Import Arriving.. Suggestions would be great!

Miles · Post by **Miles** » 06 Aug 2005, 16:08

Ok, so the Import is arriving this Monday! I was hoping if I came on here I could get some in's and out's on what bottom dwellers we will be getting. I don't want to lose any, and I know this forum's advice will go a long ways, and I don't even have to buy an overpriced product!

First Question.. Silica sand (playsand). I know its a big no-no for Stingrays and the likes.. But I was curious how Plecos and Catfish will do on it? Which ones will be bothered by it? I know many fish are sand-sifters, but I am worried about abrasions in the gills and mouth area. I have kept adonis, ancistirus, and even a tigrinus on it with no immediate problems. After you look at the list of bottom dwellers, could you please inform me which ones should NOT go on sand? I was once told the Loricaridae and Corydoras families enjoy the sand, as they sift through it in the wild. The reason I prefer to use substrate when importing, is because I am a firm believer in reducing as much stress as possible. I don't like the concept of putting a wild-caught fish in a bright-blue glass box. Our tap water is already hard enough on the poor fellah's. So.. I know the answer will be 'get rid of it all'.. but what species will be fine on it?

Any suggestions on a daily diet would be great too.. Anything that is water quality friendly is good Wink

Panaque albomaculatus - Pleco Galaxia. I know I will need some Wood. What about initial Temp/Hardness? Substrate? I kept Panaque L90 on the play sand, with no problems.

Acanthicus Adonis - Adonis Pleco. Pretty much have an idea of what these guys need. They seem awfully hardy, and I have never had any problems with temp/pH/substrate/diet..etc. Let me know if I need to be informed of something that I could be missing.

Peckoltia Vittata - Vittata Pleco. I sure do love Peckoltia. Hopefully these Vittatas are nice. What will I need for these? I am only getting 10..

I am also getting in these Catfish, and I am curious if there is anything I should look out for.. Curious if the silica sand will bother them..

P. Niger - I know they get huge, should I worry about anything? The silica sand? Temp/pH? I am assuming these guys are hardy.

Brachyplatysoma sp. - I am assuming these will be a common Juruense, even though it is listed as 'Black Zebra Nanay'.. This specific one is quite a bit more expensive, then the common Juruense however.. What should I be looking after with these guys? I am getting 2 of them, around 8-12".. Will I have aggression problems if they are in a 70g tank (52x20), with individual hiding areas? I have heard these are WAY hardier then the Tigrinus, I hope they do well..

Thank you in Advance!!

Miles

Post by **medaka** » 06 Aug 2005, 23:58

Hi

Sorry to be negative to your posting, however, as I take it you are a retailer,and a recent member; if you could spend some time looking over the last couple of weeks of threads in this forum, and other related south american forums. you may find most of your answers within. also regarding purchasing large catfish

This specific one is quite a bit more expensive, then the common Juruense however.. What should I be looking after with these guys? I am getting 2 of them, around 8-12".. Will I have aggression problems if they are in a 70g tank

have you checked out the "STICKY" in this forum.

Miles · Post by **Miles** » 07 Aug 2005, 08:43

Yes, I have skimmed them infact.. They weren't very helpful for some of the specific things I mentioned. I see lots of topics labeled with something that may be similiar to my post, but the thread is filled with vague replys and mostly useless comments. Sorry ;) Was hoping to get some help on a few specific things, mainly the substrate issues.

Miles · Post by **Miles** » 07 Aug 2005, 08:46

Also, when I am phrasing these questions I am not asking in the sense of 'I am keeping this fish as a Pet, what do I do?".. It is rather "I am importing these fish, what should I look out for?".. Such as aggression between 2 Juruense.. When I ask about Temp/Hardness, I am not asking specifically what it should be (C'mon, you think I would do that if I import fish?).. but rather how sensative they would be to a sudden change in Temp Hardness?

Hopefully that clears things up a little..