Thanks for that advice! I've seen very mixed things about putting plecos in with gars because some of them suck the slime coats. I know you have a lot of experience with loaches. Any suggestions for one that could stay behind in the 75G when the gars get upgraded?
Need a new bottom feeder!
- Thread starter Sirtrashcan
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Any of the species in my signature that aren't clown loaches are species I suggest for a 284 liter. You have quite a few choices of those - black or striped kuhli loaches, yoyo loaches, zebra loaches, Burmese loaches, and dwarf chain loaches.
There are also a number of species not in my signature that are also suitable for a 284 liter. Such as skunk loaches, sun loaches, horseface loaches, golden zebra loaches, honeycomb loaches, emperor loaches, and hillstream loaches.
Good luck choosing some, and I'd love to see pictures of whatever it is you get.
As for plecos sucking slime, that is usually when they're underfed. Ensure the pleco gets enough to eat and you are unlikely to have a problem.
There are also a number of species not in my signature that are also suitable for a 284 liter. Such as skunk loaches, sun loaches, horseface loaches, golden zebra loaches, honeycomb loaches, emperor loaches, and hillstream loaches.
Good luck choosing some, and I'd love to see pictures of whatever it is you get.
As for plecos sucking slime, that is usually when they're underfed. Ensure the pleco gets enough to eat and you are unlikely to have a problem.
No unlikely? I’m quite sure thebiggerthebetter keeps longnose and Florida gars with much bigger catfish in his 4500g
That they do. Ideally with kuhlis (or any schooling fish, really) you want to stock the tank as heavily as possible without overstocking so that the schooling fish can have as much company as possible while still having enough space.
Pictus may be too small because you won't find adult pictus for sale at a store. Same with others - they are usually sold too small to be housed safely with a 10" LNG. So I'd look at other sources - classifieds, etc. for adult or subadult fish.
I almost never look at fish as cleaners, so IDK what non-catfish to mention. I mean I know the algae grazers but they are not what you need here.
Megalodoras aka irwini would work for sure, as would many other Doradids, like raphael catfish - they tend to be indiscriminate feeders. We have a few adults available of the irwini catfish for adoption / sale.
TSN and TSNxRTC could work too depending on sizes and as stated above, depending on keeping them fed if they are of size that can test the gars for palatability. These catfish will not survive in normal ponds outside in southern FL, so need a different plan for them when they get big. 300g won't cut it.
Catfish is a VAST field. 3500-4000 described species and coming. Hundreds are available in the hobby. A lot of them could suit your purpose. We have only mentioned Pimelodidae and Doradidae, a little Ictaluridae (bullheads) and Horabagridae (sun cat). There are many more species in these families alone. There are also many other families - check Planet Catfish Cat-eLog.
I almost never look at fish as cleaners, so IDK what non-catfish to mention. I mean I know the algae grazers but they are not what you need here.
Megalodoras aka irwini would work for sure, as would many other Doradids, like raphael catfish - they tend to be indiscriminate feeders. We have a few adults available of the irwini catfish for adoption / sale.
TSN and TSNxRTC could work too depending on sizes and as stated above, depending on keeping them fed if they are of size that can test the gars for palatability. These catfish will not survive in normal ponds outside in southern FL, so need a different plan for them when they get big. 300g won't cut it.
Catfish is a VAST field. 3500-4000 described species and coming. Hundreds are available in the hobby. A lot of them could suit your purpose. We have only mentioned Pimelodidae and Doradidae, a little Ictaluridae (bullheads) and Horabagridae (sun cat). There are many more species in these families alone. There are also many other families - check Planet Catfish Cat-eLog.
So the Megalodoras would likely be my best option? how big are your adults?
the 300g will be a stepping stone to digging a pond in my backyard, full size to be determined still, but I have a bit of time to figure that out. What would a TSN or TSNxRTC need to be able to survive in a pond outdoors? Even if the pond is deep enough to thermoregulate itself?
