plant eating cats

vernonlarge · Post by **vernonlarge** » 11 Aug 2007, 04:07

I'm keeping 1 x Pseudomystus Siamensis and 1x Heteropneustes Fossilis in a planted tank and despite regular feedings one of them is eating the plants like crazy. Would anyone know which is more likely to be the culprit?

Thanks
Vern

Post by **Silurus** » 11 Aug 2007, 05:57

These are very unlikely suspects. What else do you have in the tank?

vernonlarge · Post by **vernonlarge** » 11 Aug 2007, 14:14

That's what I thought but I've got nothing the size of these two except for 4 x Bala Sharks and a small Chinese Algae Eater. My Cryptocorynes are taking an absolute battering!

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 11 Aug 2007, 21:05

Did you replace the cryptos shortly? If so, they slime away within days.
Have you got Latin names for Bala shark and the algae eater? I don't know which species you mean.
As HH said, you can rule the catfishes out. No way they eat plants.

Post by **Silurus** » 11 Aug 2007, 22:59

Bala shark=Balantiocheilos melanopterus
CAE=Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

These would be more likely suspects if the crypts aren't sliming.

vernonlarge · Post by **vernonlarge** » 12 Aug 2007, 00:58

It's a new tank set up. I planted the Crypts about 8 weeks ago and although not dead they've been cut right back to the substrate. I've watched the CAE and Bala's closely and they don't bother the plants so I'd assumed it was the cats after dark.

newt0524 · Post by **newt0524** » 13 Sep 2007, 13:45

hey

The Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (chinese algae eater) is the most likely culprit. With it being a new tank setup, there is most likely not much algae present. So the algae eater is going for what ever plant matter it can find.

Not certain, but it is a pretty good shot.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 13 Sep 2007, 17:31

the Gyrinocheilus will not truly harm the plants when small. although adults are often nasty critters (lepidophages! scale eaters); youngsters are actually fine algae-eaters.

it's the Bala-Shark that is a true lawnmower. these are true herbivores and halfgrown fish (halfgrown is anything between 4-8") can and do raze the plants in any tank.

fully grown bala's are a sight to behold....few people realize how huge this fish can get!

adults can almost reach a foot and a half in length......

vernonlarge · Post by **vernonlarge** » 14 Sep 2007, 00:01

Thanks for getting back to me. The sharks are going soon. They are only housed temporary as they'll soon get too big for my tank. The CAE is at adult size now though I thought they only ate algae when young? Either way he's going soon too as he's getting a little aggressive.

I guess this is the wrong forum to ask about suitable fish for a planted aquarium though!? Perhaps I should ask about suitable companions for my Pseudomystus Siamensis and Heteropneustes Fossilis instead?

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 14 Sep 2007, 07:58

vernonlarge wrote: Perhaps I should ask about suitable companions for my Pseudomystus Siamensis and Heteropneustes Fossilis instead?

Yes, you could start a new thread on that topic. Then you don't have to change forum