Columbian Catfish?

[CourtneyAnn]

Ok, so I'm not exactly new to fish. I've had successful semi-aggressive tanks over the past 3-4 years. I saw these little guys labeled as silver-tipped sharks when I was picking up some activated carbon. I don't normally buy fish on a whim, but with a some quick research the next day I went in and purchased the two. Unfortunately they didn't last more than 24 hrs. I immediately tested my water quality and everything came up clean. I know as adults these guys need a brackish environment, but from what I had read a freshwater environment is fine for juveniles. I do like the way they look and would like to give them another try, but I would love some good advice first, so this doesn't happen again. Thanks!

 

[CourtneyAnn]

As a side-note, there were two of them, and they were in my quarantine tank. (A ten-gallon well-established tank that I use for new fish, where they live for a week in case they have something going on; illness, fungal, etc.). They were alone in there.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Am not sure why they died, could have just been the store you got them from. Were they in freshwater or brackish at the store?
 
All I know about them is they get big and so need big tanks. I'd caution against going for more unless you can provide that for them.

 

[CourtneyAnn]

Freshwater at the store. I was going to slowly acclimate them to brackish water as they got older. I have large aquariums set up, I just use a ten gallon to quarantine new fish for a week before popping them in with my others in case they are carrying something.

Any suggestions as to what I could do in the future? I don't want to try again until I have more advice on what to do.

 

[CourtneyAnn]

I'm thinking big like 2 or 3 in a 75 gallon brackish as adults with a few other fish. Just wanted to double check that that's the right size.

 

[Lillefishy]

There are several threads on the brackish board, have a search for them, here's one
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/333629-columbian-sharks/

 

[CourtneyAnn]

Thank you! I'll definitely have a look!