Melander's Profile

My name is Andreas. I was very interested in fish and especially reptiles and amphibians as a kid. We always had tanks and terrariums in the house and life was great. However as I got older other interests took over and for a good few years I kept nothing but one terrarium with a few corn snakes.

I had a relapse a few years back and have not been able to get out of fishkeeping since.

My main interest lies in catfish and they inhabit most of my tanks. I also prefer smaller species for some reason, I guess you can fit more of them.

My pride and joy is:
125L: Ember Tetra, Hypancistrus debilittera / L129 and Otocinclus cocama
72L: Corydoras panda
72L: Corydoras concolor
72L: Corydoras schultzei sp. Black
72L: Ancistrus Rio Paraguay
54L: breeder
54L: Sunset/Marigold Platy
144L: Peckoltia compta / L134
144L: Pelvicachromis taeniatus "nigeria red"
160L: Assassin Snails, Red&black calico Bristlenose and Guppy
Nano: breeder

The majority of my tanks are run by a powerhead with a sponge and/or an air driven sponge filter and Jäger heaters.

Looking for:
Ancistrus claro / lda08
Ancistrus Rio Paraguay - females
Corydoras hastatus
Peckoltia compta - females, preferably swap males for females

Wow a lot of tanks Melander

I have a Doradidae Carfish, ill try and get a pic up and maybe you could help me with what species it is

Thanks

Paul

Finn86 wrote:

Wow a lot of tanks Melander

I have a Doradidae Carfish, ill try and get a pic up and maybe you could help me with what species it is

Thanks

Paul

what colour is your catfish i keep a few

Here is a really bad pic of him

Finn86 wrote:

Wow a lot of tanks Melander

I have a Doradidae Carfish, ill try and get a pic up and maybe you could help me with what species it is

Thanks

Paul

Hi Paul,

I know, readings my list I am seriously considering downsizing.

About the cat;
There are plenty of catfish people on this forum with more experience than myself, you might be better off posting the photo under Catfish in the forum as I don't think everyone will see it here, or maybe a moderator could move it?

My thoughts on the fish: first I thought it was some sort of Platydoras, but when looking at it again the spots on the caudal fin seems wrong. The giant talking catfish, Megalodoras uranoscopus has spots on the tail fin but the eyes seems to be placed lower on yours. My guess at this point would still be the giant talking catfish but It's a guess and I have never kept this fish so take it very lightly.

Hopefully you can get a positive Id from one of the other members here.

How long is the fish, roughly?

Andreas

A good number of tanks there.

Did you ever consider some of the larger catfish (I know you said you prefer the smaller fish)?

ian

JohnH wrote:

Andreas,
I'm thinking the caudal spots aren't spots at all and that the tail is transparent and what looks like spots are actually showing 'through' the tail rather than being 'in' the tail.
Like yourself I'm also really not a knowledgeable person on this branch of Catfish.

Paul, please re-post your picture in the 'Catfish' section of the Forum with a request for identification, possibly with a clearer picture. Someone should be able to ID it for you (or you could try 'Planet Catfish' - this is a dedicated forum and there are some real Catfish experts there).

John

Did not think about the potential transparent tail at all, just shows you that my guess was just that, maybe even an unqualified guess this time
You will probably get a positive Id in the end but like John hinted at you might need a clearer photo.

Good luck mate, and enjoy your catfish whatever species!

igmillichip wrote:

A good number of tanks there.

Did you ever consider some of the larger catfish (I know you said you prefer the smaller fish)?

ian

Hi Ian, I do like the look of many of the larger species but I don't think I could ever keep one the way I would like to. I prefer keeping several fish of the same species and it would quickly lead to a swiming pool of a tank.

To be honest my dream tank would be very large and filled with hundreds of probably Peruvian corys, otos and tetras rather than a few big lads. These fish are rarely seen as a centerpiece but I can imagine 200-300 C. panda schooling with an equal number of otos and tetras being an amazing sight.

Andreas

JohnH wrote:

Andreas,
I'm thinking the caudal spots aren't spots at all and that the tail is transparent and what looks like spots are actually showing 'through' the tail rather than being 'in' the tail.
Like yourself I'm also really not a knowledgeable person on this branch of Catfish.

Paul, please re-post your picture in the 'Catfish' section of the Forum with a request for identification, possibly with a clearer picture. Someone should be able to ID it for you (or you could try 'Planet Catfish' - this is a dedicated forum and there are some real Catfish experts there).

John

Its not clear pic and from what I see your fish has dark spots on the fins, I've just looked up a catfish book, there are so many types of doradidaes but your fish seems to have a distinct pattern, maybe its a megalodoras irwini, a true monster fish reaching 70cm.

Melander wrote:

igmillichip wrote:

A good number of tanks there.

Did you ever consider some of the larger catfish (I know you said you prefer the smaller fish)?

ian

Hi Ian, I do like the look of many of the larger species but I don't think I could ever keep one the way I would like to. I prefer keeping several fish of the same species and it would quickly lead to a swiming pool of a tank.

To be honest my dream tank would be very large and filled with hundreds of probably Peruvian corys, otos and tetras rather than a few big lads. These fish are rarely seen as a centerpiece but I can imagine 200-300 C. panda schooling with an equal number of otos and tetras being an amazing sight.

Andreas

Yep. I see too many monster tanks wasted on monster fish.
Monster tanks are for loads and loads of small fish.....that is when they look good.

ian

igmillichip wrote:

Melander wrote:

igmillichip wrote:

A good number of tanks there.

Did you ever consider some of the larger catfish (I know you said you prefer the smaller fish)?

ian

Hi Ian, I do like the look of many of the larger species but I don't think I could ever keep one the way I would like to. I prefer keeping several fish of the same species and it would quickly lead to a swiming pool of a tank.

To be honest my dream tank would be very large and filled with hundreds of probably Peruvian corys, otos and tetras rather than a few big lads. These fish are rarely seen as a centerpiece but I can imagine 200-300 C. panda schooling with an equal number of otos and tetras being an amazing sight.

Andreas

Thanks lads now ye got me thinking my 9ft tank with hundreds of corys and otos

Yep. I see too many monster tanks wasted on monster fish.
Monster tanks are for loads and loads of small fish.....that is when they look good.

ian

Thanks everyone, took more pics and ill start a new thread, im hoping its not a monster catfish

Sorry for hijacking your profile Melander

@Paul: don't be silly I enjoyed the discussion about your cat!

@Paulv: you need another monster tank then