Can Columbian Shark Catifsh be grown in freshwater?

Question

I was wondering if i can grow my shark catfish entirely in freshwater. Will that be ok for them?
And i have noticed a pinkish red sore on the front of the face of the catfishes? What could that be? What should i do? Any answers would be of much help... THanx...

Answer 1

Salt should be added in relation to the age of the fish. The older the fish, the more salt, right up to 100% marine.

The fish is very tolerate of changes of salinity and will live in freshwater happily as a young fish, which your fishes are now.

Have a look at these details too:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=63

Answer 2

It's not okay to keep them entirely in freshwater. They should be kept in brackish when young, and marine-strength saltwater as adults.

The Colombians are active swimmers, so my first thought is that yours is in too small of a tank for the amount of swimming they do and is bumping its nose against the sides of the tank, filter, decor, as it swims. If the area is surrounded by a whitish "fuzz" it may be showing the first signs of a Columnaris (bacterial) or a fungal infection. You can find photos and information on treating these in this link: http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html The presence in skin diseases in Colombians is usually due to a weakened immune system from being kept in improper conditions (this can be related to lack of salt or poor water quality). Medicating these guys is hard, because they're sensitive to many chemicals.

I'd suggest a 25-50% water change, followed by adding 1 tablespoon of salt for every 5 gallons of water in the tank to begin treating the sore. Mix the salt in water and add the water to the tank - salt put directly into the tank can "burn" a fish if comes into contact with them. If the Colombians are the only fish in your tank, or the others are salt-tolerant, increase this to a teaspoon per gallon and see how he responds. If this is just irritation from rubbing against objects, it would be better not to have to medicate him.

Answer 3

I had two columbians in my big 75 gallon tank before it crashed. They from what I understood about them prefer to be in brackish conditions however they are not going to suffer from being in fresh water that I am aware of. They get to be very big sizes though so if you don't have about a 150 gallon tank or higher for long term care, consider that before keeping them as they grow towards adult size.

Answer 4

No. They can't be raised entirely in freshwater. The life cycle of your Columbian in the wild is that it starts off in fast running freshwater (that's why they need a strong current in your aquarium) and then slowly start moving out to saltwater. They go through a large period of time in brackish waters and then off to sea.
The columbian shark is a very active and entertaining fish, however it is one of the most difficult aquarium species to raise correctly as it has very specific needs. When you first purchase your columbian, chances are it will be starved to keep at a minimal size for transporting, and should be conditioned with a few meaty bloodworms.

The columbian is a brackish fish, which in nature migrates through both fresh and saltwater. Juivenilles can live in fresh water, but should be acclimated to brackish, and eventually marine as they reach adulthood.

This fish enjoys large open areas to swim, and unlike most catfish doesn't really need any caves, rock, or wood to hide under. Juivenille's, however, can be quite shy if not provided with at least minimal plant cover.

Tankmates for the columbian have to be able to handle the salinity and water parameters and must be large enough not to be considered prey. Large mollies are a good choice. The columbian is a schooling fish and should be kept with at least 3 of its own kind.

As for a diet, the columbian shark is a great example of an omnivore. It will readily accept regular flake food but should also eat catfish pellets and fozen bloodworms for an occasional treat.

They don't normally fight amongst themselves so I doubt it's an injury. Again, I don't see this as likely outside of very extenuating circumstances. If you're currently adding salt to the tank, you might try upping the dosage a bit as well as increasing the temperature slightly. If you aren't adding salt, please start. Not only will this have a therapeutic effect but your fish absolutely require it to survive.

Answer 5

They should be kept in brackish water and you should invest in a hydrometer,