Dwalla (?) Cats

[nvcichlids]

My local fish store has a catfish that was labeled as an Dwalla or Dbwalla ( not exactly sure) catfish. They resemble the glass cats, only silver with black stripes. They are a very active midwater swimmer. Anyone know of this species, or know what I am talking about?

NV


- Hope this is posted in the correct section-

[Silurus]

Pareutropius buffei

?

[Dave Rinaldo]

Maybe a misspelling of debauwi

Pareutropius debauwi

From

Pareutropius buffei

....

Most often these catfish are imported and sold as P. debauwi, often leading to an alternative common name of ''debauwi cats''. This isn't accurate however. The true P. debauwi is rarely imported and has several distinguishing features. P. buffei has three body stripes, the lower is broken around the pelvic fins and a stripe or spot on each of the caudal fin lobes. P. debauwi on the other hand has one body stripe and clear caudal fin lobes. These are not very good identification parameters however, as telling the two fish apart requires adult fish. Fish less than 30mm or so in length of both species do not have all of these features, for example often young P. buffei have clear caudal fins and a greatly diminished lower stripe.

[Birger]

Was there not a Dwalla Tribe in west africa, Senegal or Ivory Coast something like that...not even sure how I know that, I will have to look into it.

But it does sound like you are describing P.buffei as stated in the posts above.

[nvcichlids]

Yep those are them! I think they are simply beautiful and one of the few fish that ALWAYS catches my eye when I go there (they have hundreds upon hundreds of tanks...) Does anyone here have experiences with them? I will go do some reading on them now that I know what they are, but do they mix well with other continents, or with the lake cich lids of africa?

[Richard B]

Don't mix with lake cichlids!

They need to be kept in a large group to thrive & are a peaceful species which can be kept in general communities with non-aggressive species. Best kept in tanks with a few heavily planted areas but some expanses of open water. If they are moping around on the bottom there's something wrong as they are active usually

[nvcichlids]

Hmm.. That is good info .. Thanks! So they can be kept with other peaceful, NON aggressive species?

[andywoolloo]

I have been looking for those same fish for a long time! Nice find!

[Jools]

Hmm.. That is good info .. Thanks! So they can be kept with other peaceful, NON aggressive species?

Absolutely. I've kept them in well planted tanks as a community fish with no problems. Keep at least 6, double that is better.

Jools

[Richard B]

Hmm.. That is good info .. Thanks! So they can be kept with other peaceful, NON aggressive species?

Absolutely. I've kept them in well planted tanks as a community fish with no problems. Keep at least 6, double that is better.

Jools

I totally agree - 6 would be an absolute minimum, & a bigger shoal is very impressive & they'll feel more comfortable. I suspect in the wild the shoals are in hundreds???

[nvcichlids]

I know its been a while in this topic, but will these cats do well in a cool water tank (60-75 degrees) ?

[Silurus]

Maybe at 75, but not any lower, I think.

[sidguppy]

I've kept these in the not too distant past and at one time I forgot to put the heater back on after a waterchange

didn't loose a single fish, but the sluggishness of the Paretropius was the most obvious sign to check the tank.

below 22-23'C they get real torpid and they like warm water, 26-28'C.

that;s why they make excellent tankmates for fish like Synodontis nigriventris, Mochokiella paynee, Pelvicachromis, nanochromis, Steatocranus and the like; all fish that prefer temperatures ranging from at least 24'C but better 26' C and up.

you have to convert those numbers into fahrenheit, I'm allergic to non metrics

[nvcichlids]

I'm allergic to non metrics

LMAO, thanks for the quick responses guys.

[Birger]

I generally keep mine at 74 F or slightly higher and they are fine but I would not take them much lower.

Birger