glass catfish decor

debra · Post by **debra** » 07 Jun 2004, 10:50

I have three 2" glass catfish that first lived in a flower pot in a 50g community tank. They outgrew the pot and in rearranging some tanks I gave them their own 10g, along with 2 otos. I'm trying to give them some privacy with plants, but I also want to be able to see them. Does anyone have any ideas for tank decor with these guys? A larger flower pot?

debra

Post by **Silurus** » 07 Jun 2004, 11:39

Plants will do. They don't really need the flower pot.
A piece of driftwood would be a nice addition as well.

debra · Post by **debra** » 08 Jun 2004, 02:47

Silurus~

Thank you! I really didn't want to take up their swimming space with a pot. Last night I floated a long piece of pothos near the top, and this morning all three were hanging out in there, looking happy, and I was happy that I could see them. Before, they were hugging the substrate for security.

Driftwood? The real thing or resin? It will look great; is it something that will make them feel more at home?

debra

Post by **Silurus** » 08 Jun 2004, 03:24

The real thing or resin?

I would use the real thing. That would definitely make them more comfortable.

debra · Post by **debra** » 08 Jun 2004, 10:16

Thank you~ I really appreciate your suggestions...

debra

hanleong · Post by **hanleong** » 10 Jul 2004, 06:42

it will be good idea to use real materials for all types of fish tanks..

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 10 Jul 2004, 15:51

can you get some more?

they're great shoalers, and will show up the whole day if you get like 15 or so......

debra · Post by **debra** » 11 Jul 2004, 05:04

hanleong~ I'm beginning to realize that the environment of fish means a lot to their well-being. Thank you for your thought...

sid~ I didn't do enough research before I brought the three home; you're right, I've now learned that they like to be in a large shoal, and yes I'm going to try to get more. They're in a 10g now but I have a 20 gallon high, how many would be ok, do you think? It would be too cool to have 15-20!

debra

trevray2 · Post by **trevray2** » 14 Jul 2004, 18:49

Real wood also helps keep the water soft.This is what they like.

trevray2 · Post by **trevray2** » 14 Jul 2004, 18:58

15 fish in a 20 gallon high would be overdoing it. Since a tank that is high rather than wide has less surface area where the air can touch the water (therefore permitting the exchnage of gasses like ammonia and nitrite) the bioload should be smaller. 8 maybe, max. Over crowding is one of the worse things you can do.

Be sure to add them only a few at a time to allow beneficiel bacteria to develop to handle the larger bioload of more fish.

Keep the water quality optimal by doing water changes often.

Good luck!

debra · Post by **debra** » 17 Jul 2004, 04:13

trevray~

Thank you for helping me... I've had other fish in the 20h and have always wondered why I need to do extra water changes to keep the nitrates down. It has a Penguin 330 with 2 bio-wheels and luckily there hasn't been a problem with ammonia or nitrites, but now I understand why it is different than the other tanks.

Anyway, if I can find more glass catfish I will not get more than 5 to add to my 3... probably 4, for 7 total, because the ones I have are approaching 3" each and even at that I would be overloading the tank, although I am used to doing extra water changes on that tank. And I will QT and and add slowly, thank you for the reminder.

The driftwood I have will work well in the 20. Do you guys have a better idea for plants than the pothos? And I was thinking of sand (Tahitian Moon) instead of the smooth-edged gravel they have now. I love it in the 50 with the clown loaches.

debra

Post by **Silurus** » 17 Jul 2004, 10:53

Do you guys have a better idea for plants than the pothos?

I think fine-leaved plants like Limnophila or Cabomba work best. Even java moss is a good alternative.

debra · Post by **debra** » 18 Jul 2004, 07:13

Heok Hee~

Thank you! I will look for those...

Today I brought home 4 glass cats, and now I have them in QT they look well and happy.

debra

debra · Post by **debra** » 22 Jul 2004, 07:35

In my Quarantine Tank, the glass catfish look iridescent, like rainbows... half of the bottom is uncovered glass, and there is a mirror about 2 feet away. Is there some way I can recreate that in the new tank?
The existing tank has black gravel and indirect sunlight, and while the fish look naturally beautiful, they don't have that prism quality to them.

debra

Antti · Post by **Antti** » 25 Jul 2004, 14:55

Hi Debra, i recommend plants like Nymphaea lotus which have large horizontal leaves. The glass catfish love to "rest" under these plants.
To make your fish shine more i think you need more light from the side than top. usually natural light from windows should help a little. Don't loose the sand, your fish like it more than bare glass bottom.

Antti

debra · Post by **debra** » 26 Jul 2004, 10:09

Antti~

Thank you!
It's the lighting, then, that gives them the *glow*... the ones in the first tank, the light is from *above*, and in the QT the light comes in from the side. I don't use any tank bulbs as they don't seem to like that. At night I turn on lamps in the room. I'm trying to figure out the best lighting for when they move into the 20 gallon.

I assumed they would like sand better than bare-bottomed, but in the QT they hang out on the glass side. That is where the current is from the filter; maybe that's why they like that spot.

I will add that plant to my list!

debra

debra · Post by **debra** » 26 May 2005, 08:42

I was really happy with the way the tank turned out and that the 9 glass cats seem comfortable. I didn't have much luck with the plants I tried, and ended up with plastic.

The cats are only a little shy. With the tank light on they shoal closely but with indirect lighting they tend to swim about a little.

Unfortunately my cedar driftwood started disintegrating and I had to remove it.

Thanks for your help! I love my cats and can watch them for hours

...

debra