Fast current species compatible with plecos

[azn_phil]

Hi, i'm looking for other species of fish...doesn't have to be catfish that are compatible with general loricariids and are well adapted to very fast currents (i have alot of current in my tank)...hopefully from the blackwater rivers thanks!

[Cheese Specialist]

Glass catfish would love it!!

[Silurus]

Glass catfish don't like a strong current. They are usually found in slower-flowing habitats.

[Cheese Specialist]

Everything I have read about them indicates otherwise. Dick Mills says "movement of water through the tank" is a special requirement. I know it's not quite the same thing but I have read that they like/need a strong current and mine certainly enjoy it. I was worried about putting my glass cats in my biggest tank as there is not much current.

I hate that there is different information everywhere.

Sorry azn_phil

[Silurus]

By strong current, I mean a hillstream-type current. I have never caught any glass catfish in a hillstream (in fact, members of the family Siluridae are not very common in hilltreams).
Glass catfishes are usually found where there is some current (e.g. in a forested stream, or large rivers), but I would not consider the currents they are exposed to strong in any sense of the word.
I have kept them in conditions where there was barely any current, and it didn't seem to matter to them either way.

[Yann]

HI!

What type of Loricarridae do you have.
Fast current cichlids such as Teleocichla, Gobiocichla Steatocranus... the only problem is that these Cichlids are a quite territorial so could be a problem for the Loricariidae...
Cheers
Yann

[Frisckey1]

I keep my L. Pardalis in with a black ghost knife. They like current. They can be nippy sometimes, tho. I've been very successful with mine, and they are the best of friends, even share a cave. But much care must be taken in observing to be sure Blackie (BGK) isn't pecking at Monty (L.P.) at dinner time. To combat that behavior, I hand feed both those fish every day.

[azn_phil]

i'm keeping several L052 and a king tiger....
i'm thinking getting rummy nose tetra...and some ottos....would they appreciate strong current?

[magnum4]

Everone has there own opinion of strong current so can you tell us in liters per hour or tank turnover time.

Ottos are good for currents, rummynose arn't.

[Frisckey1]

Along with my suggestion, please keep in mind that BGKs are large fish, with a full grown size of nearly 2 feet. So you'll need a big tank for one of those.

Ottos do OK in current...

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but blackwaters tend to be still waters, no? With all the debri and lack of current, the water tends to be murky - so asking for fast water AND black water fish is a contradiction. You have to choose 1 or the other. Just from what I've read anyway...I haven't attempted to create a blackwater tank, so I may not be the best commentor on this...

[ClayT101]

For aquariums with a current, try going with tetras or hatchetfish.

[S. Allen]

might help if you state what the actual turnover rate is... some people think high turnover rate is about half what I keep most of my fish in, so..

[nonamethefish]

What immediately pops into my mind is hillstream loach.

[Cheese Specialist]

What immediately pops into my mind is hillstream loach.

Maybe, but they don't like too warm tempatures. So, it depends on that too. I have kept Hillstreams in a tropical tank, but no higher that 75F, they are now in a coldwater tank and seem much more active.

http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/be ... ensis.html is good for information on these fascinating little creatures.

[azn_phil]

OK OK guys thank you for all your replies!!!! and sorry for using the imperial system haha

1. I'm running an Emperor 400 (400gph) filter, an aquaclear 250 and two powerheads, so a TOTAL of approximately 500+ gallons per hour, in a 40 gallon tank (42inches long X 18 wide X 12 high). 4 butterfly plecos, king tiger pleco, and an L200

2. i bought 4 rummynose today, they are fine with the current

3. i'm going to buy 5 ottos. Just need to "algae" the tank up first hehe

4. Frisckey - what is a BGK? I don't think blackwaters tend to be still waters. Blackwater is due to incomplete decomposition of debris...not necessarily slow moving water. It is not a contradiciton. Many beautiful plecos are found in blackwater rivers and require fast current.

5. I'm going to try tetras, and tempted to put barbs and danios in there but they are asian hehe...so much for my "biotope".

Once again thank you for your replies!

[magnum4]

Acarichthys heckelii, Acnodon normani, Aequidens tetramerus, Aequidens tubicen, Agoniates halecinus, Anchovia surinamensis, Anodus orinocensis, Apareiodon machrisi, Astyanacinus goyanensis, Auchenipterus nuchalis, Auchenipterus osteomystax, Bivibranchia fowleri, Bivibranchia velox, Boulengerella cuvieri,
Boulengerella maculata, Bryconamericus novae, Bryconexodon trombetasi, Caiapobrycon tucurui, Centromochlus schultzi, Charax leticiae, Cichlasoma araguaiense, copella eigenmanni, Creagrutus atrisignum, Crenicichla marmorata, Crenicichla stocki, Curimatella alburna, Curimatella dorsalis, Curimatella immaculata, Cynopotamus tocantinensis, Eigenmannia vicentespelaea, Farlowella amazona, Harttia duriventris, Hassar wilderi, Hemiodus microlepis, Hemiodus ternetzi, Hemiodus tocantinensis, Hemiodus unimaculatus, Hyphessobrycon eques, Hyphessobrycon inconstans, Hyphessobrycon schauenseei, Hyphessobrycon scholzei, Hyphessobrycon stegemanni, Iguanodectes spilurus, Limatulichthys griseus, Lycengraulis batesii Megalodoras uranoscopus, Mesonauta acora, Moenkhausia tergimacula, Mylesinus paucisquamatus, Mylesinus schomburgkii, Myleus arnoldi, Otocinclus hasemani, Otocinclus vittatus, Pachyurus paucirastrus, Pellona altamazonica, Platydoras costatus,
Potamotrygon scobina, Pseudepapterus hasemani, Pterengraulis atherinoides, Retroculus lapidifer
Rhinosardinia amazonica, Roestes itupiranga, Salminus hilarii, Scoloplax distolothrix, Semaprochilodus brama, Serrasalmus gibbus, Sternopygus xingu, Thayeria obliqua, Tocantinsia piresi, Typhlobelus macromycterus, Utiaritichthys sennaebragai.

This is just a short list of the tocantins river all species probably not suited to your situation but should keep you busy researching/ finding suppliers.

[Frisckey1]

4. Frisckey - what is a BGK? I don't think blackwaters tend to be still waters. Blackwater is due to incomplete decomposition of debris...not necessarily slow moving water. It is not a contradiciton. Many beautiful pl*cos are found in blackwater rivers and require fast current.

BGK = Black ghost knife

about the black water, really? Keep in mind I have no experience creating such a tank or even studying the habitat. I only know bits and pieces and was making some assumption.

Question: in fast flowing streams, why isn't the debri whisked away by the current?

[Silurus]

in fast flowing streams, why isn't the debri whisked away by the current?

They are. This is why hillstreams have clear sandy/rocky bottoms. Where the flow is slow enough that a reasonably slow-flowing boundary layer can be established, the debris will stay on the bottom.

[coelacanth]

Hi, i'm looking for other species of fish...doesn't have to be catfish that are compatible with general loricariids and are well adapted to very fast currents (i have alot of current in my tank)...hopefully from the blackwater rivers thanks!

Hemiodus/Hemiodopsis, Characidium, Parodon.

[azn_phil]

thank you again for your posts!