Search found 2900 matches

by Bas Pels
01 May 2022, 14:28
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Hinding places for catfish (10")
Replies: 9
Views: 4029

Re: Hinding places for catfish (10")

I had drainage tubes, being some 10 cm diameter. You might want to look at them in France, perhaps they are far less ugly then PVC
by Bas Pels
30 Apr 2022, 13:49
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Hinding places for catfish (10")
Replies: 9
Views: 4029

Re: Hinding places for catfish (10")

I once played host for a group during the summer. The owner came with a set of drainage pipes. The tank may not have looked very beautiful, but it did work. I would not suggest making a 1400 l tank ugly, but you might be able to put in a few pipes or so, and than cover the whole up with a few beauti...
by Bas Pels
23 Apr 2022, 08:26
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Catfish for higher pH?
Replies: 5
Views: 3632

Re: Catfish for higher pH?

The thing is - the continent of South America seems like it has less calcium then Europe does - but fish from outside the Amazon region can withstand higher pH. Corydoras paleatus does come from this area The same goes for Africa and Asia - the rainforrest is more acidic then elswhere. But most expo...
by Bas Pels
16 Apr 2022, 10:49
Forum: African Catfishes
Topic: Tank biotope congo for Synodontis nigriventris
Replies: 15
Views: 7231

Re: Tank biotope congo for Synodontis nigriventris

As far as I know, they come from the last part of the Rio Congo, which is contrarily to what one would expect, a fast flowing river. That would imply a lot of current in the tank, with also lots of dissolved oxygen. The Congo will most likely have soft, mildly acidic, water. Say pH 6 to 6.5 and hard...
by Bas Pels
02 Apr 2022, 08:42
Forum: African Catfishes
Topic: Synodontis granulosus: tank information
Replies: 12
Views: 5558

Re: Synodontis granulosus: tank information

Once I was asked to keep a group of 5 for a friend. I had empty tanks, he decorated the tank, and everything seemed OK. But, not much later 1 swam around without much skin. I put it behind a devider, wondering what had happend. A week later it was recovered much, enough for me to dare putting it int...
by Bas Pels
30 Mar 2022, 11:11
Forum: What is my catfish?
Topic: sold as P. gracilis but I cannot be! Who am I?
Replies: 19
Views: 9943

Re: sold as P. gracilis but I cannot be! Who am I?

Easily - if you have Corydoras paleatus, I know mine are very similar. If you tell me you have R branneri, I need to find out this is a synomine of R quelen, fish I´ve kept. I could tell you how to keep them (most importantly, they do eat smaller fish) Still, the species has a large area, and keepin...
by Bas Pels
11 Mar 2022, 07:34
Forum: South American Catfishes (Callichthyidae - Corys et al)
Topic: Corydoras paleatus
Replies: 2
Views: 2331

Re: Corydoras paleatus

This can be explaind, assuming the parents, most likely brother and sister, are both carriers for this color. In most cases, an unusual color means lack of parts of the normal pattern, and that would mean that breeding a normal one with a olored one, would result in 100 % normal colored offspring, a...
by Bas Pels
02 Mar 2022, 07:26
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Ich/Disease on Striped Raphael?
Replies: 4
Views: 3550

Re: Ich/Disease on Striped Raphael?

They can live very long. I got mine in 1989 and they died in 2020. That is 31 years later.
by Bas Pels
21 Feb 2022, 07:34
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Sexing Platydoras armatulus?
Replies: 3
Views: 3668

Re: Sexing Platydoras armatulus?

I don't think the 5 years gap in age will do much in length and so on - both will be fully mature. But, the species does have a large distribution area, and that usually comes with small differences among the populations. And noone will be able to confirm they come from the same area. Now, assuming ...
by Bas Pels
03 Feb 2022, 07:36
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Jewel Tanks
Replies: 6
Views: 4905

Re: Jewel Tanks

Jewel is the most cheap brand you can find - but i don't have any experience with them Each one has lousy dimensions. More height than width for one, and standard TL will not fit, that is you are obliged to buy their, expensive, tubes. With regard to the filters, they are internal and, in my opinion...
by Bas Pels
19 Jan 2022, 16:30
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: Is pet insurance worth the money? Who here has it?
Replies: 13
Views: 18725

Re: Is pet insurance worth the money? Who here has it?

