Teach Me Something!

[shalafi04]

I have been eyeing this guy for weeks now, but haven't had the confidence to put him on my stocking list...

Royal Farlowella Cat

whats the scoop??? I haven't found much about him online, and only 2 or 3 pictures of him... so theres still alot i dont know before i run out and purchase one.

thanks for any info y'all can provide!

[Drumachine09]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=940

[shalafi04]

has anyone ever owned one of these???

[fins_n_fur]

Try these links to get you started...
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Smith_Sturisoma_panamense.html and this one:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=940

If you are doing a google search, drop the "cat" and you'll find more--lots on breeding...it's a cute fish!

[shalafi04]

awesome I'll do that.
you're all so helpful and awesome.
you make me feel less clueless :) yay

[Algenco]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=247

[Dave66]

I keep eight Sturisoma festivum in one of my planted aquaria. They reach eight inches, and need vertical areas in the tank, like stones or large rosette plants like bleheri species sword plants to bask and/or breed on. They breed every month to six weeks, laying between 15 and 30 large, deep green eggs. The fry are about an inch long at birth, and are easy to feed. I've raised hundreds of fry in the years I've had the eight.
Mine get green algae I culture on river cobbles, leafy vegetables, hard vegetables like corgette blanched to soften them and commercial preparations for herbivores.
They are quite hardy in a large mature planted aquarium, but are easily intimidated by fast or large fish. A 16-inch adult Panaque nigrolineatus is in with them, and when he's on one side of the tank, the Sturisoma are on the other.
Though the Sturisoma like the driftwood and plants, the tank can't be thickly planted, or they'll have real trouble moving around with their stiff, hard bodies.

Dave

[shalafi04]

thanks dave.
you rock.
super helpful.
Do you think my tank will be "spacious" enough for one? Its a 40Gal R ...
Heres a pic. I just put it up tonight os i apologize for the murkiness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/mistyart/101_4272.jpg

[Dave66]

Misty,
As long as the tank is stable, as in zero ammonia and nitrite and less than 10ppm nitrate, and the pH is between 6.5 and 7.5 and moderately soft, you could keep one. If you can find them, get S. festivum, as its the smallest of the Royals at eight inches. S. barbatum and S. aureum each reach a little over a foot long, not counting the fin extensions. None of them really like bright tanks, so if you can get your hands on some floating plants, he won't hide away and you'll see him a lot more.

Dave

[kitten3326]

They are a really cute fish, I really like them, no room for another tank right now though! sigh!!!