Enyone else got a giraffe nose cat like mine ?
Posted: 13 Aug 2005, 18:07
I have had this one for around 3 years now. 
The pattern is unusual, it might be a true Tanganyikan Auchenoglanis. any clue where it's from?
riverines often have the highly visible "net" pattern, like a Giraffe (name!), whereas Riftlake fish often show these spots instead.
maybe this is another species?
at least another variety.
maybe Riftlake Giraffenoses don't grow as fast, but they certainly reach similar sizes; I've seen pics of caught Giraffenoses wich were clearly close to 1 meter from Lake Tanganyika.
If it's a regular; must have been a too small tank then, because they usually grow to a MUCH larger size in 3 years!
this one's quite small for a 3 year old, compared to the Corydoras in the background. How long is it?
and what's the tanksize? esp the length of the tank?
a 3 year old "run-off-the-mill-Giraffe-cat" (given that it was bought as a 3-4" youngster, wich is the size they usually arrive as imports) should be at least 1 foot, but usually 40cm or more, if supplied with enough room and clean water.
Those should well be able to reach maturity (3/4 meter) 4-5 years from hatchling.
I've kept them too (the regular netted variety), so did Marc, mine is now in Dhonti's 1000L tank; and a baby Giraffe cat bought as a 3-4" (7-10cm) youngster reaches 1+ foot/12" (more than 30 cm) within 18 months, on a regular diet with plenty foodcompetition and not even weekly waterchanges.
