Catfish Troubles

I recently and unexpectedly got an Asian bumblebee catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) from my bio teacher, who didn't have room for it. I offered to take him because I've been looking for a 5-6 inch bottom feeder, anyways. Now, I'm wondering if he's the best fish for this tank.

He shares the 30 gallon bowfront with a pair of angelfish (around 3-4 inches long) and 5 pristella tetras. I found out that he is nocturnal, and he spends the whole night zipping around the tank.

Since he showed up the angels' fins have been deteriorating. I've stepped up the water changes, but there hasn't been any improvement. Their upper fins are half-gone, the lower fins look ragged, and their tails and pelvic fins are missing chunks. Also, the male has some pink, raw-looking spots on his "hump," almost like he was bitten. Is the catfish harassing them in the night? It looks like it to me. What can I do about it?

I certainly like him. He's lovely, around 5 inches long, and brown with pretty golden stripes and big blue eyes. His face is adorable, and he makes little "nom nom" movements with his mouth. He behaves himself during the day, and it's fun to watch him zoom around the tank when the lights go off, but I want my other fish to be safe, too. Will I have to find a new home for him? :helpsmilie:

 

Sorry for the double post. I'm bumping the thread so I can get a faster reply, I'd rather not wait until my angels' fins are damaged even more.

 

HI Minnow, I was reading a little about your catfish. Very pretty markings, everything I've read says they can be very predatory after you turn the lights out. Not only going after small fish, but larger ones also.
It's recommended that you feed them really well, which might help diminish the hunting at night.

Here's some info about them: Pseudomystus siamensis

Hope that helps a bit. If he continues to harass your angels, you might want to think about rehoming him.
Good luck.

 

The Asian bumblebee is a bit more aggressive than the SA bumblebee catfish which is what I once had in my tank with Angels. The SA Bumblebee did not bother them, but I have heard of the aggressive nature of the Asians.
IMO I would return the catfish or find a new home for it. They do grow to about six inches and your tank may not be best suited for it. With the damage it is causing your Angelfish which IMO is extensive, I would not wait til it killed the Angel or other fish in your tank either right out or due to secondary infections which can be caused by the damage.
Best of luck with your decision.

 

Thanks for the replies. I had seen somewhere that it was carnivorous, I didn't know that extended to hunting down other fish. It looks like I'll have to rehome him, I hope I can find someone to take him. I'm really worried about my angels, would it be a good idea to move the catfish to a 10 gallon quarantine tank until I can rehome him?

Also, I'm not sure what to feed him. I've been giving him HikarI sinking wafers, but I don't know if that's meaty enough for him. Should I try frozen bloodworms? How much should I feed him? I've been going by the stomach = eye rule, I don't know he needs more food than that.

 

Since he seems like he's doing that much damage to your angels, it would probably be a good idea to go ahead and move him to the 10.
The angels will have less stress, which in turn will help them heal quicker.
Since he's a carnivore, giving him meaty foods, frozen blood worms, brine shrimp etc would be a good idea.
I wonder if perhaps that is part of his problem, not getting enough of the right kinds of foods?

 

Okay, I'm going to set up the 10 gallon now. Hopefully the angels will heal soon, they're not looking too good right now.

How many bloodworms should I give him? Would half a cube be good, or maybe a whole cube?

 

How many bloodworms should I give him? Would half a cube be good, or maybe a whole cube?

Sorry Minnow, I really don't have any idea. My largest fish is a betta.

 

I think I'll start out with a whole cube, and if there's still some left over in the morning, I'll feed him less tomorrow night.

I set up the 10 gallon in my sister's room. She really likes the catfish, and this way she can enjoy him for a little longer until I find him a new home.

 

I think I'll start out with a whole cube, and if there's still some left over in the morning, I'll feed him less tomorrow night.

I set up the 10 gallon in my sister's room. She really likes the catfish, and this way she can enjoy him for a little longer until I find him a new home.

IMO a whole cube is too much bloodworms for your catfish at once. You can try 1/4 - maybe a half cube instead, that should be plenty for him to eat.

 

I think you're right. I gave him a whole cube last night, he ate around half of it. I'll feed him less in the future.

He tried jumping several times in the night, I covered all the openings in the hood so he wouldn't jump out.

My sister may end up keeping him, it depends on whether or not my parents agree to a 20 gallon tank for him. If we do keep him, are there any tank mates he won't eat? I was thinking maybe tiger barbs or something.

 

Minnow's sister here, with update on Tricking Fish. He is staying with me for sure, and we got him his 20 gallon on Saturday--since we used the old filter and such the cycle's done, so Clever Fish is all set. He prolly won't be getting any tank mates, and he seems rather happy with all the space to himself. He hides through the day, but I can see him darting all over the place at night. He liked moving all of his "furniture" around in the 10g, but he hasn't been doing it with the sand substrate now.