Banjo catfish instead of MS

[luver_of_fish]

I think I'm posting this in the appropriate forum as I found another banjo catfish bunocephalus coracoideus thread here.

Anyway, I was just wondering, I read on the Cat-e-Log information that banjo cats "Preferably river sand although the fish is equally happy under a flat rock elevated about ½ an inch above the substrate. In nature the fish can be found buried, sometimes several inches deep, in the leaf litter commonly found at the bottom of forest streams."

I was wondering if they like to dig through the sand then too. I was thinking of getting a couple of these guys (I saw 2 at the LFS recently) and was trying to research before getting them. I will have sand as a substrate in this tank and I have read that having Malaysian snails (MS) can be good to keep the sand churned and I was wondering if a banjo cat would serve the same purpose? Plus I just like bottom dwelling fish and thought these guys were kind of unique.

Also, would they have to be in a planted tank or if just having a flat elevated rock would work?

[nvcichlids]

In a sandy substraighted tank, you would only see them at night. I had a pair in a 10 gallon tank for 2 years and rarely saw them out, but they would come out to feed on the fry of other fish (kept them in a Tanganyikan breeding tank.) I actually ended up with 15 when I took the tank down. So they must have bred, although I never saw much other than their mouths just above the sand.

[luver_of_fish]

I guess I should clarify, from what I have read I figured I wouldn't see them too much, but was wondering if they would help keep the sand stirred up to avoid the bad pockets I have read about. I've read quite a few folks on other forums use Malaysian snails to help do this, but I don't want a tank over run with snails.

they would come out to feed on the fry of other fish

It is interesting to note that they do eat the fry as I was thinking of starting this new tank with some type of cichlids. Although it seems if I go with an African Rift Lake tank the pH would be too high. anyway, I haven't decided on what type fish yet and researching cichlids I was worried about having tons of fry with no where to take/sell them.

[MatsP]

You probably don't want too aggressive cichlids if you are going to have Banjo Cats. The banjos will hide, but they do need to get out now and again.

They will dig in the sand, but only to hide, not to feed. For stirring the sand, I'd say you are better of with something like Hoplos

Megalechis thoracata

for example - or if you want cichlids and have a fairly large tank, why not go with Earth-eaters as your cichlid species, and keep some reasonably sturdy catfish as company.

--
Mats

[grokefish]

As Mats said they don't actually feed through the sand like the snails of which you speak, however they will turn it over especially if you have a few of them.
Som hoplos or megalechis would do the job better and then you can join The Challenge part 2 http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 30&start=0

Get some banjos anyway they are cool.

Matt

[andywoolloo]

I've read quite a few folks on other forums use Malaysian snails to help do this, but I don't want a tank over run with snails

you won't get over run with them if you do not over feed. They are easy to remove anyways if you get too many. I like them , they do not bother me, they are very neat looking and interesting. I never see mine except at night if I look, in day time they are usually under sand or I do not know where, I see a few. But at night they come out.

[bronzefry]

The Banjos are so shy-I don't think they'd do well with anything aggressive or semi-aggressive. I had some Endler's livebearers in with them for a short time. The Banjos did well with the Endler's fry(i.e. eating them), but not the adults-and they're placid. The Banjos were larger than the Endler's adults! The Banjos were either curled up in a ball together or buried themselves.

I also agree-Banjos are cool and are quite worthy of having. Just because!
Amanda

[nvcichlids]

I don't feel that keeping them with aggressive species is bad. I kept mine with Lamprologus Brevis and they are aggressive when breeding. They were kept in tanganyikan water parameters, and they bred, so I really don't think water quality matters at all with these. I would not do it again, but I kind of forgot they were in there. Also, they are very good at disguising themselves, so they really shouldn't be picked on.

[bronzefry]

They are the masters of disguise. I currently have them in with driftwood and a ton of Java moss. Since then, they haven't been burying themselves as much. It's interesting to watch them make "hammocks" out of the Java moss.
Amanda

[luver_of_fish]

Sorry it has taken a while to get back to this post, but thank you so much for all of the replies. They are very helpful. I will be redoing my 55 gallon so I can put my cichlids in there although they will be Mnubas because I am getting them for free from a friend. I will then
move the 55 gallon inhabitants to my 40 gallon and use sand instead of the gravel I currently have because I don't like it. Once I get things all settled I will look into getting a couple of these guys to go in the community tank.