Gulper Catfish

[DaN98]

Hi , i recently starting looking into these guys.
I have read the planet catfish report and found out:
I know about sizes :11-14" Temp:25-29c Ph:5-7.0
Tank mates : Tank mates need to be atleast 3-4 inches bigger when both fully grown , or can be kept with on SP.
Diet:Prawns/Shrimp meaty foods and feed less as they get older.
Care:Easy/medium

All i need to know is:
Tank size
How to sex this fish .

Thanks ....

[Viktor Jarikov]

If you read the datasheet, you must have read the sexing section too on

Asterophysus batrachus

: "The leading rays of the male's anal fin are fused to form a urinogenital organ used (at least in related genera) in internal fertilization of the female. This modification of the anal fin does not manifest itself until the male is approaching adulthood."

For me, the rule is 4xL by 2xL by 2xL - the common rule of thumb. Most keepers report no activity from these cats except at the feeding time. Occasional keeper states that theirs are (semi)active and swim around some.

I understand you will not welcome this but I thought I'd say it anyway: tank mates must be considered very, very carefully. If curious why, I suggest going to the MFK's Catfish section and performing a forum search on "Gulper" and reading mind-blowing first hand accounts and seeing pics. Gulpers are able to kill and eat fish that even experienced fish keepers thought they never could. Also, try YouTube and "Gulper" - you will see with your own eyes too.

[arapaimag]

I keep 6 in a 273 litre tank. I bought them in May 2011 and placed them there for quarantine and they are still in the tank. I find that the less light the more active they are. So at night with just the slightest ambient lighting they all are actively swimming amongst the driftwood in their tank.

Tankmates are not recommended unless they are very large and non aggressive fish.

[Viktor Jarikov]

6" gulper eats 13" black arowana; 3" gulper eats 8" leichardi arowana http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... k-Arrowana

nice gulper write-up http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... 1-Viewing)

[Buddiechrist]

I had several gulpers rule of thumb for them ANY fish kept in same tank needs to be 3-4x larger length wise or at least 2x the width of mouth so a 4 inch gulper with a 2.5 inch wide mouth your fish needs to be 5 inches wide (not tall but wide) so it is IMPOSSIBLE for it to fit. Only down side to this is pick tank mates wisely I always suggest Niger cats, or ID sharks, something that won't eat the gulper.