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What to get

Posted: 05 May 2009, 04:30
by Newguy
Hi, I am very experienced with fish keeping, I have a 45 gallon reef, a 14 gallon nano reef, 45 gallon gymnogeophagus norte breeding group, busy 33 gallon freshwater planted rescue community, 33 gallon rescue tank empty, 20 gallon rescue tank with firemouth cichlid, 20 gallon rescue tank empty, 15 gallon rescue tank empty, 10 gallon fry tank and a 2.5 gallon nano planted tank with snowball shrimp and endler's poecilia.
I am also a moderator for a local fish geek forum.
Anyway, I have been intrigued by catfish for a long time and I wanted some opinions from some cat pros.
I am looking for something that likes to swim around the tank, not just hang out on the bottom.
Also, size is an issue, would be living in a 75 to start so not too big.
Color is not very important, as long as it is lively and has the traditional catfish whiskers.

:cheers:
Scott

Re: What to get

Posted: 05 May 2009, 05:05
by Birger
Hi and welcome to PC.

I am guessing you got your gymnogeophagus norte here http://cichlaholic.com/lists.html

If you did, look up the Hassar sp. currently available which is most likely this or very similar...that would be a good choice with the attributes you described and something that is not always available.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 13&t=26112

What also will be in this tank?

Birger

Re: What to get

Posted: 06 May 2009, 00:27
by L number Banana
Yea, another Canadian. Welcome to Planet Catfish!

Birger's suggestion of is wonderful. There's also all the sharky-shaped, spotted whiskery guys that stay small but are active. Like or the upside-down cats, , midwater and interesting. So much for those empty tanks.. :lol:


Nice link, Birger, I could spend a fortune. I saw L200 for $34, is that somewhat cheap or is that realistic? I always assumed they would cost a bundle. Any idea what the bumble bee or MICROGLANIS POECILUS is? Can't find these two names together in the Cat-eLog. Old name maybe?

Re: What to get

Posted: 06 May 2009, 00:40
by MatsP
L200 for $34 is definitely not expensive, but it may not be "bargain basement" price either - depends on the size. If they are fairly big (4+"), then it's a GOOD price. If they are 2-3" then it's not bad, but not great either.

--
Mats

Re: What to get

Posted: 06 May 2009, 00:58
by Birger
Nice link, Birger, I could spend a fortune. I saw L200 for $34, is that somewhat cheap or is that realistic? I always assumed they would cost a bundle.
that is not too bad for around here...quite often retails for double and of course depends on size....he is really really great to deal with IMO and ships all over...gets some interesing stuff at times.
Any idea what the bumble bee or MICROGLANIS POECILUS is? Can't find these two names together in the Cat-eLog. Old name maybe?
It is similar to or even quite often end up being

http://www.scotcat.com/factsheets/micro ... eringi.htm

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/species ... p?id=47761
There are quite a few more species of Microglanis than what is in the Cat-eLog currently, interesting little guys but just can't always have everything.


Birger

Re: What to get

Posted: 06 May 2009, 01:09
by L number Banana
Birger:
he is really really great to deal with IMO and ships all over...gets some interesing stuff at times.
Say goodbye to tax money... :roll:
Thank god I don't have a pyramid shaped aquarium with more floor space - he has banjo-cats too.
Any other lovely Canadian links like that one?

Hey Scott, what region are you from? Near any nice shops?

Re: What to get

Posted: 06 May 2009, 01:11
by L number Banana
MatsP:
L200 for $34 is definitely not expensive, but it may not be "bargain basement" price either - depends on the size. If they are fairly big (4+"), then it's a GOOD price. If they are 2-3" then it's not bad, but not great either.
It says 2.75" so I guess it's fair market price. Thanks.

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 05:47
by Newguy
Birger wrote:Hi and welcome to PC. Thank Birger, glad to be expanding my horizons. lol

I am guessing you got your gymnogeophagus norte here http://cichlaholic.com/lists.html You are correct, done a bit of business with Spence. Quality fish for sure

If you did, look up the Hassar sp. currently available which is most likely this or very similar...that would be a good choice with the attributes you described and something that is not always available. I have adopted a pictus cat and I am in love and already looking for companionship. He has a 45 gallon barebottom to himself right now.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 13&t=26112

What also will be in this tank? Just the cats I think. The Nortes need solitude for spawning.

