Zamora Woodcat

[kalija]

My lfs has got some nice looking Zamora Woodcats in. I picked up three today. As expected they disapeared into the driftwood; but did come out to eat bloodworms just now and seem to be doing well. I am wondering if three is a good number for them, or if they would be more at ease in a larger group? They are in a 125 gallon with 3 L075 's; 6 Corydoras sterbai; one fully grown S. decora, and 12 Diamond tetras. I checked out the catelog but it didn't really mention group size, they did have 4 more at the store. Thanks!

[Viktor Jarikov]

Hey, fellow Rochesterian. IDK the direct answer. I've never had more than 1 but from what I see at the LFSs, they are greatly emboldened in numbers to the point of swimming around in dim light, care-free and stress-free in bare tanks. They look and behave comfortable to me and don't pile up in the corner or behind a sponge filter. It is actually quite a sight with ~20 of them swimming around. It's very pretty.

I tilt toward thinking that if it was one or few zamoras and a bunch of other dither fish, the effect would be lessened or nullified. Just a supposition.

[kalija]

HI Viktor! I remember your pics of the ponds you had here - very beautiful!
That is along the lines of what I was thinking - they were swimming quite out in the open and did not seem skittish at the store. I may have to get more of them and try it; I wanted to make sure the opinion was that they would not be aggressive towards each other but the more I am reading it does not seem like it at all.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Thanks!

I don't think they are aggressive to each other. And if they were, then the logic is usually the opposite: 2-3 are not good numbers; either 1 or at least half a dozen or more.

I've never seen a damaged zamora in a tank of just zamoras.

[Martin S]

Hi
If you have the space, why not go for 5. As with most auchenipterids, they are fairly easy to sex once they are a decent size - you can see a picture of the male's thickened anal fin on the species age (

Auchenipterichthys coracoideus

). Try and aim for a 2M/3F split.
My only concern would be scrapping for hiding places with the larger

Synodontic decorus

.
HTH
Martin

[kalija]

Thanks Martin - I am going to try to stop in there tomorrow and geta couple more. They are pretty small, and I couldn't tell which were male/female in the store - I will just have to hope for the best I guess! I don't think caves will be a problem - the decora has one hollow under a log that she calls home and no matter how many other caves / pipes I provide she won't use any of them; so there are many open for business so to speak. I have had her in this tank for 12 years and once she claimed that spot that was it for her. I am curious to see if a larger group will come out more - so far these do not seem to be hiding quite as much as I thought - I have seen them pop out in the open more than I expected. Thanks!

[Viktor Jarikov]

Sounds like an improvement over my one guy. I never see him in the day time/light, only during feeding in dim room lights. They are so cute when they feed. Like little maniacs.

[Bamboo]

If you're working with a 125 gallon , I'd get 20 Zamora Cats !!!!! Schooling around abunch of Diamond tetras along with a few Corydoras would look very pleasing to the eye