Sucking Catfish - Need Some Info Please

[Rhiannon]

I just brought a "sucking catfish". Well this is what they were called at the shop.

He is about 7cm long, sucking away at my tank as I type.

The girl said they can go in tropical and cold water. He has a really really big mouth.

Does anyone know much about them?

Is there another name for them?

Do they eat food from the bottom?

Do they need vegetables?

How long do they live?

How big do they grow?

Are the peaceful?

Here are some pics of him

Thanks

 

[nurglespuss]

That looks like some kind of loach to me...

Did you not research the fish before you bought it?

I would say a sucking loach from the pics (but best check your fish book) ....

They can get to ~12-14 inches over time, and get aggresive with age. They may also suck mucus of of high sided fish (discus, angel etc)

Hope that helps. (If it is the fish I think it is omniverous, liking algae, plant, blood worm, cucumber, flake etc, and a good water flow, temp 22-26'C)

 

[Rhiannon]

After I brought it, I read about it, and saw that it was probably the loach.

I am horrified that the fish shops sell them and dont tell you the truth.

The girl said to me that it wont grow much larger and that its a very hardy fish.

Well I have already witnessed it harassing one of my Albino corys.

I am going to make up a story (yes I know its lying and I hate lying) and tell them that I found it sucking on my fish because I know they wont let me get a refund and I cant kill it, I just want to return it.

 

[nurglespuss]

too right! thats a good idea, tell them it damaged your other fish, after you were told it would be very peaceful etc.

Also, bring a book with you to show them what it is, they hate that :>

If you were looking for a good book to buy to avoid this kind of mistake again, then the Baensch Aquarium Atlas is excellent, and small enough to carry round. I admit I'm sad! I take it to the shop with me when I am choosing fish, as I don't trust sales people.


[email protected]

 

[Rhiannon]

i have sent them an email asking if I can bring it back and told them why.

I saw it harassing the hell out of my albino corys this evening, then found one cory dead, I am guessing this loach was the reason?

And yes I wll be getting a fish book.

Thanks for the info.

 

[nurglespuss]

No problem.

Yes, he probably stressed it to death, but don't rule out disease... perhaps if you had a spare tank, you coul temporarily rehouse him til return? or a breeding trap you can cover, to keep him in...

Yes I bought one when I first got into fish keeping, when all the books recommended them as ideal community cleanup fish, it was fine while small, but eventually it and my redtail black shark started to tango, and the shark lost.

This is going to sound horrible, but if the loach is damaging the fish in your tank, I would remove it and kill it humanely if you cant rehouse it temporarily.

SOrry your in an awkward predicament. Oh and add some 'stress-zyme' if you have any too.

 

[Lateral Line]

The fish is Gyrinocheilus aymonieri most commonly known as a Chinese Algae Eater, or simply a CAE. The fish index profile is here. This is a fih very commonly sold to beginners and is quite inappropriate. Corys are often a early target. They tend to harrass them and eat their eyes. As they grow, they get more and more bad tempered, stop eating algae and start to suck slime coats from other fish.

 

[nurglespuss]

As I said and its a misnoma that they eat fishes eyes. If the fish is dead, they will take them though.

 

[Rhiannon]

This is going to sound horrible, but if the loach is damaging the fish in your tank, I would remove it and kill it humanely if you cant rehouse it temporarily

Yep have thought of this. Thought of the clove oil idea. Told my husband, he couldnt beleive I would do such a thing, but he doesnt understand anything about fish keeping.

 

[Lateral Line]

and its a misnoma that they eat fishes eyes.

Small CAE's are unable to do much damage to armoured, (scuted), catfish. Their armour covers everything... apart from their eyes. It is certainly not misnoma. CAE's don't like Corys, and harrass them. It takes them a while to work out how to get rid of them. When they do, the eyes start going. You will find many people around here with one eyed Cory's that are clearly not dead.

At the size the fish is, and with the recent purchase, returning it to the shop is totally the right thing to do. Humanley or otherwise destroying a healthy fish is a last resort, not the first call.