As far as "cleaners" go, i also try not to view any fish as something that has a job to do in a tank, but as another pet I wish to give the best life possible. I meant that i am looking for something that will help to pick up the extra food that the gars miss but also something that adds more life and brings enjoyment as well!
STC: So the Megalodoras would likely be my best option? how big are your adults?
TBTB: It'd likely be one of the best for life to be combined with the LNGs. The couple available are about 18"-20".
STC: the 300g will be a stepping stone to digging a pond in my backyard, full size to be determined still, but I have a bit of time to figure that out. What would a TSN or TSNxRTC need to be able to survive in a pond outdoors? Even if the pond is deep enough to thermoregulate itself?
TBTB: A water temp no lower than 68-70 F I'd think. Maybe no lower than 65F, but I'd not be comfortable. ... To enjoy geothermal heating, the pond would have to large and at least 20ft deep or deeper. Even that won't cut it in a long cold spell.
STC: As far as "cleaners" go, i also try not to view any fish as something that has a job to do in a tank, but as another pet I wish to give the best life possible. I meant that i am looking for something that will help to pick up the extra food that the gars miss but also something that adds more life and brings enjoyment as well!
TBTB: Sure thing. No problem. There is a place in our hobby for some utilitarian fish. So long their needs are met adequately, nothing's wrong with it that I can see.
TBTB: It'd likely be one of the best for life to be combined with the LNGs. The couple available are about 18"-20".
STC: the 300g will be a stepping stone to digging a pond in my backyard, full size to be determined still, but I have a bit of time to figure that out. What would a TSN or TSNxRTC need to be able to survive in a pond outdoors? Even if the pond is deep enough to thermoregulate itself?
TBTB: A water temp no lower than 68-70 F I'd think. Maybe no lower than 65F, but I'd not be comfortable. ... To enjoy geothermal heating, the pond would have to large and at least 20ft deep or deeper. Even that won't cut it in a long cold spell.
STC: As far as "cleaners" go, i also try not to view any fish as something that has a job to do in a tank, but as another pet I wish to give the best life possible. I meant that i am looking for something that will help to pick up the extra food that the gars miss but also something that adds more life and brings enjoyment as well!
TBTB: Sure thing. No problem. There is a place in our hobby for some utilitarian fish. So long their needs are met adequately, nothing's wrong with it that I can see.
I thought the ground in Florida stayed a consistent temperature as shallow as 2 feet deep? Or does it have to do with the volume of water being insufficient for the ground to keep it a constant temp?
To maintain the water temp, the rate of heat gain from warmer ground to pond water should match the rate of heat loss from warmer pond water to cold air .
The rate of conductive heat transfer is proportional to the contact area, hence the need for large depth of the pond to increase the area of contact of pond water with ground at constant 75F below 2-3 feet.
Be that as it may, I am speaking from experience of mine and others here in southern FL. Many peers on the east coast of Florida - Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Homestead - keep tropical fish in outdoor ponds and lakes but they are set up and drastically increase well water pumping into their water bodies when the temps drop. Most usually it works out. Once in a great while, like the 2 weeks in Dec-Jan 2010-2011 when we had 55F for highs and 35F for lows, the losses become inevitable.
Some more info here and the two links I provided in this thread too: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/catfishhunter33-pond-inquiry.746628/
The rate of conductive heat transfer is proportional to the contact area, hence the need for large depth of the pond to increase the area of contact of pond water with ground at constant 75F below 2-3 feet.
Be that as it may, I am speaking from experience of mine and others here in southern FL. Many peers on the east coast of Florida - Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Homestead - keep tropical fish in outdoor ponds and lakes but they are set up and drastically increase well water pumping into their water bodies when the temps drop. Most usually it works out. Once in a great while, like the 2 weeks in Dec-Jan 2010-2011 when we had 55F for highs and 35F for lows, the losses become inevitable.
Some more info here and the two links I provided in this thread too: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/catfishhunter33-pond-inquiry.746628/
