Uhhh... tips for moving a big bullhead????

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I moved this guy into my tank with a big net and my hand. Got the net over his head and grabbed the back of it's tail with a semi tight grip. Anyhow I slowly lowered it into the water. Removed the net from his head and he has been eating me out of house and home ever since. But I love this fish so he can chow down all he wants lol!!:headbang2Careful of spines though.
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jprp;3806084; said:
JUST ASKING -BUT-WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE KEEP CATS ON GRAVEL-FINE SAND IS MUCH KINDER TO WHISKERS.
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I've done both, and I don't think it makes too much difference for cats like my TSN and RTCxTSN. I currently have them on sand because I knew it was better for cats like my giraffe and nigers. They love it. I think I'm the only one with the problem. My TSN has sand stuck in the crevices on his head. All I want to do is clean them out cause it looks like it would irritate his skin. Also, I think sometimes they ingest a lot of sand since I feed sinking food. I see it in their poop, and I do worry that it could be irritating their intestines. However, then I remind myself that they don't live on a bare glass bottom in the wild, and that rocks, silt and sand are all part of their natural environment. My guys have done well on both, and gravel is easier to keep clean than sand unless you have a living hoover like a giraffe cat. :)
 
Wet Whiskers;3806196; said:
I've done both, and I don't think it makes too much difference for cats like my TSN and RTCxTSN. I currently have them on sand because I knew it was better for cats like my giraffe and nigers. They love it. I think I'm the only one with the problem. My TSN has sand stuck in the crevices on his head. All I want to do is clean them out cause it looks like it would irritate his skin. Also, I think sometimes they ingest a lot of sand since I feed sinking food. I see it in their poop, and I do worry that it could be irritating their intestines. However, then I remind myself that they don't live on a bare glass bottom in the wild, and that rocks, silt and sand are all part of their natural environment. My guys have done well on both, and gravel is easier to keep clean than sand unless you have a living hoover like a giraffe cat. :)
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I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT SAND KEEPS MUCH CLEANER AS FOOD AND DETRITUS MAINLY RESTS ON TOP AND IS PLAINLY VISIBLE-A QUICK AGITATION OF THE SAND ON WATER CHANGE DAY WILL PREVENT POCKETS OF GAS FORMING .
WITH GRAVEL NOT ONLY HAVE YOU GOT A HUGE HAZARD TO SOFT SKINNED FISH LIKE PIMS BUT FAR MORE CREVICES FOR FOOD TO FERMENT IN AND HARVEST FUNGI-ALSO UNDERGRAVELS WHEN PRESENT ARE A WASTE OF SPACE FOR LARGE FISH.
(SO THERE LITTLE GIRL:cheers:)
 
carry him FAST! jk
 
jprp;3806310; said:
I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT SAND KEEPS MUCH CLEANER AS FOOD AND DETRITUS MAINLY RESTS ON TOP AND IS PLAINLY VISIBLE-A QUICK AGITATION OF THE SAND ON WATER CHANGE DAY WILL PREVENT POCKETS OF GAS FORMING .
WITH GRAVEL NOT ONLY HAVE YOU GOT A HUGE HAZARD TO SOFT SKINNED FISH LIKE PIMS BUT FAR MORE CREVICES FOR FOOD TO FERMENT IN AND HARVEST FUNGI-ALSO UNDERGRAVELS WHEN PRESENT ARE A WASTE OF SPACE FOR LARGE FISH.
(SO THERE LITTLE GIRL:cheers:)
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Definitely a big no on under gravel filtration. What a pain in the butt! Can you imagine me dismantling an 8'x4' under gravel system to try to clean it!?! :ROFL: However, before I totally knock them, I've seen some well thought out set ups drilled with bulkheads on the bottom and an undergravel filtration system. It was pretty efficient on cleaning that gravel! But yeah, it took up space, and you better plan ahead and want to spend extra $ on thicker glass and drilling. Beside, I have Bernard and two nigers to take care of all my vacuuming anyways. :D

Without an under gravel, 1 inch layer of small, smooth gravel has always worked well for me. If you put in too much gravel (or anything), you're gonna end up with pockets. However, with these big cats, a layer of gravel like that all gets kicked around, and no one has ever had an ouchie, irritation, infection, or anything else. Of course, I guess it would also depend on what kind of gravel you're putting them on. I wouldn't throw in anything sharp. Like I won't use Flourite with bottom fish. That stuff destroys them! I could walk barefoot comfortably on the stuff I've always used.

As for sand... I get giant land cat sized turds in my tank that get buried in the sand. At first when I would find them stuck against the glass on the very bottom under the sand, I started to worry. However, the bulldozers in the tank that probably moved the sand their in the first place seem to stir it up and get it out. Even with my FULL two + inches of sand, Bernard still leaves craters everywhere showing the bottom.

SO, there. Now you have an entire speech on my experience using sand, gravel, and flourite. How did we get to this from moving fish to this? Oh, yeah. You started a tangent! Oh, and you officially can't call me "Little Girl." Found out that no I really am not a little anymore. Partied it up on New Years and it took me 3 days to full recover. Apparently, I'm not up to partying 4 nights a week and pulling 20 hour days. I knew there was a reason I gave it up like 6 years ago...
 
jprp;3807098; said:
I DONT ADVISE MORE THAN ABOUT 1 IN SAND.
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I wouldn't either. I was told how much sand to get, we dumped it in, couldn't see a thing, the silt finally settled and bam! We had a TON of sand. I was really worried about it, and would never put that much sand in for anyone but Bernard. It was 500 lbs of sand when I put it in dry. I didn't know what I was going to do if I had to pull 1/3-1/2 of it out wet!!!:nilly: Fortunately, I don't have to worry about until we move... :WHOA:
 
Yea i just moved my lmb from my 55 to my 150, he was tricky but I just tried to stay steady and not scare my other fish, I eventually got him with two larger sized dipnets, hes only 6-7"s though
 
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