Originally posted by SJ247Algae grows on the glass constantly. It can be a horrible problem if you're dumb enough to put the tank somewhere where it actually gets hit by the sun coming in through a window. 😛
Now this poses another question...How do I keep a tank clean, and keep algae on the glass sides at the same time?
I am very serious, have never had fish before.
Your Pleco will keep the glass clean for you, then work on the gravel, then eat whatever else you are feeding that's available 😏 They are happy, hardy and pretty easy to keep - but they can get quite large!
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Originally posted by widgetHa! I figured the fish would like the sun and put the tank right in the sunniest spot in the room.
Algae grows on the glass constantly. It can be a horrible problem if you're dumb enough to put the tank somewhere where it actually gets hit by the sun coming in through a window. 😛
Your Pleco will keep the glass clean for you, then work on the gravel, then eat whatever else you are feeding that's available 😏 They are happy, hardy and pretty easy to keep - but they can get quite large!
I'll be moving it.
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Originally posted by SJ247I have 1 catfish that I bought to keep my tank clean..it was tiny when I purchased it and it's grown pretty big but seems to have stopped at a reasonable size ie it's not too big for the tank. I also have silver dollars, angel fish and tetras in the tank. It doesn't really bother the other fish apart from the odd chase and likes to keep itself to itsself in a dark part of the tank inside a hollow log.
I am hoping to get one serious response out of this. Just one. Please.
I bought some fish, and a tank.
One of the fish was elusively hiding in a tangle of water plants/algae.
I liked it. Noone could tell me what kind of fish it was, the store people didn't know it was in there.
I took it.
I looked online.
I think I've purchased a hypostomus ...[text shortened]... hould I donate it now to the nearest catfish farm? It seems to get along with the other fish.
Jo
edit - widge is right..move your fish out of direct sunlight and away from any heaters
Originally posted by SJ247The plecostomus is different than a cat fish. If it is what I believe it to be, it has a suckerlike mouth and will be seen clinging to the glass and rocks. It lives off the algea and microbial life forms that with grow on rocks and glass. Catfish feed on the bottom on debris like leftover food flakes, and microbes that live on fecal matter from the other fish and leftover food. Both are very good for the health of your tank. Most of the cats and plecostomus I've seen get on well with each other as well as the other fish. I had many types of catfish in my tanks(I always had fish tanks growing up, as did my father and brothers). They came in many varieties:green, salt and pepper, albino, angelica, and bumble bee to name a few.
I am hoping to get one serious response out of this. Just one. Please.
I bought some fish, and a tank.
One of the fish was elusively hiding in a tangle of water plants/algae.
I liked it. Noone could tell me what kind of fish it was, the store people didn't know it was in there.
I took it.
I looked online.
I think I've purchased a hypostomus ...[text shortened]... hould I donate it now to the nearest catfish farm? It seems to get along with the other fish.
A couple of cautions for you though. Catfish have barbs on their dorsal fin, and on their pectoral fins. Some are poisonous. I was rearranging my tank one day, and gripped the bottom of a bunch of plants to pull them up out of the gravel. There was a bumble bee cat hiding in there that I didn't see. One of his barbs pierced my finger, and I was stung. The pain was unbelievable, and my whole arm went into spasms that felt exactly like the electric shock from a wall socket outlet. It lasted a half hour. Scared the crap out of me. They are not aggressive, and will not attack you, but will use the barbs in extreme cases for self defense.
Also, if your tank is brand new, your plecostomus may die as there is not enough natural food growth for him established in the tank yet. Sometimes it may take weeks or months for this to develop. You may need special supliments or food for him till then. Same with catfish. You need at least a month(2 would be better) for there to be enough in the bottom of the tank to support him.
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Originally posted by wucky3How big is it, and how long have you had it?
I have 1 catfish that I bought to keep my tank clean..it was tiny when I purchased it and it's grown pretty big but seems to have stopped at a reasonable size ie it's not too big for the tank. I also have silver dollars, angel fish and tetras in the tank. It doesn't really bother the other fish apart from the odd chase and likes to keep itself to itsself in a ...[text shortened]...