Now most of us have more pets than our fishes, and for those such an insurance might be a good idea.

For my fishes? I would not even know where to find a vet knowing anything about my fishes. For them it wil lcvertainly be a waste of money.
by Bas Pels
01 Jan 2022, 08:50
Forum: What is my catfish?
Topic: Mini ranger pleco?
Replies: 8
Views: 3279

Re: Mini ranger pleco?

Once I got similar fish, which grew out to be Pterogoblichthys punctaus or similar.

Perhaps not the most cvolorfull one in the genus, but very nicely sized at max 30 cm.

Perhaps you will be as luckey as I was.
by Bas Pels
23 Dec 2021, 07:45
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Heater for pricy plecos
Replies: 26
Views: 12264

Re: Heater for pricy plecos

Fluval E series heaters are my preference. In tanks over 50 gal, I place 2 underrated heaters to keep tank at temp. Cheers, Eric What I would suggest - the problem with heaters, expensive or cheap, is that they tend to overheat one day. Now, you can put say a 300 watt heater in a tank, and wait for...
by Bas Pels
22 Dec 2021, 07:48
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Heater for pricy plecos
Replies: 26
Views: 12264

Re: Heater for pricy plecos

What I would suggest - the problem with heaters, expensive or cheap, is that they tend to overheat one day. Now, you can put say a 300 watt heater in a tank, and wait for this to happen, but you can also use 3 heaters of 100 watts each. When 1 burns, the others will scale off, or do less work, resul...
by Bas Pels
21 Dec 2021, 07:34
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: The Role of Sand in a Pleco Tank
Replies: 7
Views: 3764

Re: The Role of Sand in a Pleco Tank

Sand would most likely help, just as dithers. But you have wrong examples of dithers. Dithers are fishe swimming around, near the surface, telling other fish no predatory birds are around. Bristlenoses are hiding themselves and an Apisto would need dithers to know it's safe hinself. However, any Tet...
by Bas Pels
25 Nov 2021, 07:34
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: Feed your fish well
Replies: 10
Views: 3538

Re: Feed your fish well

For example, livebearers are largely herbivores, while tetras are more carnivorous.
While this is for the most common kept species more or less true, livebearers are not vergitarians.

The all nib dead fishes, and some - may I mention Belisesox belisanus - are downright carnivorous.
by Bas Pels
21 Nov 2021, 14:10
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: German Fish Foods
Replies: 3
Views: 2561

Re: German Fish Foods

With regard to your point in carbohydrates in fishfood, please do remember, the vegitarian plecos mostly eat algae. Now I'm not aware of the precise content of algae, but I would assume they are a lot like most other plants, that is they will contain carbohyudrates, as starch, as an energy source. F...
by Bas Pels
29 Oct 2021, 07:36
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Hisonotus notatus bred... now what?
Replies: 10
Views: 3951

Re: Hisonotus notatus bred... now what?

With regard to your question - what to feed them? I think they would prefer algae, just as their parents do.

Presenting them algae might be hard, but I'd be surprised if they would eat anything else.
by Bas Pels
28 Oct 2021, 16:03
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: How would you heat small fish room?
Replies: 11
Views: 8582

Re: How would you heat small fish room?

Another tip, run everything first - if you're using power filtration and heat emitting lights, you'd be surprised how much they heat the water themselves. Jools Good tip I used to have my garage filled with fish, and I did not need any watt for heating I did need to have the door open in summer - i...
by Bas Pels
17 Oct 2021, 09:09
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Snails in Pleco Tanks
Replies: 2
Views: 1315

Re: Snails in Pleco Tanks

When the snails are placed into the tank, they can pose a risk of carrying a desease. In this case the snails are in the tank, and nobody is ill. I would not fear any risk.
by Bas Pels
05 Oct 2021, 12:27
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Guianacaras/Bandit Cichlids with L397?
Replies: 10
Views: 4702

Re: Guianacaras/Bandit Cichlids with L397?

