Asian catfish book for the advanced hobbyist?

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 29 Jan 2003, 13:29

you people are very well informed!
do you perhaps know the release date of "Welse-Atlas" no#2 by Mergus??
I'm waiting for this one, as it will describe loads of Ancistrinae, probably with a ton of breeding recipes like #1.
Actually I bought that one, not knowing it was just loricariids; I sort of hoped it would be an all-wels-book by the Mergus-men (Riedl & Baensch). It was an expensive 'mistake' but now I enjoy the book, although I haven't got any pleco's except for common bristlenoses and 4 Panaquolus LDA01's (hence me wanting no#2; anything on these beasties...)

I HOPE they will do a book like that on the Mochokidae!!!!!

Post by **Dinyar** » 29 Jan 2003, 15:19

SG_Eurystomus wrote:you people are very well informed!!

Much more so than the rabble on the Cîchlid Forum, don't you agree?:D But we welcome knowledgable defectors (like you)!

SG_Eurystomus wrote:I HOPE they will do a book like that on the Mochokidae!!!!!

We're waiting for YOU to write that one, Sid!

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 29 Jan 2003, 18:55

I noticed that the German aquarium literature circle has an inordinate fondness for loricariids and callichthyids (they also slightly favor large pims). Don't think there'll be a book by them out on African/Asian cats soon, given the fact that they don't ever seem to be done with the groups I just mentioned (they'll probably spend the rest of the time producing an update to the loricariid or callichthyid books once they're done publishing all of 'em). I get the impression that they consider loricariids and callichthyids to represent 80% of all catfish diversity (which they don't BTW).
Even then, they manage to badly misidentify a fair number of Old World cats in their current publications. I generally take a dim view of the German aquarium literature and buy the books only for the nice pictures. Even then, the Japanese are surpassing them in terms of picture quality.
I actually started writing a book on Malaysian catfishes, but I have let the project lapse for the lack of time and perceived lack of interest by the general audience out there (plus, I'm lousy at taking photos).
Just my cynical 0.02.

Achim · Post by **Achim** » 29 Jan 2003, 21:11

I noticed that the German aquarium literature circle has an inordinate fondness for loricariids and callichthyids (they also slightly favor large pims).
Don't think there'll be a book by them out on African/Asian cats soon, given the fact that they don't ever seem to be done with the groups I just mentioned (they'll probably spend the rest of the time producing an update to the loricariid or callichthyid books once they're done publishing all of 'em). I get the impression that they consider loricariids and callichthyids to represent 80% of all catfish diversity (which they don't BTW).

The problem is, that only very less asian catfish are imported. Kryptopterus minor, Pangasius, some Mystus and thats it. Other s.e.a. catfish are only rarely seen at pet-shops and importers. For example i try to get some male Olyra longicaudata for some months now and can't get some. Same is true for Auchenipterids, Trichomyterids (i have never seen even one for sale in years) and many other groups. When i was still in school i collected a lot of papers about Trichomycterids, because i always wanted to keep and breed those fish (I think Trichomycterus Ituglanis and all the other non-parasitic T. would make great aquarium fish). In the end i gave up, because u can't get any of those fish at local dealers.
The mainly imported catfishes are Callichthyids and Loricariids (which are imported because they are popular, which makes them more popular because they are the only fish many ppl know and keep, which makes them more wanted a.s.o.) and as long as that doesn't change most of the (aquaristic) publications will deal with those fishes because noone (except us

would buy a book about Astoblepids, Austroglanidids or Akysids ;).
Unfortunatly there is a lot of crap on the german book market simply because catfishes (or lets say Calli-cariidae;)) became popular in the early 90's.
<sarcasm> Especially that miserable L-Number boom focused the average aquarist to those gaudy and valuable fish. A lot of people buy those fashionable "L-Numbers" to increase their reputation and not because they are really interested (Look! I got an L46 !! Im cool!). They need picture books (like that (imo) horrible Aqualog) and the book-industry produces them.</sarcasm>
Another reason for the popularity of those groups is that they have the reputaion of being "breedable" where as Synos, Bagrids, Doradis etc. have the reputation of being "unbreedable", which of course isn't true. Breeding is very popular here and many people loose interest if they see no chance in breeding the fish they keep.

Even then, they manage to badly misidentify a fair number of Old World cats in their current publications.

I think all aquarium books got that in common. Many new world cats are misidentified as well, although it became better in pretentious aquarium literture the last few years. But its worse with Old Wolrd cats because of their lower popularity. Many authors just copy what authors before wrote and don't take the time to read scientific papers and identify the species themselves (or at least try to...). So the common Ancistrus for example is still often misidentified as "Ancistrus dolichopterus".
Nevertheless there are some (imo) good books. For example (in the meantime out-of-date, but still a good book) "Welskunde" by H.J. Franke who unfortunatly died some years ago.
But we lack some good aquaristical publications about asian and african catfishes, you are right about that.

Well, thats at least my point if view.

I actually started writing a book on Malaysian catfishes, but I have let the project lapse for the lack of time and perceived lack of interest by the general audience out there.

