question about glass catfish "stalking"

[plah831]

Does anyone know how costly it is, metabolically, for glass catfish (K. minor) to "stalk" in flow?

In my thread entitled "do glass cats sleep?" I learned that glass catfish will rest by laying on the substrate. I have never seen mine do that, and am concerned that I have too much filtration and flow for them to rest. Is the constant stalking harmful to them?

On the other hand, I was assured that the benefits of good filtration/clean water probably outweigh the cost of stalking. Can anyone tell me if it's healthier to turn down my filter (HOB)flow, to allow my glass cats to rest?

Currently I have 5 Kryptopterus minor in a 29 gal, which has great water parameters (ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrates below 12 ppm) because I do 50% water changes once or twice a week. I also add nitrates for my live plants, of which there are quite a few.

Thanks in advance,
Paula

[Marc van Arc]

In my thread entitled "do glass cats sleep?" I learned that glass catfish will rest by laying on the substrate.

Paula,
Sorry to break in into your new thread, but I fear there's a misunderstanding.
What I meant is that glass cats may even be seen resting on the sand, but not that this behaviour is obligatory.

[snowball]

I've never seen any of my glass cats rest on the substrate, although occasionally they will go down to take live food.

I had a group for several years in one tank with a very strong flow and the glass cats always stayed in an area with high current, even though there were stil parts of the tank where they could rest. They seem to need to keep swimming to hold position, I've never seen them stop and drift as such.

At night they are more active and roam throughout the tank, although they always prefer to stay in the current.

I would assume that they are adapted to this lifestyle, much like danios that never stop swimming or even an albatross that spends weeks / months gliding the air currents.

[plah831]

No problem, Marc. I know it's not obligatory, but I thought it would be nice if they COULD rest once in a while.

Snowball, that sounds exactly like my glass cats. They do have other places to go (as Marc pointed out in my other thread), but their favorite shady spot is right under the filter. As you said, they roam about once the lights turn off. And you're right, even then they seem to stay right in the current.

Well, I'm reassured that I'm not forcing my beloved glassies to do anything they don't want.

By the way, Snowball, mine will sometimes grab an entire algae wafer (that I put out for my bottom feeders) and try to make off with it in their tiny mouth, like a dog with a new-found bone! They never get very far because it probably weighs as much as they do They're so cute, I love my glass cats!

Thanks so much for the replies! Any others are also welcome