Bumblebee Catfish? Dwarf Or Not?

[StatMan]

When I bought a secondhand tank it came with a few in habitants one was a bumblebee catfish.

I have seen reference to a dwarf bumblebee catfish microglanis also a siamese bbc which appears to resemble my guy, from infromation given he is 9-12 months older than when bought from the shop, probably a large pet chain.

Can some one please help id the fish below.

Thanks

Statman

 

[smegforbrains]

Looks like the Asian Bumblebee Cat. They grow to about 3" - 3.5".


The othere Bumblebee Cat is the South American, which grows to around 7" - 8".

 

[ahodge84]

Looks like the Asian Bumblebee Cat. They grow to about 3" - 3.5".


The othere Bumblebee Cat is the South American, which grows to around 7" - 8".

I think you have them reversed. Here is a page on the SA variety: [URL="http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=91"]http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=91[/URL]

Asian variety: [URL="http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=134"]http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=134[/URL]

African variety: [URL="http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=147"]http/www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=147[/URL]

Obviously, the African one is definitely out. I think you have an Asian bumblebee. So, you're looking at about 6".

 

[StatMan]

Many Thanks ahodge and smeg

I guess I am what you can all a foster parent, this fish came with the tank (Tetra Aquart 60L) , along with a Silver Gourami now 5", golden gourami 3" and 2 silver tip tetras (one died shortly after) but I found a shop with some reasonalbly sized speciemens so the remaining one is leader of the pack of 6.

I have a few more questions if you or other can answer them

Cave

The tank came with a couple of features a large false rock with several holes in which I intend to keep, and a ship with holes in which I would rather lose, not into fake looking objects in the tank. So I have introduced a 9" long 3" diameter piece of bamboo which I had hoped the cat would show some interst in, unfortunately I have not seen it go there yet. The cat spends about 75% of its time (daylight when I am in that room) hanging from the rock, will venture around the tank in brief sessions and when food is dropped do a quick hoover around the floor of the tank. Occasionally in the ship 20%.

The tank came with some gravel that is fairly grubby, I plan to do a tank clean, at that time I would like to remove the ship. As this is currently the cat's cave I was thinkging of putting the bamboo in the container I house them in while cleaning and not re-introduce the ship. I note on the comments on the pages above it talks about an all dark cave, to make the bamboo work for the bumblebee should I try blocking one end or at least have it going front to back so that one end will face the back of the tank which has a backdrop on it rather than being open?

I read some where else on this forum that changing their "comfort zone" can cause stress and I would like to avoid that the Bamboo has been in the tank for 3 weeks already so it would not be unusaul to them and they may have explored it at night

Suitable accomodation? Safe to make the switch?

Plants

Regularly, at least twice a week I find large pieces of plants in the tank bitten off and floating on th surface of the tank, is ths typical behaviour of the cat or is this more likely the gouramis?

Tank Size

At the moment this tank seems a suitable size for the cat, do you think it will be ok as it grows to maturity?

Adding Guppies/Platties

One of the reasons for getting this tank was that we could select some of the live bearer fry that our first tank had and let them grow to maturity.

Would this fish pose a threat to Juvenilles ~ 2 months if they were to be introdcued to this tank.



I know his is a relatively long post with a few questions but I am new to this and want to do things right. Any help that can be provided with the above questions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ahodge84]

In regard to your cave, ship, and bamboo, I think as long as you provide cover you should be fine. A little shifting of the environment shouldn't be harmful. I wouldn't worry too much about an entirely dark cave. It sounds like your bumblebee doesn't mind daylight much at all. But if you decide to get something darker, you should be able to find something cheap at a local pet store.

As for the size of the tank and that of the fish, I would say that you will be cutting it close. Personally, I think that a bigger tank would be better for a fish that gets up to 6", but if you take proper care of the tank, it will be fine. Also, you just have to avoid putting many more fish in there. On that note, about your fry, I can't give you a definite answer on that as I have had no experience with the Asian variety and their temperament. My inclination would be, since they are catfish, to let the fry get a little larger before you put them in that tank.

As for the plant, I can again give no definite answer because I have owned neither fish. But, to me, that does not sound like a catfish activity. My inclination is that the gouramis are doing it.

I hope this helped. Good luck with the new fish!

 

[StatMan]

ahodge thanks for the reply.

I did the clean up this afternoon/evening.

Cat seems to have found the bamboo with the ship removed and seems to be using it. I have put it going front to back at about a 7 O'clock angle. close to the back panel which allows access frnt and back but also makes the back end fairly dark.

Only problem during the clean was a flying gourami on return had coverd the net and moved very quickly, when I put the net into the water after a second it made a flying leap and landed on the back of the tank near the hinge. fortunatley it wrigged and fell back in within a couple of seconds. Just need to keep an eye on them!

Appreciate your advice.

StatMan

 

[ahodge84]

ahodge thanks for the reply.

I did the clean up this afternoon/evening.

Cat seems to have found the bamboo with the ship removed and seems to be using it. I have put it going front to back at about a 7 O'clock angle. close to the back panel which allows access frnt and back but also makes the back end fairly dark.

Only problem during the clean was a flying gourami on return had coverd the net and moved very quickly, when I put the net into the water after a second it made a flying leap and landed on the back of the tank near the hinge. fortunatley it wrigged and fell back in within a couple of seconds. Just need to keep an eye on them!

Appreciate your advice.

StatMan

No problem, StatMan. I am glad to hear that the adjustment worked out well and that the cat seems to like it. And close call with the gourami - but nice save! Enjoy your beautiful cat!