Best substrate for Midas?

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B

Burtess

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 10, 2006
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Ontario, Canada
I have recently aquired a Midas of about 5". He is presently alone in a 50gal until I construct the stand for a 75gal which will be his home.

He digs like crazy and I would like to know what you all think is the best substrate for him.

My 90gal has nice rounded gravel with a fairly small size which would probably suffice, but it cost an arm and a leg to buy that from the LFS.
I am thinking of pea gravel available at the garden center (~$6/50lb), it is mostly granite, rounded, but is approx. 1/2" in diameter. Is this too large for him to dig in? Will it damage his mouth trying to move this stuff?

Thanks!!
Burt:)
 
Pea gravel will be fine. You could also use sand, but personally, I prefer gravel for my monsters.
 
SinisterKisses said:
Pea gravel will be fine. You could also use sand, but personally, I prefer gravel for my monsters.
Click to expand...

I have sand in with mine but recently added gravel to it because it hard to keep clean and it can screw up the propeller on your filter. I would either skip a subtrate completely or use pea gravel
 
yeah, if you're running HOB filters then I'd definitely stay away from sand because he'll stir it up like crazy. any small to medium size gravel will be fine. even larger gravel would work but if it is too large and he's moving it around and drops it on the exposed bottom glass it might cause problems. I doubt any gravel would be that large but why take the chance? I'd go with the pea gravel because it should be fine but it will probably be filthy and require a ton of rinsing. :grinyes:
 
Thanks for the replies...

I just picked up the 75gal the other day and will soon start working on the stand.
I think I will stay away from sand as he digs like mad and it would invaribly get it into the filters. Filtration is a Fluval 303 and an AC110. Every day I come home he has rearranged everything in the tank. The only thing he can't move (yet) is the flower pot and the piece of driftwood.

So pea gravel it is, and as mentioned it will be alot of work to clean, but at $6 / 50lb vs. $20 / 25lb, its worth the time for sure!!!

Burt:)
 
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