Chaetostoma thomasi - Tank Setup Help Please

Gargoyle131 · Post by **Gargoyle131** » 08 Jun 2006, 06:14

Hi all, new member here.

I'm hoping to make my 20g High tank into a species tank for C. thomasi. I've read the articles on the main site, the CoTM one and the biotype setup in Shane's World. I'd like to use the spray bar method outlined in the CoTM article, but I'm a bit confused on the actual spray bar. Do you make your own or can you buy one somewhere?

Also, is this size tank appropriate for this fish? And is it possible to have more than one in this setup? I read that they are aggressive towards their own species and conspecifics.

Thanks for your help,
Gar

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 08 Jun 2006, 10:30

I think the tank-size is fine.

Bear in mind that these fish prefer a lower temperature, mid-70's F is about right for them, any higher and they start suffering from low dissolved oxygen levels.

Spray-bars are available together with certain filters, but if yours doesn't come with one, you can make one out of a piece of plastic pipe, just drill a few holes and plug the end. Obviously needs the appropriate connector from the filter/powerhead outlet to go into the pipe - usually a piece of hose will work well here...

You can have more than one in a setup - I would say either one, or like half a dozen tho' - and for the latter I would be looking at a tank of around 50-75 gallon, with lots of hiding places and a couple of powerheads to make the water turbulent in more than one place (these fish really LIKES water that has a lot of current). Beware that lots of powerheads also make a bunch of heat...

By the way, C. thomasi is probably a misunderstanding of C. thomsoni, which in turn is NOT likely to even be a Chaetostoma species in the original description - so the Chaetostoma usually sold under this name is most likely NOT C. thomsoni, since the originally described species appear to be some other genus. Interesting fish, nonetheless!

See this thread: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=15852

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Mats

Gargoyle131 · Post by **Gargoyle131** » 09 Jun 2006, 07:02

Thanks for the help.

I found another method that was designed for Hillstream Loaches, but thought it might be suitable for Chaetostoma sp. What are your thoughts on it?

http://www.loaches.com/river_tank.html

Thanks,
Gar

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 09 Jun 2006, 15:17

Gar,
Mats is correct about the powerheads creating heat. The more powerheads you have, the more heat. Chaetostoma sp. and heat do not mix. I'd be a bit concerned about putting foam in a tank with any species that rasps.

A good way to create the spraybar effect with a hang-on-the-back filter is to lower the water level. This creates a mini-waterfall. Chaetostoma sp. have a need for cool, flowing water. It also prevents the fish from crawling into the filter.

Amanda

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 19 Jun 2006, 15:46

As long as you can keep the temperature under checks, a river-tank is a fine idea. But as both me and Amanda have pointed out, powerheads generate heat, and if you live in Florida, you're not exactly in a "cool" climate, so heat-sources is an enemy to look out for.

Air-driven water circulation is better, since most of the heat generated by the pump is dissipated to the surrounding air, raterh than to the water...

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Mats