If it is a display, provided there are lots of places for the plecos to hide, it should work fine. The biggest issue I find with such set ups is that the Panaqolus will gorge on any uneaten cichlid food. This can lead to bloat issues over time. I would use high protein dry foods sparingly. -Shane A...
by Bas Pels
08 Sep 2021, 20:32
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: F1, F2, F3... SO confusing!
Replies: 7
Views: 4754

Re: F1, F2, F3... SO confusing!

It is always applied to crosses, although the crosses can start with two wild-caught parents of the same species This is actually one I don't agree with in any form. There is no way to know if the wild-caught parents are from the same lineage or not. Not all fish are migratory, meaning they will ma...
by Bas Pels
27 Aug 2021, 20:23
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Pectoral-fin glands in Brachyrhamdia
Replies: 1
Views: 1551

Re: Pectoral-fin glands in Brachyrhamdia

Athough I've kept Brachyrhamdia, I did not know they are venomous

Lucky excape?
by Bas Pels
21 Aug 2021, 08:34
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: Lifetime of your fish
Replies: 6
Views: 3600

Re: Lifetime of your fish

My oldest fishes were 2 Platydoras costatus - later I found out they were P armatulas which I got in 1988. They died last year, after 32 years

A pleco, Pt gibbivceps lived 24 years

I did not have any other fish over 20 years.
by Bas Pels
29 Jul 2021, 07:39
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Sturisomatichthys panamense?!?
Replies: 9
Views: 3447

Re: Sturisomatichthys panamense?!?

I don't know about these fish, but unless the fishes were sold as wild caught, or decendents from wild caught ones, I would assume they descended from the genepool available in Norway. I do know that the genepool available in the Netherlands is most likely a mixture of several species, but that is a...
by Bas Pels
28 Jul 2021, 20:39
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Sturisomatichthys panamense?!?
Replies: 9
Views: 3447

Re: Sturisomatichthys panamense?!?

Quite a while ago I had a few Sturisomatichthys sp, of the Dutch genepool, and Sidguppy, who used to be active on this forum came along. Wow he said, those S panamensis are huge. Huge they were, around 20 cm (8 inches). But, I did not believe them to be S panamensae, I always believed they just happ...
by Bas Pels
18 Jul 2021, 15:03
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Morphological deformities in Trachelyopterus galeatus in the Upper Parana
Replies: 1
Views: 1628

Re: Morphological deformities in Trachelyopterus galeatus in the Upper Parana

This is a bit odd to me. The fish, T galeatus is not native, and most likely this means a few have been "liberated" in this river. Now, quite a few years later, deformities are found. I would have expected that a population, based on only a few animals, that is, wityh high inbreeding, will...
by Bas Pels
06 Jul 2021, 20:50
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Video showing cave catfish
Replies: 1
Views: 4808

Re: Video showing cave catfish

It still had eyes, the skin is still not completely without pattern - it must be a recently new addition in the cave system.

Exciting little fish
by Bas Pels
02 Jul 2021, 13:07
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Adding fish to my aquarium, need help to choose!
Replies: 17
Views: 6986

Re: Adding fish to my aquarium, need help to choose!

As you have L397, you will keep the tank warm. And neither Apistgramma or Cleithacara maroni like it that warm. So I think you better refrain from keeping them in this tank. increasing the school is always a good idea Yes, I agree the bigger tetra school is a better idea, but fwiw,, both Apistogram...
by Bas Pels
02 Jul 2021, 07:43
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Adding fish to my aquarium, need help to choose!
Replies: 17
Views: 6986

Re: Adding fish to my aquarium, need help to choose!

As you have L397, you will keep the tank warm. And neither Apistgramma or Cleithacara maroni like it that warm. So I think you better refrain from keeping them in this tank.

increasing the school is always a good idea

Go to advanced search