samidie

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with African Glass Catfish becoming less transparent as their dark highlights become more pronounced. Mine is the last one of three that I used to have, and used to look more like it should. The last one I had became really dark in color just before it died. I know that I shouldn't even have just one of these guys, but don't have the tank space for the six of them. My main concern it more or less to notice if it is diseased before it has a chance to spread it's potential ailment around to the other fish in the tank; I could move it to the quarantine tank and let it live out its days there if it's on it's way out anyway. If I had the means and the wherewithal I'd totally stock up a thirty gallon with these guys, but unfortunately it's just not going to happen right now, so we have to make do.

Thanks in advance to whomever might take the time to read this.

-john

TFA101

Uh oh...


well, glass catfish usually turn a different color before dying, or getting sick. plus, glass catfish are known shoalers, and should be kept in a group no less than 5. With the right water parimeters (or however you spell it) these fish are very hardy. check your water, do some research, and you're garunteed to have happy, healthy catfish..

Im gonna try my hand at them soon, so i need to do research too.

samidie

thanks for the insight. unfortunately, what my glass catfish really needed was the company of others, something i wasn't prepared to give it in an already fully populated tank. i might try my hand at them again. if i had a thirty gallon, i'd set it up special with low lighting, low-light plants, and at least a half dozen of the little guys. but for now, the glass catfish are no more, and have made room for other species in my twenty long. let me know how you make out if you end up getting some. they really are cool to watch swim.

TFA101

I'm currently debating whether my twenty should become a quarantiner, or a species for glass cats. One part says "You need a hospital tank! Remember last time?..." and another says "Follow your fish career, do whatever it takes to make you happy!"...

What side to listen to?

samidie

Personally, I'd like to start a couple of thirties, and make one of them well suited for the glass catfish. I'd make it darker with something black covering three sides, and plant it well with some floating varieties to block the light. Then I'd get no less than six of them, and take care not to add any additional fish species that are more active or nippy. This is all in an imaginary land called "John has money growing on trees out back".

I have a collection of smaller fish, so I get by with a five gallon tank for quarantine, which is probably even bigger than I need. Bare bones set up: screen covering, no light, air driven sponge filter, cheap hang-on heater and a thermometer. I have yet to nurse a fish back to good health, but at least they live out the rest of their days not infecting the rest of the community tank, and I don't have to crush my bacteria colonies with medication.

I just picked up three little guppies and a couple of red crabs to round my tank out. My twenty gal is so stuffed. I totally need another tank.

Why is this all so addicting? I love looking at these amazing little creatures that God created simply because he is creative and likes variety. Perfect.