what substrate should be used for a Auchenoglanis Occidental

[neolamp]

what substrate should be used for a Auchenoglanis Occidental sand, natural gravel, fine or large or crushed coral

[Marc van Arc]

I've had one for some time. It did great on sand. Every day it was a surprise how the tank would look like, because they behave like bulldozers. My fish litterally outgrew my tank. There's a picture of it in the Cat-eLog, together with my Metynnis.
I have never worked with coral, but think that any kind of it will be to sharp for (any) catfish.

[racoll]

I would avoid coral.

I think the the best substrate would be a mixture of fine sand and rounded pea gravel.

[sidguppy]

I had one too, and mine grew and grew and grew until it outgrew my tank as well.

I got a Tanganyikan tank, so the water is hard and alcalic; it didn't bother him at all, despite being a riverine Auchenoglanis. he now resides in a friends' tank, a whopping big 260G something; he's now 45 cm (18") and still looks great!
the rocks in there are lava-rocks.
rough, but not sharp. he's completely scratch-free and that's with Labeo cylindricus and several Petrochromis as tankmates.....

BUT it order to keep such a fish happy and healthy you must use "suckable gravel"; so crushed coral is unsuitable. sand, fine rounded gravel or a mixture of both is good.
bigger gravel (5mm) isn't suitable either; it won't hurt him, but it WILL hurt your tank...the glass....it's indeed a BULLDOZER and sand hitting the frontwindow doesn't do damage, but bigger gravel does.

[neolamp]

thanks for every ones advice im going to follow it thanks

[Chrysichthys]

You can minimize the digging by not feeding the fish while it is digging. That way it won't associate digging activity with food. Feed it by hand instead; they get to be very tame.