Birger
L number Banana wrote:Yea, another Canadian. Welcome to Planet Catfish! Yeah!!!! Go Canucks, Go!!

Birger's suggestion of is wonderful. There's also all the sharky-shaped, spotted whiskery guys that stay small but are active. Like or the upside-down cats, , midwater and interesting. So much for those empty tanks.. :lol: Yeah, I don't think they will be empty for very long. Very nice cat pics guys. I am a total newb to catfish so go easy :lol:


Nice link, Birger, I could spend a fortune. I saw L200 for $34, is that somewhat cheap or is that realistic? I always assumed they would cost a bundle. Any idea what the bumble bee or MICROGLANIS POECILUS is? Can't find these two names together in the Cat-eLog. Old name maybe?
L number Banana wrote:Birger:
he is really really great to deal with IMO and ships all over...gets some interesing stuff at times.
Say goodbye to tax money... :roll:
Thank god I don't have a pyramid shaped aquarium with more floor space - he has banjo-cats too.
Any other lovely Canadian links like that one?

Hey Scott, what region are you from? Near any nice shops? I am on Vancouver Island, a few decent shops and cheap shipping from the mainland. Cool exotics shipped in cheap too.


Well, Thanks for the input people.
I have settled on this Pictus I have. I have been doing some research and I as usual have been getting conflicting info.
The tank Ph is currently 6.8 and the temp is 75 F. I also added 1 rounded tblsp aquarium salt per 10 gallons.
If any of these parameters is astray please, let me know.
I would love some more input on possible tankmates, should I go species only or do they fair well with others?
Cheers,
Scott

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 06:11
by L number Banana
Yea, another Canadian. Welcome to Planet Catfish! Yeah!!!! Go Canucks, Go!!
For the only time of the year, television is wonderful right now!!!! My Leafs suck and will always suck, so Go, Canucks, Go!!!

I'm relatively new to catfish as well, so I'm a little confused about the salt? Was that mentioned somewhere? I thought that most catfish don't require salt but hey, I've been wrong before!

Oh and look up your fish on Youtube, if you're not addicted now, you will be :thumbsup:

Hope it's nice on Vancouver I. Have only been to Naniamo and it's like a slice out of time - beautiful! Natural stone 'hot tubs' on the beach without hot springs - awesome. Salmon caught four feet from the BBQ - heavenly!
I am a total newb to catfish so go easy :lol:
Don't worry, I've asked the world's dumbest questions here already and everyone was rather courteous considering how silly some of my ideas are :roll: Everyone one here is kind of like the way we wish the world was, varied and nice. Okay, Sidguppy's kind of firey sometimes but don't tell him I said so. :lol:

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 07:51
by Birger
The tank Ph is currently 6.8 and the temp is 75 F. I also added 1 rounded tblsp aquarium salt per 10 gallons.
If any of these parameters is astray please, let me know.
I would love some more input on possible tankmates, should I go species only or do they fair well with others?
salt is not needed with these

Pictus love company of their own kind, I would have a small group ...at least five to really bring them out,they are great, a group of these cruising around is a nice sight, combine this with a schoal of 2 to 3 inch tetras. Could throw in a (easy to keep but lovable) or a pair and you will be hooked.

Birger

and yes..Go Canucks!!!

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 20:30
by Newguy
Salt is not needed but, it doesn't hurt does it?

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 22:18
by MatsP
Newguy wrote:Salt is not needed but, it doesn't hurt does it?
It may not exactly hurt, but it's really only a few fish that you should keep with in salty water. Most others are best kept in regular fresh-water. Fish-shops like to sell salt. It is useful as a medication, but you don't take head-ache pills every day "just in case", do you?

--
Mats

Re: What to get

Posted: 09 May 2009, 22:39
by CanadaPleco
L number Banana wrote: Any other lovely Canadian links like that one?
Yep, my site, http://www.canadapleco.com Theres a bunch of us pleco addicts over there, been going for a few years now.

Spencer is great at cichloholic, I also have a group of Notre's from him. Neat fish.

Rich

Re: What to get

Posted: 10 May 2009, 13:05
by L number Banana
Yep, my site, http://www.canadapleco.com Theres a bunch of us pl*co addicts over there, been going for a few years now.
Already a member but different screen name, Iron Madtom, it's an awesome site - I spend more time reading than posting :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good cory info too!