Jo
edit - widge is right..move your fish out of direct sunlight and away from any heaters
I am finding already that this fish has chosen it's spot in the tank, and aside from an occasional swim around, tends to stay in it's corner. It does seem to chase other fish out of it's territory without pause.
I will move them.
Do you keep your water temperature in a certain range? I do not have a heater in the tank.
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Originally posted by Moldy CrowGreat information, thank you. I'll invest in some good thick gloves for tank work.
The plecostomus is different than a cat fish. If it is what I believe it to be, it has a suckerlike mouth and will be seen clinging to the glass and rocks. It lives off the algea and microbial life forms that with grow on rocks and glass. Catfish feed on the bottom on debris like leftover food flakes, and microbes that live on fecal matter from the other ...[text shortened]... st a month(2 would be better) for there to be enough in the bottom of the tank to support him.
Now I am wondering a little if this is really what I thought...I am certain it's a catfish, but not sure what kind. It doesn't seem to be sucking or clinging to the sides of the tank at all. It sits on the bottom a lot. It has a very large fin on the top of it, with what seems like a very needle-like part on top, followed by what really looks like a sailfin fin. Behind that fin/needle thing is another very small fin. It also has two "barbs" near it's mouth. The pattern on the fish reminds me of a leopard type pattern. It "resembles" the picture from one of the links I received in this thread, but not 100%.
I will pick up some pellets and spinach wafers today, hoping this will suffice until some algae grows.
Originally posted by SJ247I've had him about a year now..he's about 6 inches. He's kept in a tropical tank which is heated at around 26degrees celcius. When the tank has been switched off accidently he seems to be fine. I'm pretty much a fish novice really but becareful it's quite addictive and you'll soon be wanting a bigger tank with more fish 🙂
How big is it, and how long have you had it?
I am finding already that this fish has chosen it's spot in the tank, and aside from an occasional swim around, tends to stay in it's corner. It does seem to chase other fish out of it's territory without pause.
I will move them.
Do you keep your water temperature in a certain range? I do not have a heater in the tank.
Originally posted by SJ247Unfortunately, with the kind of catfish you've got, the bigger the tank you have the bigger he'll grow! As you're new to the fish keeping game, I wouldn't advise having anything over a 75 litre tank as they take quite a bit of care (especially with water changes).
Thank you, great information. I'll stop feeding him the goldfish food. And I read the spinach thing online as well, and was very close to giving him a chunk from the frozen spinach in my freezer.
Any suggestions on tank size?
Don't worry too much about the algae vs. clean tank issue. Enough algae to feed the little fella will build up natuarally in your tank no matter how hard you try and clean it. The other types of food I suggested will be it's main diet, the algae is more of a snack for it.
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Originally posted by wucky3This one's about four inches long, who knows how long it's been lurking in the plant tank. Do you recommend a heater then?
I've had him about a year now..he's about 6 inches. He's kept in a tropical tank which is heated at around 26degrees celcius. When the tank has been switched off accidently he seems to be fine. I'm pretty much a fish novice really but becareful it's quite addictive and you'll soon be wanting a bigger tank with more fish 🙂
I already want a bigger tank. It's been an entire day.
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Originally posted by SJ247The "barbs" near the mouth are actually called "whiskers". But they are sensory organs that can taste and feel what is near the fish's mouth prior to ingesting. It certainly sounds like a catfish, and not a plecostomus. If you watch carefully, he will sweep through the gravel/sand on the bottom of the tank with the whiskers and take in mouthfulls of gravel and sand, and spit them back out. What he's doing is taking his little rasplike teeth and scraping of the growth and nutrients on the small rocks and such and spitting out what's inedible.
Great information, thank you. I'll invest in some good thick gloves for tank work.
Now I am wondering a little if this is really what I thought...I am certain it's a catfish, but not sure what kind. It doesn't seem to be sucking or clinging to the sides of the tank at all. It sits on the bottom a lot. It has a very large fin on the top of it, with wha some pellets and spinach wafers today, hoping this will suffice until some algae grows.
EDIT- If he doesn't feed much, and just sits around, he may be nocturnal.