Glass Catfish

[Big G]

Hey there! I'm new on this forum, so first of all hello!

What I really want to know is where can I buy Glass Catfish from in the Cape Town area?? I really love these fish, but I've not found anywhere that stocks them??

Will they be happy in an 80cm tank? I was looking to get 3 or 4 of them, and they are going to share with neons and White Clouds and Khulie Loachs. I also have a couple of Skunk Botias! Anyone see any problems arising?

Cheers!
Big G

[Big G]

Oh, and I'm also interested in Banjo catfish! Know anywhere in Cape Town I can get these??

Cheers
Big G!

[Zebra Pleco]

Welcome Big G.

Have you tried SAMS or Aquatic Concepts?

[Big G]

I've tried Sams in Bergvliet if thats the same Sams you are talking about, but I don't know where the other one is??

The phone books and internet searchs haven't really helped me find anywhere (other than P Pets and such!)

Cheers
Big G!

[Henk Hugo]

Glass cats are extrememly sensitive fish. The skunk loaches will be a major major major issue for them....

First get rid of the skunks and then we can talk about the glass cats :D

[Big G]

Really?? The guy in the shop swore that there would be no issues with other fishes! They are rather small at the moment tho, so I assume they become more boisterous as they get bigger?? The Skunks seem to be one of the few fish I can't get any information about!

Would the skunks be ok with banjo's?

Maybe I'll leave the Glass cats for now until I have gained a bit more experience?? I have been out the game for a number of years, and only gotten a new tank in the past two months!

Any other readily available yet unusual cats that anyone can recommend?

Cheers
Big G!

[Henk Hugo]

Always research your fish before you buy. Theres one or 2 LFS's around CPT that you can trust but most of them will sell you an oscar to put in a goldfish bowl.

The skunk loach - also known as Hora's loach - reaches 22cm fully grown. they are right up there with the red-finned loach and the blue botia on the avoidance list of loaches.

I personally find banjos VERY boring fish :D

what substrate do you have in your tank? that can help me choosing a list of fish for you.... do you have wood in your tank?

[Big G]

Ja, I have two pieces of wood kinda resting on each other to provide lots of nooks and crannys, that is to the left of the tank, and surrounded by plants. I'm not sure what plants they all are, but there is some tape grass at the back left corner.

The substrate is fine gravel.

Over to the right near the trickle filter inlet, ( I have a Boyu HX-800 tank with built in filter, hood and lighting), I have two large rocks which the skunks and Khulies like to hide in and around. Although the kulhies do enjoy sitting right under the wood virtually out of sight! At the back of the rocks I have placed some misplaced bark off one of the pieces of wood to give a little bit more hiding places.

I also have a Chinese Algea eater, which is still small, but its bullying the khulies away from food! It doesn't bother any of the other fish, just the khulies! Once it starts chasing the khulies it will do so for a good high speed chase of around 10 seconds or so!

The skunks actually don't affect the other fish, they just chase each other every now and then! But come to think of it, the neons also do the same with themselves!

Cheers
Big G

[solex69]

Try Ecopets and Aquariums in Parklands...I always see these fish when I'm there.

Tropical Amazon in Brackenfell Industria also always has glass cats.

Both places have good quality, so happy hunting :)

Cheers
Dale

[Henk Hugo]

i would get rid of the skunks and the chinese algea eater ASAP. before you add ANY more fish... esp something as timid as glass cats those 2 will have to go

[city bowl]

I saw banjo catfish at Panorama the other day they often have glass catfish.
The quality of Sam's fish can be iffy and the advice is invariably purely sales driven.
As far as I'm aware Aquatic Concepts only stock marine fish.

[Big G]

Thanks for all the info folks!

I'll try and pass my skunks and chinese sucker on to someone else more able to meet their requirements! Shame really! I really love those little fellas!

I'm quite astonished by the ammount of variation in information and advice between different books! I have three or four different books, and some say that the chinese algea eater is a favoured choice over the pleco as it doesn't grow too big! Then the forth book I get says that they should be avoided as they grow upto 30cm and become bullies! Some even eat the the mucus off other fish!!

Why such differing opinions? If they are such problematic fish, why are they so readily available at various pet stores? I now hear that the Oto's are far better choices for smaller tanks, but are there any issues with these? Are there any other algea eaters that are recommended for an 80cm community tank?

Its very frustrating having so many different people all tell me that the skunks and algea eater are fine community fish, and then after buying them, have a whole load of people tell me otherwise! Its no wonder people end up buying unsporting fish species when they are starting out if there is no common ground between fish suppliers and even different books!

Anyways, this was never meant to be a soap box moment! So I'll shut up now!

Cheers!
Big G!

[Jaak]

Welcome to the frustrating world of choosing the correct fish for your system!! As you've obviously figured out that not everything goes together. The best advice is to always research your inmates before purchasing anything and make sure you can provide a longterm home for them. Just bear in mind that some shop assistants got "training on the job" so they're just telling you what someone else has told them and so forth...
My personal experience with the chinese algea eaters was not great as they do have a tendancy to latch on to fish as they get acclimatised and really do some damage.
No worries though, rather sort it all out now before you have some casualties or sick fish, etc...

[Carping]

To what size does glass catfish grow and in what period of time?

[iamavibe]

sounds quite over crowded for a 80cm tank.. what is that, around 80L?

[Philfarm]

I personally find banjos VERY boring fish :D



Thats an understatement!!! Iv only ever seen mine once in the past TWO years!!!

BigG ottos are the perfect algae eater if you can find any! and glass cats can "apparently" get up to 15cm..