Electric Mayhem: Sparky's Log

[Sakura8]

So I thought since he's kind of a novelty, I'd start a journal for Sparky ZapZap Thor Zeus Etc., my electric catfish. For those of you who don't know his short history, Sparky was at one of my LFS for months, kept in a tiny compartment that he could barely turn around in. In the 4-5 months that I've been frequenting that store, I have only seen him turn around once! Every time I went in, I'd see him and feel sorry for him so when my 55gal became free, I decided to get him. I'm still not quite sure what to expect so this will be an adventure.

Sparky settled in nicely when I brought him home. He was initially afraid of the white piece of pipe I put in for him as a tunnel but he has since gotten over that and sometimes all I can see of him are his barbels sticking out of the pipe.

Yesterday, he had his first water change. He handled it very well, just chilled out while I siphoned the water out. But when I started putting the water in, he got quite excited and began to swim around a lot and explore. He looks an awful lot like a floating sausage.

So far, he hasn't wanted to eat much for me. I fasted him for a few days to get him hungry and tonight I dropped in two Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets. If he eats those, then I'll give him some beefheart tomorrow. If he doesn't, I guess I'll have to fast him again until he's hungry enough to eat. I've heard that carnivores like him sometimes only eat a few times a week so maybe that's it? They had just fed him when I got him last Tuesday.

[MaisyDawgThirteen]

Do you have any pictures? How big is he?

[Sakura8]

He's about 8" long right now. Supposedly they can get up to 49" but all the sites I read online said they stay around 12-16" in captivity. I sure hope so. O.O

Pics of Sparky! Sorry if these were posted elsewhere. Haven't had a chance to take new pics.





http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/...arkysIntro.mp4

http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/...ent=Sparky.mp4

http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/...zandSparky.mp4

http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/...yExploring.mp4

[Sakura8]

He won't eat. :( They said they fed him beefheart, krill, bloodworms, and sinking pellets. Tried beefheart twice, tried bloodworms (by the way, sucking uneaten bloodworms out of a deep tank with a sand substrate is not fun). Now I'm trying krill. Hopefully he'll eat that. If not, I'll go back to the store and ask about what specific brands they fed him.

I put a new shelter in for him too. It's actually a half log meant for turtles but it works.

[Romad]

Have you tried soaking the worms or beef heart in garlic juice yet? That's about all I can think of to entice him. Maybe he's just taking his sweet time getting used to his new surroundings. He looks pretty healthy :)

[dbooknook]

He is adorable!

[thekoimaiden]

Garlic juice would be my suggestion, too. But I've never actually used it. I've never had a fish (or almost any other pet for that matter) refuse food.

Sparky needs to eat! He has to maintain that adorably chubby profile! Maybe you should also ask the store when was the last time he ate.

[Olympia]

I'd ask a catfish person.
I know that catfish love love nightcrawlers. You could try a bait shop.
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[dramaqueen]

He looks like a sweet potato to me. Lol poor little guy. I hope he eats soon. Try some garlic juice like Romad suggested.

[Sakura8]

He ate some krill, I think. What didn't promptly get sucked into the filter. I know the last time they fed him was the day I got him. I haven't tried the ol' garlic juice trick but tonight I'm going to. I'd just as soon he not decide that all he ever wants to eat are live earthworms.

I've heard they are nocturnal and don't like light but when I open the garage door to do water changes, he starts moving around a lot. Sometimes he looks at me and points his little barbels at me and I can almost hear him thinking, "ZAAAAP!"