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Platystacus!

Posted: 27 Jan 2005, 19:15
by sidguppy
Now the main question is:
Platystacus is a brackish species or a true freshwater species?

I can lay my hand on some, and it's very tempting; since I never had this fish (even never seen it alive, for that matter!).
A few more questions:
-is it fragile? (like Phractura, Amarailia or other "unkeepable" critters) or is it a fish that is keepable under normal conditions?
pH 6,5-7,5
T 22-25'C
GH 7-9
oxygeneted water
plants, fine sand and bogwood
food: everything you can name here and a few things more.
tankmates Corydoras, Pimelodus pictus, Amphilius, Danio, Sturisoma etc?

suitable or a big NO?

Posted: 27 Jan 2005, 19:21
by Silurus
You can keep them in freshwater (as I did mine before the heater accident killed it). They are surprisingly tough (mine survived 20+ hours in a bottle in my luggage).

Make sure you provide a sandy substrate for them to burrow into.

Posted: 27 Jan 2005, 23:06
by sidguppy
There's a sandy substrate, very soft and fine riversand about 2" thick.

few plants on the floor, except a big Echinodorus; most other plants are rooted to the wood or floating.

Posted: 28 Jan 2005, 20:24
by sidguppy
I picked up a pair, they are GORGEOUS!

a very pretty, but very weird catfish.

I just took about 20 pics (they're vain; and like to pose :roll: ). Unfortunately shutterfly isn't usable anymore (they link, but don't show pics on the net anymore), so I have to find myself a new free host.

definitely a pair; the male has a nice white "shield" on his head and body, and very dark coloration; the female's chocolate-brown with a few mocca-like spots.
apart from their very different coloration, they're very similar; same proportions, almost the same size...

male 18 cm
female 19cm

they're very flat! not counting erect fins, like less than 1,5 cm at the thickets point.....

hope they like it; I'm going to do nightly feeds from now on.

It's been a loooong time, but there's weird and fantastic catfishes for sale again, over here.

:D :wink:

Image

Posted: 29 Jan 2005, 15:55
by sidguppy
KICK!

FYI
I just added a pick of my newest critters...