Food Archives - Cory Cat Fish

Glass Catfish Care Size Food and Care

Navarro Edwards — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:29:21 +0000

With their nearly transparent bodies, glass catfish are some of the most unique and stunning freshwater fish available in the aquarium trade. Their see-through appearance allows you to see their internal organs and skeletal structures, making them constant sources of fascination. Taking proper care of these shy yet captivating fish is extremely rewarding. This comprehensive care guide covers everything you need to know about glass catfish care.

Overview of Glass Catfish

Glass catfish belong to the Kryptopterus genus and the minor species. They are also known as ghost catfish or phantom catfish. As their name suggests, they have transparent bodies that lack pigmentation. Their internal tissues, bones, and organs are visible through their skin in juvenile to adult stages. Native to fast-flowing waters of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, these fish inhabit shallow streams and rivers with sandy substrates and abundant vegetation. Their translucency provides camouflage in their natural environment.

In the aquarium trade, ghost catfish are generally peaceful community fish ideal for seasoned aquarists. With sensitive skin devoid of scales, they require pristine water conditions. While mostly nocturnal, their unique appearance puts them in high demand.

Size of Glass Catfish

In most home aquariums, glass catfish grow up to 5-6 inches at maturity. Selective breeding has produced miniature variants that max out at 3 inches. With good genetics, proper feeding and excellent care, these fish can potentially reach 8 inches in length.

Male and female glass catfish are very similar in appearance. Females tend to be slightly broader in body shape for carrying eggs. Outside of the spawning period, even experienced aquarists may find it challenging to determine the gender of these fish.

Glass Catfish Diet In Captivity

In their wild habitat, Kryptopterus minor are specialized micropredators feeding mainly on small crustaceans like copepods and cladocerans. They have also been observed eating insect larvae. Replicating such a naturalistic diet in home aquariums can be difficult. However, you can feed them substitutes like:

– Frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis and daphnia
– High quality flakes and micro pellets
– Live or hatched brine shrimp and blackworms
– Chopped seafood like shrimp and mussel meat

For variety, you can supplement their mainstays with spirulina powder and other herbivore preparations a few times a week. Feed juveniles and young catfish 2-3 small meals daily. Adults only need feeding once daily. Avoid overfeeding as excess food will foul the water.

Glass Catfish Tank Setup

Given their small size, glass catfish adapt well to nano aquariums of 10 gallons or larger. That said, a longer tank is better to accommodate their active swimming style. A 20 gallon long aquarium outfitted with plenty of hiding spots works nicely for a small school of 6-8 individuals.

Use a quality substrate like fine gravel or sand at least 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Natural decor like smooth river rocks, twisted roots and leaf litter enhances aesthetics. Live or silk plants provide security through dense thickets – let them grow emergent for increased cover. A roomy glass catfish tank has plenty of open swimming space too.

Though typically tolerant of a wide temperature range, maintain your tank water between 74-82°F. Warmer conditions accelerate metabolism and should be accompanied by more frequent feedings. Install an efficient filtration system and perform weekly 25% water changes. Keep nitrates below 20 ppm and pH between 6-7.5 for healthy fish.

Adding aquatic mosses like Java moss helps maintain high water quality. The plants assimilate waste nutrients while moss clumps give supplemental hiding areas. Purigen filter media prevents discoloration and clarity loss from organics accumulation. Keep tank lighting low with floating plants to curb algae overgrowth.

Tank Mates for Glass Catfish

Shy and reclusive fish by nature, glass catfish appreciate tank mates with similar peaceful temperaments. Good options include:

– Small tetra species like ember tetras, green neons
– Micro rasboras such as chili and Phoenix rasboras
– Other nano schoolers like Boraras brigittae
– Cherry barbs, white cloud mountain minnows
– Small danio species, some gouramis and dwarf cichlids
– Shrimps and snails are great clean-up crew additions

Avoid aggressive tankmates that may compromise health or water conditions. Slow-swimming long-finned tankmates also do not mix well with constantly-moving glass catfish. Introduce tankmates gradually over several days and observe everyone’s behavior.

Acclimating Ghost Catfish

When adding glass catfish to your tank, follow the standard tropical fish acclimation procedure. After transport, allow the sealed bag to float in the tank, equalizing temperatures over 30-60 minutes. Every few minutes, add half a cup of tank water to the bag. Finally, release your ghost catfish into the setup using a net. Turn off lights, allowing them to settle overnight before feeding. Observe that all individuals are actively swimming within a few days.

