be a good idea?

Yes, only dead brown leaves. Fresh ones will be full of sap and sugars and may affect water quality. You will probably have to wait until Fall before you can get some. It pays to collect a load then, and save them.

here isn't much for live foods in my area other then growing out brine shrimp myself. But I have had no trouble with catfish taking earth worms and meal womrs in the past, so I'll try them as well.

Live food is very much a DIY thing. I notice again and again that the really successful breeders use a wide range of live food. Frozen is okay as a staple, but live gives you the edge.

Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) are good, but might be a little large for D. seducta. Compost worms (Eisenia fetida) would be better as they are smaller. If you have a compost heap/bin, they or something similar will be in there.

A lot of people culture aquatic blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus), which is relatively straightforward. You just need a spare small tank and an airstone.

Microworms are even easier, but are very small. Certainly worth a try though.

I have just set up a Daphnia colony in an old tank in the garden. Very little maintenance, but hopefully lots of live foods come summer.

Other users will have other ideas too. Let us know if you need any more details.

[Richard B]

The fish in Sid's avatar is the tanganyikan Phyllonemus typus

[CatWhat]

Ok, I got the tank decor set up, now just to order the cats in. I'm going to place the order monday and hopfully thy will get in sometime during the week. I put three nice sized peices of drift wood in the tank that have lots of notches and caves in them. Once the fish come in a settled I'll post some pics.