Question About Catfish!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Juxtaroberto;4842311; said:
Yes, your tank is cycled... if you use your current filter on the new set up, I think you won't have any problems.

The nitrogen cycle happens all the time in your tank, but what we call "cycling," which simply means building up the bacteria in the first place, takes about 6 weeks, if you start from scratch. But you already have an established filter. I don't think the temperature change will harm the bacteria either (as long as you don't take them out of cold water and plunge them into warm water). You can put the heater on the tank right now, so that when you get back, the water will be at or almost at the tropical temperature needed for tetras, cories, etc.

As for plants... it's a hit and miss. I'm terrible with them. There are some hardier species, but unless you know what you're doing, they're probably gonna die. If you want to, though, you can go ahead and try. The best substrate for plants is potting soil, with a layer of gravel on top.

In your tank, you could have six tetras of one species, six of another, the beta, and maybe 4 cories or so, the kind that stay under 2". If you do 30-40% weekly water changes, you could have a really nice, well-maintained set up.
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How would you know that?
 
PhantomHawk700;4842905; said:
Great! Well then I think I will look into getting some corries then, since personally I am slightly biased to them over otos... well all I love all catfish, but the more they look prehistoric-ish, the more cool they are to me. I would DIE for a huge 200+++ gallon with tons of different catfish...

Wait, can I mix corries and otos? They should be fine since they are both social catfish right?


Excellent News:
Found some nitrite tablet testers leftover from my dads tank, and only one has been used =))

My first screw up:
Not checking to make sure that my heater WORKED before buying fish. Went to the LFS, bout four neon tetras and four freshwater gost shrimp, got home, went to turn on the heater... and it didn't work. Just ran out to get a new one, waiting for it to acclimate to the water temp, hoping my new additions will live. Right now they are in their fish store bags with the top cut off for O2, can't put them in tank since it's about 65*F right now >.<



Lots of air bubles are comming out of my sand in my tank, good or bad?


I was going to get plants, but my LFS is EXPENSIVE and their plants looked dead, slimy and zombie-like *shudders*

My goldies have been safely returned to the LFS (did it in the same trip)

Thanks again guys =)
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Yes, but again, make sure you know which species of cories they are before buying them, there are quite a few species that could outgrow your tank.
 
The cories that grow big (well, too big for my 10gal) were the ones I found out about first, I didn't realize they got small until I went to the fish section of petco! But species/size is DEFINITLY the decisionmaker here, especially since I have very very limited tank space. But I luffles them so much *squwezches* <3

UTD: All four tetras and shrimp survived the wait in their open bags, I just placed them in my tank (in their now - reclosed bags), with the *newww!* heater on very low to get them used to it slowly =)

Tank looks drab... must get plants + rocks SOON!
 
one tetra died overnight *tear* but the rest have very bright colors and are eating wonderfully! The ghost shrimp... are confusing.

They seem to be alive (mouths moving constantly, antennae twitching, sometimes leg movement) But other than that it is like the rest of their body is in a coma, or paralyzed. So confused... They don't look good, and I don't know what is wrong with them!

Tank temperature is around 74-76*F
 
PhantomHawk700;4845138; said:
one tetra died overnight *tear* but the rest have very bright colors and are eating wonderfully! The ghost shrimp... are confusing.

They seem to be alive (mouths moving constantly, antennae twitching, sometimes leg movement) But other than that it is like the rest of their body is in a coma, or paralyzed. So confused... They don't look good, and I don't know what is wrong with them!

Tank temperature is around 74-76*F
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I'd raise the temp. to around 78-82F, ime tetras don't tend to do very well when kept long-term in temps. under 78F. I'm really not sure what's wrong with the ghosts, though.
 
When you say the shrimps mouths are moving, are they eating or just moving their mouths? Sometimes they will sit in the same spot just eating for a long time if nothing disturbs them.
As far as stocking, I've never had a problem with corys and otos. I highly recomend live plants for small tanks. Mine is down to just guppies and ghost shrimp, but a few corys and tetras should be fine so long as you keep up with the weekly water changes and stick to small ones. Neons are good, if they don't make it ember tetras are a fave of mine with a contrasting betta :)
In the future, stabilize the tank temp/filter/etc BEFORE picking up fish. It's tough, I'm guilty of more than one impulse buy too but it's not good for the fish and it doesn't always go well winging it after you have the fish home.
 
Theoretically you would be fine mixing corys and ottos, but it might not be the best idea for a 10 gallon. In my exp. ottos need a constant source of algae to do well. And I dont mean algae wafers--- actual green or brown algae. Rule of thumb with ottos is 1-2 per 10 gallons so basically 4-5 in your tank might lead to them starving because there won't be enough algae to support their dietary needs. They really thrive in planted environments, but the plants actually discourage algae growth so once again primary food source is threatened. Keeping ottos isn't hard. Keeping them healthy can be tricky....

Corys are a bit more forgiving in terms of diet. I think personally you would have happier fish if you chose 1 species and make it a small group 4-5. Just make sure to avoid species like the emeralds which can grow to 4 inches...

Smaller species would be fine though. Good luck with your new setup!!
 
The shrimp were like in mini-comas... not eating but moving only their mouths... while laying upside down. Operative word being "were". Im pretty sure they are dead now. No movement, and my tetras have started nipping at their eyeballs *EW* I think I am going to take them out today.

Live plants are DEFINITLY a part of my tank plan, I want it to look very natural. I am waiting for aglae to start growing before I get any type of algae eating things. (shrimp were an impulsive idea)

RAWR aglae needs to grow! I command you to grow!
 
Yes, sounds like the shrimp are dead. How did you acclimate them?

For algae growth you could leave your light on a few extra hours each day
 
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