Care Guide and Lifespan

Caring for glass catfish revolves around maintaining excellent, stable water parameters. Test pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates levels every week. At the first signs of deterioration, promptly run carbon filtration and perform water changes. Deep vacuum gravel to remove organic waste buildup. Wipe down equipment to prevent algae overgrowth.

With high sensitivity levels, ghost catfish are prone to skin flukes, parasitic infections and fungus. Quarantine new introductions for at least 2 weeks. Minimize stress by keeping only one species in the tank and providing ample broken sightlines. Limit direct handling of glass catfish whenever possible.

Provided with clean water and a balanced, nourishing diet, glass catfish enjoy lifespans extending 5 years or longer. Select tank-bred specimens from reputable stores for hardiness. Though challenging, their special transparency makes glass catfish truly rewarding aquarium residents if given proper care.

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Synodontis Catfish Size And Care

Navarro Edwards — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:07:16 +0000

Synodontis catfish, often referred to as upside down catfish or squeaker catfish, are a popular freshwater fish for home aquariums. Native to rivers and lakes across Africa, these bottom-dwelling fish have some unique behaviors and care requirements. Read on to learn everything you need to successfully keep synodontis catfish.

Ideal Tank Size
Most synodontis catfish max out between 4-6 inches in length when fully grown. For a single synodontis or a small group, a 30 gallon aquarium is sufficient. If keeping a larger group of 6 or more synodontis catfish, aim for a 55 gallon or larger tank. This gives them adequate swimming space as they are active, fast moving fish.

Provide plenty of hiding spots with rocks, driftwood, and aquatic plants. Synodontis enjoy squeezing into small crevices and under overhangs. Hardy plant species like Java fern, Anubias, and Amazon sword plants help recreate their natural environment.

Water Conditions
In the wild, synodontis catfish live in warm, soft, acidic waters. Replicate similar conditions in your home aquarium. Water temperature between 74-82°F is ideal. Use a submersible aquarium heater to maintain a stable temperature within this range.

Soft, slightly acidic water works best. Test water regularly and aim for a pH between 6.0-7.2, hardness between 5-12 dGH, and low nitrates under 20 ppm. Use peat filtration, driftwood, dried Indian almond leaves, or specialty chemical additives like Blackwater Extract to soften water and lower pH.

Synodontis are sensitive to poor water quality. Keep nitrites at 0 ppm and ammonia at 0 ppm through regular partial water changes and gravel vacuuming. Perform 25-30% water changes 1-2 times per week in synodontis catfish tanks.

Feeding Synodontis Catfish
In the wild, synodontis are opportunistic omnivores that eat a variety of foods. Replicate this varied diet in captivity for healthy synodontis catfish. Offer a mix of foods like:

– Sinking catfish pellets and algae wafers
– Frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp
– Blanched vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, spinach
– Daphnia, mosquito larvae, small shrimp
– High quality flake foods or micro pellets

Feed synodontis catfish once or twice per day. Only offer as much food as they can consume within 2-3 minutes. Uneaten food leads to water quality issues. Use sinking foods as synodontis are bottom feeders. If any food remains after a few minutes, remove it with a net.

Synodontis Catfish Behavior
One of the most intriguing behaviors of synodontis catfish is their ability to swim upside down. Healthy, active synodontis will frequently dart along the tank bottom, plants, and décor while upside down. It’s normal behavior, not a sign of illness.

Synodontis are also vocal fish, earning them the name “squeaker catfish”. They produce a squeaking or croaking sound, especially when caught or stressed. It’s made by grinding teeth in their throat, not with their swim bladder like some catfish.

While generally peaceful community fish, synodontis can be territorial towards their own kind. Provide plenty of hiding spaces and plants to break up lines of sight. This allows multiple synos to establish individual territories and reduces aggression.

Tank Mates for Synodontis
When selecting tank mates, avoid aggressive species that may pester or nip synodontis catfish. Good options include:

– Small barbs like cherry barbs and tiger barbs
– Tetras like neon tetras, rummynose tetras, bleeding heart tetras
– Danios such as zebra danios and pearl danios
– Rainbowfish like threadfins and praecox rainbows
– Bolivian rams, apistogramma cichlids, kribensis cichlids
– Plecostomus, corydoras catfish, otocinclus catfish

Aim for similarly sized, peaceful fish that enjoy comparable water parameters. Monitor all new additions carefully and have a backup plan if aggression arises.

