Catfish tarakatum

The Tarakatum catfish is one of the unusual species that attracts the attention of aquarium enthusiasts, who are constantly searching for new additions to their collections. This fish has gained popularity among novice and seasoned aquarists due to its unique appearance and laid-back disposition.

The Tarakatum catfish, which is native to the tranquil waters of South America, is distinguished by its armored body and whisker-like barbels that give it an endearingly antiquated appearance. This species of catfish is peaceful and gregarious, despite its hard exterior, which makes it a great addition to community tanks.

Everything you need to know about taking care of Tarakatum catfish will be covered in this article, including how to set up their ideal tank, what to feed them, and whether or not they get along with other fish. You’ll find helpful advice to make sure your Tarakatum flourishes whether you already have one or are considering getting one for your aquarium.

Characteristic Description
Scientific Name Hoplosternum thoracatum
Size Up to 15 cm
Temperament Peaceful, good for community tanks
Diet Omnivorous, eats flakes, pellets, and live food
Tank Size Minimum 100 liters
Water Temperature 22-28°C
pH Level 6.0-7.5

The tarakatum catfish is a resilient and serene species that is ideal for community aquariums. It is well-liked by both novice and expert aquarists due to its distinctive look, lively habits, and low maintenance needs.

Habitat in the wild

Taracatum catfish are members of the genus Megalechis thoracata (Hoplosternum thoracatum), which is comprised of armored catfish. They are widespread in the waters surrounding the continent of South America, primarily in the Amazon basin, though they can also be found in other rivers and lakes, as well as on the islands. Its length reaches 20 centimeters. Due to the species’ wide geographic distribution, there are numerous ecotypes. Their bodies only differ in terms of color and shape. characterized by dark patches distributed throughout the body.

The maintenance of tartacatum fish is easy, and they are hardy and unpretentious. 100 liters is the recommended aquarium volume. Tall aquariums can support tarakatum catfish up to 13–14 cm in length. Since tarakatums are schooling fish in the wild, it is best to keep them in aquariums in groups of multiple individuals. However, the number of males should also be considered, as adult individuals may fight over territory dominance.

Although tarakatum catfish can breathe atmospheric air, there have been documented instances of them jumping out of the aquarium while capturing air. To avoid this, it is advised to cover the aquarium that the tarakatum catfish reside in with a lid.

Tarakatum catfish and feeding

Tarakatums can consume live, frozen, dry, artificial, and plant foods because they are not fussy eaters. The following live foods are beneficial: chopped earthworms, tubifex, daphnia, corethra, and bloodworms. They enjoy daphnia and gammarus among dry foods, and they adore grated beef heart among artificial foods. I use grated beef heart to feed catfish tarakatum. I start by cleaning the beef heart I purchased from the meat market, cutting it into small pieces, and putting them in plastic bags to freeze.

I remove a frozen chunk of beef heart, grate it using a kitchen grater, and add tiny amounts of it to the aquarium before feeding tarakatums. Tarakatum catfish adore this dish and consume it with delight every time. You can feed thoroughly cleaned white bread to tarakatums as a plant supplement.

I use white bread to feed catfish to tarakatum. I thoroughly wash a tiny piece of bread under the faucet after placing it in a net. I take this action to prevent the bread from clouding the aquarium’s water. After that, I rinse the net in the aquarium after turning it inside out to contain the cleaned bread.

Only when breeding tarakatums is the water’s hardness and acidity extremely important, but even then, you still need to at least roughly follow the suggested hydrochemical parameters: pH 6.6-7.6, dH 20 °. The ideal water temperature range for tarakatum catfish keeping is between 24 and 28 °C. Being calm fish, tarakatums get along well with any kind of fish that can be kept in a standard aquarium.

Diseases

It should be mentioned that fishing rod fish are susceptible to protozoal infections, such as ichthyoftiriosis. It is not advised to drop the aquarium’s water temperature below 24° in order to keep the fish from becoming ill. Treatment must begin right away in the event of ichthyophthirius-related tarakatum disease. Both a shared and a separate aquarium can be used to treat sick fish. Bicillin 5 can be used to treat catfish. For a typical aquarium, the recommended dosage of Bicillin 5 is 500,000 IU per 100 l, six times per alternate day.

Six times every other day, for thirty minutes, 1,500,000 IU per 10 l in a different container. Bicillin 5 should be diluted in warm water and then gradually added to the compressor sprayer before being added to the aquarium. It is advised to shade the aquarium because it is thought that bright light causes Bicillin 5 to lose its properties. Preparing the aquarium for drug addition requires removing plants, such as hornwort, peristolistnik, calabash, etc., to avoid burning sensitive plant species.

Reproduction

Tarakatum take 8 to 15 months to reach sexual maturity. They spawn in pairs, and the pairs separate from one another on their own. The way tarakatums reproduce is fascinating because the males protect the clutch by building a foam nest beneath big leaves on the water’s surface. The first ray of the pectoral fin, a bony spike with numerous small teeth, sets the male apart.

Catfish Tarakatum are an interesting, low-maintenance addition to any aquarium that will liven it up and add some activity. Because of their calm disposition, they get along well with many different kinds of fish, fostering a peaceful community.

Watching these catfish can be entertaining due to their distinct appearance and captivating behavior. If you provide them a clean environment and a variety of foods, they will flourish and bring you years of pleasure.

The Tarakatum catfish is an excellent option if you’re looking to add a hardy and captivating fish to your aquarium. They provide a vibrant dynamic to your aquatic setup in addition to being simple to maintain.

Video on the topic

Catfish Tarakatum maintenance in an aquarium.

Catfish Tarakatum in an aquarium reproduction, maintenance, care and what to feed.

What part of aquarium maintenance do you consider the most difficult?
Share to friends
Olga Vishnevskaya

Biologist by education, aquarist by vocation. Specialization — breeding and care of freshwater aquarium plants. Since childhood I have been fond of aquariums, constantly experimenting with creating biotopes and selecting flora for various types of aquariums. I am sure that green aquariums can transform any interior and improve the quality of life.

Rate author
InfoProekt24.com
Add a comment