Need help finding - Skunk Botia (Botia Morleti)

[nuth88]

Hello-

I am new to your forum (Yet not new to Loaches and other fishes) and I have had a lot of luck with Skunks in with my African Cichlids. Never Lost one. Here is my problem, I have just finished a year of NO FISH keeping, and missed it bad. I am currently cycling 3 tanks, a 20L a 45 Show Tank, and a 125. I am going to add my cichlids in about a month but want to add my loaches first. I am have a tough time finding Skunks anywhere. Personally I have had Clowns, Red Tails, syndonis Cats, Picto Cats, etc... My Skunks (Who are still thriving in my buddys 125 African tank) were the toughest sob's around and EVERY african left them alone. (Who say's fish don't talk??) I live in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago and am looking for a good place to find skunks, yet I am not opposed to purchasing them from someone and shipping. I would like to get my hands on 5 for the 125.

HELP!!

[shari2]

yes, they are gutsy fish, aren't they?

Hopefully someone nearer to you will be able to give you a lead or two. And good luck with the search!

[mikev]

Hopefully you can find them locally, they are not uncommon (I see them all the times in stores in NY). If not, check here (mail):

http://franksaquarium.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=35

Skunks were supposed to arrive in today but were moved to the next week.

hth

[nuth88]

I Thank you! I need as many options I can get! I am still hopeing for a LFS to come thru!

I Miss my Lil' Bastages!

[loachaholic]

If all else fails, contact Pete Mang at petemang54@aol.com. He's an odd duck but has fantastic fish and shipping is excellent.

He's a Vietnam era drug burnout and you may have to contact him several times, but if he tells you he'll ship, you can take it to the bank.

[Martin Thoene]

Welcome nuth88.....Have a drool

Skunk Botia

Martin.

[nuth88]

As I wipe the tears from my Eyes!





Me Want!

A group of 5!

[helen nightingale]

i have to ask, what are your water parameters? Skunks need water that is below 7pH, and soft water. i believe most African cichlids do best in much harder alkali water. this could lead to one type of fish being very unhappy - unless of course you have African species that fall outside the general mould and prefer similar water conditiosn to skunks

[Emma Turner]

I agree with Helen. Temperament-wise, the two types of fish may get on ok, but for long-term keeping, their water requirements are entirely different. If you have your heart set on the skunks, you'd be better off choosing other robust tankmates with similar water chemistry requirements.

Emma

[nuth88]

I am just starting the cycle process, ill test and give you parmeters when I get home from the office. But I have never had a problem with skunks, clowns, or Red Tails in water with a PH of 7.8-8.2

My last Red Tail lived over 8 years in that chemistry (Lost him when I let a bud at the LFS Hold him while I moved)

[Emma Turner]

You might want to take a look through this thread, as although it is about keeping Clown loaches with Malawi cichlids, it is still relevant to keeping Skunks with Malawis: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=1627
Here's a good read on Osmotic Shock, as posted on another thread by chefkeith a while back: http://aquafacts.net/wiki/index.php/Osmotic_shock

Emma

[angelfish83]

The synodontis catfish are natively african and are just as interesting as loaches but very different




I have no idea what this guy's doing with the fish... but it was such a weird picture and the catfish was in focus so I figured I'd use it...

[Martin Thoene]

The Nigerian vernacular for Synodontis eupterus is Egungigi (look it up in Fishbase). Obviously coined because of the use of Synodontis cats as toothpicks, i.e. using the pectoral spines for the removal of gunge from between the teeth, hence the name.
I know that species in the photo is not S. eupterus, but no doubt it is similarly useful as a dental tool.

If you need a plausible explanation for just about anything, I'm your man

Google and imagination is all you need

Truth is, I have NOOOOooooooo idea what he's doing with that catfish.

Martin.

[grizzlyone]

I've seen them at the Petco store on Touhy near the holiday inn in the skokie/chicago area.


Kevin

[nuth88]

Thanks for the reply bud-

I actually found them at the PetLand in Round Lake Up in Lake County!

Thanks for the reply none the less!