Really a pity. Im would be the first one to buy it

Greetings... Achim

Post by **Silurus** » 29 Jan 2003, 21:19

Achim and others,

The general feeling I get from the forum is that there may be enough of you out there actually interested in an Asian catfish book (or at least one in which the identifications would be as accurate as possible).
I'm thinking of resurrecting the stalled catfish book project and possibly increasing the geographic scope (I initially chose Malaysia because of the relatively small number of catfishes involved). I may need some help from you guys out there (I think at some point I got Shane interested, but I welcome anyone else to chip in) to do this (since I cannot claimed to have kept every single Asian cat). Why don't we take this off forum (email me) and we can see where this develops.

Post by **Shane** » 29 Jan 2003, 23:17

Actually, the book idea is one that we should get back to. I think that between what Heok Hee and I have already written there is a book. I worked on my bagrid book for some years and then it fell by the wayside. Now I am trying to finish up my Venezuela book and that is getting put off as well. Work here is just too busy for me to have much time to write.

@Heok Hee, Took the Land Rover in and had a ladder mounted for easier access to the roof rack. I also added some big fog lights for night driving to the brushguard (BTW the Colombian word for brushguard is "mataburro" or "donkey killer"

). They ordered a snorkel for the truck which will be installed next month. Now we will be able to drive anywhere we want in the Magdalena!

Post by **Silurus** » 30 Jan 2003, 00:33

Shane,

Cool. Can't wait to hit the streams. It's been a long time (too long) since I was last out in the field, getting bit by insects, stung by catfish, sucked on by leeches.
On a more forum-related topic, I was wondering how you would feel if I asked forum members with experience in Asian cats to contribute to the book. What I've written is badly out of date and may need considerable revising. Between the two of us, we've covered most, but not all of the Asian cats and I think with our collective knowledge and experience, we can produce a book that will be the talk of the catfish world for years to come.
Also, things have fallen so far on the wayside that I've forgotten the original scope of the book. I am thinking a book on Southeast Asian cats would be nice...
Now the only problem is getting someone to publish it...
What say you?

Post by **Dinyar** » 30 Jan 2003, 01:22

Heok Hee, Shane,

FWIW, I'd recommend making it an ASIAN catfish book rather than Malaysian or even SE Asian. The audience will not be huge even with Asian, and will get smaller from there. Just my 2¢.

Besides, that way we will have more interesting countries and rivers to visit!:D

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 30 Jan 2003, 01:46

Well, my primary concern with making it an Asian catfish book is how poorly represented Chinese catfish species are in the aquarium trade.
I am also not confident of identifying many Indian cats as their taxonomy in many cases is one huge horrible mess.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 30 Jan 2003, 15:38

Despite the fact that I have only a few Asians now at home, you can already keep THREE copies apart if it ever comes in existence!
one for me
one for Pectorale (who's my friend & companion in the catfisharea)
one for my cousin (who gave me the bugin 1974 and still keeps catfishes too; that big Angelicus I've had, for example)

keep up!

btw I'm in Africa next summer if all goes to plan; visiting Malawi & Tanganyika, and you can COUNT on me sticking my snorkled head in any piece of water; if the crocs let me.

jscoggs27 · Post by **jscoggs27** » 30 Jan 2003, 17:36

Please please please do the book thing. Asian cats rule. Im afraid I couldnt help much , only with encouragement!!!
One good book available on the shelves could even mean more imports!!!!

jason

Post by **Silurus** » 30 Jan 2003, 21:37

At Dinyar's suggestion, I split this off from the "New catfish book due in May 2003" posting in the Speak Easy Forum as the thread was starting to go off on a tangent and subsequent postings would be more relevant here.
Still waiting to hear from you asian cat fans out there about the viability of this project.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 15 Sep 2003, 18:52

Is this idea living?

Post by **Silurus** » 15 Sep 2003, 18:57

It's still at the back of my mind, albeit in a more scaled-down version (I am now thinking of a book just on bagrids for starters).
I pitched the idea to Shane and I am waiting for him to get back to me once he has more time on his hands.
Achim is helping me with translating several articles and I have managed to get hold of a little bit more literature on bagrid biology (not all of which seems relevant to aquarists).
So, it's coming along, but very very slowly...

Post by **Dinyar** » 15 Sep 2003, 19:29

Perhaps the idea lives but the brave author of this book that may sell <100 copies (all to subscribers of this forum, probably) is yet to be born.

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 15 Sep 2003, 19:34

Well, I've explained that I wasn't in it for the money. Jools gave me an excellent idea when he offered to host the publication (as a pdf file) on PC. Something the likes of the Vires book online (but of a higher quality).
Maybe we can set things up such that people wishing to download the book have to pay a nominal fee to do so (consider it as the "purchase" of the book), with all proceeds going to PC.
This might end up consuming a lot more bandwidth, but if the book more than pays for itself, I think it's well worth it.

wayne the pain · Post by **wayne the pain** » 16 Mar 2004, 13:21

any more news on the book idea?any information on asian catfishes would be great,surely there must be catfish lovers all over the world just waiting for such a publication.

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Mar 2004, 13:56

Hold on to your horses. Achim and I are working something out, and we should have an announcement out sometime in May.

Post by **medaka** » 18 Mar 2004, 22:42

i hope your going to include hara's and erethistes species in this book and a luguvia in for good measure

Asian catfish book for the advanced hobbyist?

asian cat book