need help selecting appropriate species

sascha · Post by **sascha** » 29 Oct 2003, 02:49

i have a large dart frog vivarium, 50 gal. my frogs are D. leucomelas from Venezuela. I want to find a small catfish species appropriate for my condiditons. i have a 3-4 gallon water area relatively dark, no current, with no aquatic inhabitants, with the exception for a very long earthworm. the substrate is mud and small stones with a lot of decomposed plant matter as well as plant roots and moss. i also have a considerable insect population crix, fruit flies, springtails, spiders, sow bugs and some other unidentified species, which always find themselves floating to their death on the the waters surface. i would think this would be the ideal situation for a small s.american species to aid in the cycles of life. but i do not know which one would do best with the muddy loose bottom. i would say the conditions are much closer to lake,pond or oxbow conditions than river. the water temps are 70F-76F and the PH is 6.5-7 without additives. the frogs waste is minimal and i use distilled water in my misting system and ultrasonic humidifier.
thanks for the help,
Sascha

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 29 Oct 2003, 11:10

I presume the water is filtered? I would add some Centromochlus perugiae (they love eating insects from the surface at night) or any of the smaller bajo cats perhaps as they would suit the substrate.

Nice idea - fancy posting some pictures?

Jools

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 29 Oct 2003, 11:47

Helogenes!!!
Absolutely perfect for this!
I would also add some true Splashing tetras or small Rivulus, they would add a fascinating dimension, and if there was any filtration personally I'd also have a pair of Taeniacara candidi or Dicrossus filamentosus. Bu they aren't Catfish...

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 29 Oct 2003, 17:02

I'd also vote for Rivulus spp. or some other type of SA killiefish in they are alot more hardy than any catfish species I can think.

The natural spawning habitats for these fish are nearly identical to that you describe. They have even been found breeding in water filled muddy footprints left by cattle!

http://www.aka.org/pages/Gallery/rivulus.html

Pterolebias spp. have always been a favorite Killifish. Take a look at them as well (however these can be $$$).

If you were to add some type of filtration then the list of acceptable species would go up greatly. Jool's idea of a Centromochlus would be excellent buthte mud subtrate complicates this greatly!

Pygmaeus Corys would also be cool.

Sincerely,
Paul E. Turley

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 29 Oct 2003, 17:19

You will need to use some very good carbonfiltration on that water or all the fish will die pretty fast.

Amphibians always leak some of their skintoxins in the water. Not a problem with the usual Tree Frogs, Clawed Frogs and Firebellies if there's a big fishtank involved (I once had a 250 liter tank teeming with catfish incorporated in a huge paludarium containing these frogs next to Phelsuma Gecko's), but this is not the case here.

Skin toxins from your frogs will be lethal to any fish.

magnum4 · Post by **magnum4** » 29 Oct 2003, 19:26

the frogs waste is minimal

Do you test the water for ammonia and nitrite, frogs are IMO extreemly messy.

I dont think the tank will be filtered as the noise / vibration does tend to anoy
D. leucomelas

So i personaly would leave well alone catfish wise. If you need something to eat the flies ect the Rivulus sp if you have got an extreemly tight fitting hood, with NO gaps.