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Im getting rid of most of my fish but would still like to keep my 3 Akysis vespa and 3 A. prashadi so i plan on centring the stocking of a 30G around them. The PH is around 6.5, Decor a few slate and coconut caves (Although im thinking of removing the slate once because they look to big and ruin the look of the tank) and loads of bogwood and oak. The filtration is a Fluval 405 which the manufactures say does 1300lph. The temp is at 22C because thats the room temp even in winter, if needed i could put a heater in ther to bump it up a few degrees. I only really want catfish in the tank but with maybe one centre piece non catfish. The plan is so far
3 Akysis vespa
3 Akysis prashadi
10 Kryptopterus minor

Is there maybe a single centre piece catfish that could work or maybe another small shoal of something. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Ive been doing some thinking and have come up with Mystus bimaculatus, Hara jerdoni or Pseudomystus siamensis. Could any of them work? If they will i think ill probably go for the Mystus bimaculatus because i wanted some ages ago but couldnt find any but know where to get some now.

Mystus bimaculatus are happiest with a blackwater biotope, and the Pseudomystus will most likely eat the Akysis when they (the Pseudomystus) grow large enough.

I would stick to the Akysis, plus maybe the Hara too.

The rest, as Silurus said, are best left out - they get too big and like acid water.

You could brighten up the tank with, for example, a few gentle barbs or danios (Puntius gelius, Danio tinwini) or maybe some Badis or Dario for extra interest.

I think people here are tired of me saying this, but I think for a "biotope", paying attention to the habitat needs of the fish is more important than getting something from the same geographical area.

For example, keeping hillstream fishes from South America and Asia together works better than keeping two Asian species from say a Myanmar hillstream and a Malaysian peat swamp.

I think an Oreichthys Sp would be fine in this set up too. Im guessing they re available quite often there.

Silurus wrote:Mystus bimaculatus are happiest with a blackwater biotope, and the Pseudomystus will most likely eat the Akysis when they (the Pseudomystus) grow large enough.

Fair enough ill stay away from both of them then. Any ideas on something that could work that wont bury its self for most of the day like Akysis?

racoll wrote:I would stick to the Akysis, plus maybe the Hara too.

The rest, as Silurus said, are best left out - they get too big and like acid water.

You could brighten up the tank with, for example, a few gentle barbs or danios (Puntius gelius, Danio tinwini) or maybe some Badis or Dario for extra interest.

I think people here are tired of me saying this, but I think for a "biotope", paying attention to the habitat needs of the fish is more important than getting something from the same geographical area.

For example, keeping hillstream fishes from South America and Asia together works better than keeping two Asian species from say a Myanmar hillstream and a Malaysian peat swamp.

Ok thanks. I want to stick to catfish mainly just ones that use different areas of the water. Ive kept the Akysis with Pearl daions, Garra ruffa and Badis fine before but want mainly catfish now.

Fair enough, i didnt know that. Ill change the title now then.

I know there not from asia but would a pair of Sturisoma aureum or a group of corys work if theres no other asian catfish that fit what i want?

I saw on a stocklist, would that be an option?

Bijn wrote:I saw

Gagata cenia

on a stocklist, would that be an option?

I like the look of it and at first glance seems like it should fit in but i dont have a clue where i would be able to get them never seen anything like that around here.

kizno1 wrote:would a pair of Sturisoma aureum or a group of corys work if theres no other asian catfish that fit what i want?

Yes, no problem, but you might find the Corydoras outcompete the more shy Akysis for food.

racoll wrote:

kizno1 wrote:would a pair of Sturisoma aureum or a group of corys work if theres no other asian catfish that fit what i want?

Yes, no problem, but you might find the Corydoras outcompete the more shy Akysis for food.

Thanks. the aureum where my preference anyway so thats alright. I would prefer another Asian catfish or 2 but if not ill go for them.

Have you looked at ?

These won't be easy to find, but are available from time to time.

The Batasio batasio and Batasio fluviatilis seem like they would suit quite well. What sort of price do they normally pop up at? Any ideas where i might be able to get some?

Cheers

Can't remember price - nothing extortionate if I recall.

They had some ages ago at Maidenhead Aquatics @ Wheatley.

A bit closer to you, Maidenhead Aquatics @ Crowland would be a good bet.

I can't remember the price, but I've seen them in several MA branches, so try the one(s) nearest to you.

--
Mats

Thank, Ill have a look next time im near on then, but it will be a while because i still need to sell some fish before i can start.

Thanks for the help.

Why not swap for some new ones?

Some shops will do this, especially if you buy a few dry goods at the same time.

Alternatively they may give you store credit.

It does help if you are a regular.

racoll wrote:Why not swap for some new ones?

Some shops will do this, especially if you buy a few dry goods at the same time.

Alternatively they may give you store credit.

It does help if you are a regular.

Well one of my lfs might buy a few BNs of me i need to talk to them because they still have about 10 left but they give me £2.50 each. Another lfs im going to on the weekend said they will have some for £1 just need to find out how many they want and they normally buy fish so i might be able to talk them into 2 banjo catfish, 1 adult male albino BN and 1 striped raphael catfish.