Right havnt updated this in ages
Well you were Right Martin he is an Ageneiosus Marmoratus. There nocturnal hunting catfish and when I got him he was very predatory. Wouldn't touch anything that wasn't live and was basically refusing dry or frozen food. It wasn't a case of He'l eat when he gets really hungry its a case. Of He'l starve himself to death. Anyway after a good talk with Richard from wharf aquatics (top bloke) in Nottingham we came up with a feeding regime so I could ween him off live onto dry food. first stage was a few weeks of earth worms these were good food for him and cause they wriggled about he took to them very well. After getting him on them comfortably I moved onto frozen white bait. Still fish just not as live as he's used to. Anyway after a month of eating them I bought some dry food called Massivore pellets. There specially designed for carnivorous Catfish. There not cheap but full of the vitamins and nutrients he needs. He didn't take to them straight away but A few good water changes and a 2 day starve period soon worked his appetite up. Anyway he now cleans them up when the lights are off and I'm
In bed so I'm happy.
A few people believe keeping a carnivorous fish on live food is the best way but doing this has a few downsides. Mainly it's a pain having to keep live fish stocked as well as expensive unless you can breed a good amount of guppies tetra etc but also dry food has more nutrients in it so in my opinion this is the best way.
now for those who don't know much about these they are little gits. There not like normal fish that will swim around all day and come greet you when your near the tank etc they literally stop dead in the day. Mine doesn't move at all. There also tricksters. Iv found mine upside down on its back, tangled in plants, vertical nose down etc. at first I kept worrying he was dead and kept putting end of nets near him etc and he suddenly shoots off now iv just learned and accepted this is the way he is. Those people who want a nice thing to look at all day this isn't the fish for you but TRUST ME when I say this I'm amazed by him. At night after a good water change I often switch all the lights off in the house, turn the special red light iv set up in his tank on and watch him swim around unknowingly that I'm watching him. There brilliant to watch. He just floats on the spot with just his tail wiggling its so gracious.
Iv been tirelessly searching for another marmoratus to go in with him but there pretty rare and hard to get of things so havnt had any success yet the closest iv came is 2 days ago Wharf aquatics got me in an Ageneiosus Vittatus but it's only 4" so the partition iv made is in to seperate the 2 till the Vittatus grown or he will become dinner. But iv just bought a Sorubim Lima catfish to go in with him for now to keep him company as these move in a similar way I'm hoping the marmoratus will join him in moving around soon as its nice to have a friend
His tanks been filled with plants as the guys on Planet catfish forum advised me He'l like them as well as doubling up on filters and a nice big air rock as he likes plenty of air. He often sits on the air rock in the day and doesn't move. Iv ordered some frogbit from a lad on here tonight too to provide a bit of shelter from the bright lights in the day. Basically the whole tanks designed around him to keep him happy now.
also his fin has healed nicely And very quickly since that pic was taken you'd never know now it's perfectly back to normal so thanks for the advice on that one. I'm on iPhone at the min so when I get home il upload some nice and close pics of him for you all to see.
The point in this post was to provide as much info iv learned about this guy as possible so if someone else ever gets one and doesn't know anything about him like what happened to me this will hopefully help out
cheers guys
Steve
