Electric Mayhem: Sparky's Log

[Chesherca]

Originally Posted by Sakura8

As my mom put it, they're so ugly they're cute and so boring they're interesting.

Tell your mom she's a genius! She nailed it! Sparky is the greatest. . .

[Sakura8]

[thekoimaiden]

Originally Posted by Pearl2011

I just found a catfish that makes Spraky look slim, fit Americas next top model lol
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...5&d=1330562960

He is FAT!!

I just love that grin!!! Sparky shouldn't feel as bad anymore.

On note about Sparky's gender, looking at his.. ehem.. probably isn't going to tell you much. Generally the differences between males and females in the fish world revolves around fin shape, body shape (females are chubbier), and the occasional breeding tubercules. Some cichlids will develope breeding tubes from their cloaca around breeding time. I checked Fishbase.org out to see if they had any M/F differences listed, but they didn't. However, they did have some interesting info listed about Sparky's electric organ.

"Active at night, feeding mainly on fish stunned by electric shocks. The electric organ, capable of discharging 300-400 V, is derived from pectoral muscle and surrounds almost the entire body. It is used both for prey capture and defense. Electric organ discharge (EOD) is intermittent and the amplitude increases with size of the fish" More info. I guess it's a good thing he's a small little bugger!

[Chesherca]

*wonders if we can have that removed?*
;)

[Sakura8]

"Doctor, I'd like my catfish's electrical organ removed."

"Err, you mean, you want a cat neutered?"

"No, de-electrified."

"Riiiiight. Contact your electric company then."

Izzy, yeah, I figured as much but I have read about some fish that have erm, as the fish profile books put it, papilla that denotes the gender. Thought it was worth a try as long as he was showing it off. He has no shame.

[Olympia]

I know for a lot of rare catfish the standard is to stick a metal probe.. in.. there and you can feel whether it's a boy or girl. (They do this for snakes too).

Hey Sakura.. metal probe. Good idea? xD

[Sakura8]

Sure, I'll handle the probe and you hold him.

I watched an episode of Dirty Jobs where Mike Rowe was sticking his finger in snake arses to sex them. o.O

[Chesherca]

Originally Posted by Sakura8

Sure, I'll handle the probe and you hold him.

Please remember to wear rubber boots

[Pearl2011]

Well, that conversation was . . . awkward o.O
How about you learn to speak electric catfish and just ask him/her? I dotk now, but I have alwasy thought of Sparky as a girl. But thats me

[eaturbyfill]

I didn't know there was a Sparky log! Anyway, those pictures of him/her are lovely