Isabella

In my 30 gallon tank, I have 2 adult Angelfish and 1 Golden Algae Eater. It's not planted now but I want to get better lighting, new plant-friendly substrate, and live plants for this tank. I have some space left for some more fish. I am wondering if I could get a few Glass Cats in this tank. I know they like planted tanks, and I think they'll have enough space for swimming with 2 Angelfish being the only other species in the tank.

I know there are Glass Cats that can reach 6" but in home aquaria they barely reach 4". I have seen adult Glass Cats on many occasions and I've never seen any bigger than 4". I'd like to have a school of them (5 - 6) because that's when they exhibit their best behaviors, and besides, they feel very secure in groups (otherwise they're shy and hide all the time).

Have you ever seen Glass Cats larger then 4" in length? Do you think if I get 5 - 6 Glass Cats there are chances he'll grow bigger than 4"? I also wanted to mention that while 4" may be long, their body mass is not much. They're long but very thin. And body mass matters as well when stocking a tank.

I'd never want to overstock any of my tanks. Length-wise, my 30 gallon tank will seem overstocked with 5 - 6 Glass Cats, but if we take the fact that they're very thin, do you think I could have them?

2 Angelfish = approx. 10"
Golden Algae Eater = approx. 5"

6 Glass Cats = approx. 24" ................
5 Glass Cats = approx. 20"

TOTAL = 39" (with 6 Glass Cats)
TOTAL = 31" (with 5 Glass Cats)

Looks like I could have 5 Glass Cats MAX, but it still makes my tank 1" overstocked. But taking into account the fact that they're thin fish, do you think that would be OK? My water changing habits are very good, plus the plants will help filter the water too.

I want some HONEST suggestions. If you think that's too much, please tell me.

Thanks

COBettaCouple

Yea, it's not that much over and those aren't super poopers so i wouldn't think an inch would be any big deal. i've only seen the young glass cats at petsmart so i've yet to see an adult one.

Isabella

I've seen adult ones at a few local fish stores, and none of them were more than 4" (I don't even think the adult ones were 4" long). Do you think they could have had some small variety?

COBettaCouple

They could be a small variety or had stunted growth.. i'd try it.. if they got bigger then you'd just have another excuse reason to get another tank.

Callum The Cat

Butterfly

I love how they hover in one spot as a group then all the sudden their gone to another spot like the group moved as one. I think you would be ok with them.
Carol

Isabella

Callum, Glass Catfish have never been commercially bred? I think the ones I've seen were commercially bred because I see them quite often at my LFS. I don't think wild-caught fish are easily and frequently available at fish stores. But, I may be wrong. Also, the ones that are wild-caught should be much larger than 6", and I've never seen any bigger than 4" (and I saw adult ones). This may indicate they have been commercially bred. But once again ... these are just my guesses.

Carol, so you think they'll be OK? Please be honest if you think that's too much and not suitable for my tank. I'll understand and resign from them. I don't want any of my fish to be unhappy and sick.

Butterfly

I think they would be gorgeous in that tank. Are your angels pretty accepting of new fish?
carol

Isabella

Well ... the "baby" Angelfish were never in a tank with a species other than Angelfish, but I didn't see them hurting my other Angels. They don't bother my Algae Eater either. Besides, even if they would want to "eat" the Glass Cats, they won't be able to because Glass Cats will be too large for them to eat. Anyway ... I certainly do hope there will be no problems. Do you think these 2 species are incompatible in one tank?

COBettaCouple

I'd love to know how it works out if you do put glass cats in with the angels.. angels would be great in our 30g tall but i've got concerns about them getting medieval on the other fish if they buddy up or start mating.

Butterfly

I think the two species of fish will be fine in the same tank.
Carol

atmmachine816

I would think they would be fine, but don't cae's get more like 8-12"?

Isabella

Atm, a Catfish known as the gigantic Silurus Glanis (Wels Catfish) grow to be around 10 feet ... And a Catfish known as Wallagu Attu grows to around 6 feet These two are in the same family as the Glass Catfish. But the one I am considering: Kryptopterus Bicirrhis (Glass Catfish), according to my encyclopedia, grows "up to 6 inches, but usually smaller." And the ones I've seen so far did not exceed 4 inches.

P.S. There are 2 other Glass Catfish similar to the Kryptopterus Bicirrhis, or rather its varieties. These 2 are: (1) K. Macrocephalus and (2) K. Minor. According to my encyclopedia, K. Minor is even smaller than the 6" Glass Catfish. Maybe I've seen K. Minor? They didn't have the scientific name of the Catfish at my LFS, as usual, suckers! LOL

atmmachine816

O I meant chinese algae eater

Isabella

Oops! Sorry Yes, according to the same encyclopedia, CAEs can grow "up to 10 but usually much smaller". Mine is around 5 - 6". I don't know if it's stunted or simply this is how much smaller GAEs can grow. See, I bought it when I was still a beginner who knew nothing. The "smartasses" at the LFS of course said it would be perfect. But as I've learned with time that it actually grows to about 10" in nature, I felt too sorry to give it away. I probably made a mistake, but I can't give it away now. It does seem happy and healthy though. Ever since I switched from the 10 to the 30 gallon tank (about 2.5 years ago, when the GAE was still growing), my 30 gallon tank was never overstocked. So I am hoping the reason it is 5 - 6" is that it just grows this small in aquaria (as opposed to nature) and not that it's stunted. I know that if I gave it away to the LFS, it would have a much worse life and much less space there. And God knows whom they'll sell it to next. So, I am not giving it away.

TheEssigs

I have 4 in my 45g. They are in there with 3 Angels. Neither pay much attention to the other. All my GC are different sizes... the smallest at about 2in and then they gradually get bigger to about 3.5in. They are really cool. They kinda do this stationary schooling, and just hang... then something will swim through the formation, they scatter, then realighn. They swim more freely at night when the lights are out. You can even see like a floresent tint to them as they hover and wriggle in certain lights. I love em. They eat flake, but mine go crazy for FD blood worms. Good Luck!