Debauwi catfish

[vanillarum]

Hey gang. I just purchased 8 of these crazy cats to go with the 3 I've had for 7 months or so. When I had the 3, they were always hiding out in the plants and rocks, pretty much keeping to themselves. I knew they were supposed to be schooling fish, but I have never been able to find any more 'till recently. Well, let me tell ya - they are schoolers ! I've had these for about a week, and they are more active than my sids ! They swim mostly mid tank, and never stop. Never ! They first caught my eye a while back 'cause they look like mini irredescent sharks, which I like, too. But these only get 2 to 3" in length. So, if you're looking for a cool, schooling fish that never stops and that are relatively inexpensive, check these guys out. Unfortunately my camera is out at a dude ranch this weekend (no, I'm not with it !), so I don't have a pic of the whole group. Don't even know if I can get a pic of the whole group ! I'll try later, tho. For now, this is all you get ! Sorry. This is how they behave when there's only a couple.
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/dfgeary3/IMG_2532.jpg

[serissime]

cute! can't wait to see the new pics!!!

[fishorama]

Congrats! I've always thought debauwi cats were cute but a bit shy & never kept them for that reason. What do you keep with them, loaches?

[vanillarum]

They were VERY shy "till I got a group of them ! I now have 11, and I keep them in my community tank. I have 10 sids, 5 rasbora hets, some sewellia lineolata, 2 SAEs, 2 fw flounder, and a bunch of small plecos in it. And 4 orange laser cories. They are definitely not shy in groups ! My camera comes home today so I'm gonna try to get some pics of them.

[fishorama]

Can't wait! Maybe a full tank shot too please.

:topic: Is this the tank that the sewellia bred in? Any more babies from them?

[vanillarum]

Yes, it is the tank they bred in, and no, no more fry lately. I lost the parents and all my adult lineolatas a while back. Never did determine the reason. Also lost 2 SAEs at the time. I have since replaced that colony with another. I still have the only 2 fry I found from that group. I'm hoping this new group will carry on where the last ones left off ! They may still be a little young (?), not really sure.

[vanillarum]

Ok, camera is back with me. I tried for over an hour this AM to get some "good" shots of the cats, but they just never stop ! So, for now, this is the best I could do:
Full tank shot (46BF)
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2832.jpg
Even the sids are getting into the action !
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2830.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2833.jpg
the dabauwi cats are the blurs !!
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2831.jpg

[serissime]

okay, so these are my new I-want fish....

so cool!

[fishorama]

The blur gives a sense of movement anyway. Nice of the sids to pose. Tank looks like it was to be your plec breeding colony, now just dormatories? I can't imagine sids with any eggs, were they there with sewellia eggs/fry?

[vanillarum]

Yes, the sids were there with the sewellia fry, but only about 1/2 dozen. As you can see, tons of places to hide eggs. Then again, that might be why only 2 fry survived ! The tank was started as a community tank, then I started adding plecos. The first was an L007b that started in my 10 gal for the first year, then I got an L015. Now it also houses 6 x L333s, and 4 x L399s. All living happily together, each with his/her own cave. There are about 15 caves in the tank.