Megalechis thoracata

[benny]

Hi guys,

Saw them at C328 and were going for a song so thought they might be intereting additions to the tank as they grow up to 12 cm only. Doubt it will get to that size in my tank anyway.

Apparently, these fellas are bubblenester with the male building it at the water surface. The female lays her eggs in the nest and the male looks after them. When mix with the African catfishes in the tanks at the shops, these dull colored catfishes may almost be over looked.

Practical Fish Keeping recently report that this fish was renamed when scientist found found that some members of the Megalechis genus needed rearranging. It was previously known as Megalechis personata. The main visual difference between the M. thoracata and M. picta is the band on the caudal fin.

Anyone has any experience with them that they can share?

Cheers,

[mickthefish]

hi benny , i think you might be in for a shock if you keep this fish to adulthood i used to have them and the males grew to 8ins long, they were never nasty they didn't have to be, when they come out the other fish give them a wide birth, if you have them in a planted tank get ready for some of the plants to be uprooted, if it's a male the pectoral is about an inch long they can uproot vallis easily, if you come across thier smaller cousin the pectorale they only grow to 4 ins max.
mick

[benny]

hmmm.... that's some pretty good information Mick!

I have 14 of them in my tank now varying between 4 to 6 cm each. They seem like such happy "surfer". All over the tank looking for food!

Plants are all on driftwood so it's okay. Might redo the set up a bit to accomodate them. Will probably keep them with some plecos instead.

Did you breed them successfully? As they are bubblenest builders, I suppose the water surface should not be disturbed.

Cheers,

[mickthefish]

yes ive bred a few of them, ive just got rid of most of the young pectorales i'm left with a few youngsters, like you said they are bubblenesters, but the surface need not be still ive used floating plants like floating fern, squares of styrofoam, butter-dish lids and they always use them, the males pectoral gets redder the nearer he gets to spawning, and he's getting more aggressive towards the female she's best removed after spawning as the male can kill her, the young look llike they are all whiskers and no body.
rgds mick

[Justikanz]

I had read somewhere that the colour of the floating object also affects their spawning. Some guy said his fish spawn under a yellow floating cap only. You might want to try too if you are going to try to breed them.

[mickthefish]

as far as my experiences with them they aren't bothered what colour the thing is , as far as they are concerned they want to lay eggs , ive known a pair that wanted to breed that bad they laid thier eggs on the centre strap of thier tank , that was in a mates tank and he reared at least 80% of the fry

[benny]

yes ive bred a few of them, ive just got rid of most of the young pectorales i'm left with a few youngsters, like you said they are bubblenesters, but the surface need not be still ive used floating plants like floating fern, squares of styrofoam, butter-dish lids and they always use them, the males pectoral gets redder the nearer he gets to spawning, and he's getting more aggressive towards the female she's best removed after spawning as the male can kill her, the young look llike they are all whiskers and no body.
rgds mick

Very innovative breeder here! butter dish lids indeed!

Hmm... interesting that the male can get so defensive and even kill the female!! Thought it's usually the other way round.

You are right about the young looking like all whiskers and no body. Those in my tank look really skinny from above! At first I thought they were ill fed, but it certainly don't seem to be the case given their liveliness

Cheers,

[mickthefish]

no benny, in this group of fish the male cares for the eggs and fry for a short time then he looks upon them as food i always take him out as soon as the eggs hatch, the amount of power in the male is best seen with your own eyes, but heres a warning, if he's looking after eggs put your finger near to the nest, and boy you will only do that the once he's like a missile coming at you.
mick

[Goondoo]

no benny, in this group of fish the male cares for the eggs and fry for a short time then he looks upon them as food i always take him out as soon as the eggs hatch, the amount of power in the male is best seen with your own eyes, but heres a warning, if he's looking after eggs put your finger near to the nest, and boy you will only do that the once he's like a missile coming at you.
mick

You mean with the same finger?

[mickthefish]

with any finger goondoo, they gave me such a shock i pulled my hand out hit the top tier frame and got a bruise for being so nosey, at least it made the wife laugh.
mick