Breeding Synodontis Catfish
Breeding synodontis catfish presents a challenge for even experienced aquarists. They are substrate spawners that scatter eggs hidden among plants and décor. Parents provide no care once eggs are laid.

Trigger spawning by simulating rainy season conditions. Perform large 40-50% water changes with slightly cooler water than normal for 2-3 weeks. Increase feeding amounts and vary their diet. Add alder cones, peat, or leave extract to mimic tannins.

Check thoroughly for eggs, usually attached to the undersides of leaves. Remove parents if possible so the eggs aren’t eaten. Synodontis fry are tiny and infusoria are essential for initial feeding. Baby brine shrimp, micro worms, vinegar eels, and finely crushed flakes work once fry are large enough. Survival rates are low but rewarding if fry live.

Common Synodontis Catfish Species
While over 130 synodontis species exist, only a handful reach the aquarium trade. Some popular types include:

Synodontis eupterus: Featherfin catfish have striking, tall dorsal fins. Max size around 5 inches. Peaceful and suitable for community tanks.

Synodontis nigriventris: Upside down catfish have a black belly and brown body with white spots. Reach 6 inches in length. Have a bold personality.

Synodontis multipunctatus: Cuckoo catfish have a brown base color with small white spots. Get about 4 inches long. Shy and reclusive, need plenty of hiding spots.

Synodontis petricola: Pygmy petricola stay under 3 inches in size. Peaceful catfish suitable for small community tanks. Have a brownish gray body and white belly.

Conclusion
With their unique upside down swimming behavior, vocal sounds, and expressive fins, synodontis catfish make interesting additions to community tanks. Follow the care guidelines covered here regarding tank size, water parameters, diet, and tank mates to have healthy and thriving synodontis catfish. Let their playful antics liven up your freshwater aquarium.

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Pictus Catfish 101 : Size,Food, breeding & more

Navarro Edwards — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 03:08:37 +0000

Pictus Catfish Size and care, Pictus catfish are a suitable addition to many community freshwater tanks. Their nocturnal nature requires dim lighting or daytime hiding places. These fish have the ability to grow up to a yard long, but most Pictus catfish reared in captivity do not end up with that size.

Common Name: Pictus catfish, Pictus cat.
Scientific name: Pimelodus pictus.
Adult Size: 5 to 6 inches tall.
Life expectancy: 4 to 8 years.

Pictus catfish is a nocturnal fish native to South America. They are found in the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers but have been kept in aquariums for several generations.

Pictus catfish has a smooth silver body with black spots. Like other catfish species, they do not have any external scales. They have common thorns, used to scoop food deep into the substrate, and sharp spines on the pectoral and dorsal fin.

Take care when handling these fish to avoid pricking the spines. These fish are often stuck in nets, so an open container is recommended for handling these fish.

If your hand is pierced by a catfish spine, clean it carefully and do not return your hand to the tank water. Fish healer disease can occur if these wounds are not treated carefully.

If you have any family members with weak immune systems, including young children and the elderly, there is also a risk of fungi spp. Infection, known as “fish tuberculosis”, is associated with fish-related infections.

Being a calm and nocturnal fish, Pictus catfish can be kept with many different species, provided they are not very aggressive during the day while Pictus catfish are hiding. You can keep more than one Pictus catfish in a tank, just keep in mind the large tank size requirements.

When choosing suitable tank mates for peaceful community aquariums, make sure of their water quality parameters, specifically pH, kH, and temperature, everyone agrees.

The most important part of the Pictus catfish habitat is its quiet place to rest during the day. Don’t expect to see Pictus catfish much during the day unless you use dim and mute lighting on your tank.

During the day, make sure you have a cave or log of Pictus catfish to hide in. If you have Pictus catfish, nocturnal species, or bottom feeders, such as Plecostomous spp. Make sure you have enough hiding places for everyone.

Pictus catfish is a carnivore and will easily adapt to a grain diet. Since they are nocturnal fish, be sure to leave some food for them when the tank lighting is off.

In dimly lit tanks, you may see your fish go out to eat with the rest of the tank’s inhabitants. You are welcome to supplement your Pictus catfish with both meat and vegetables.

Don’t expect these species to be cleaned up after the other fish. Although they are bottom-feeding and most likely eating some hangovers, they are not their primary diet and will often require separate feeding due to their nocturnal nature.

In the wild, you’ll find that Pictus Catfish are scavengers and will eat pretty much anything they can find. They are carnivores by nature, so they eat meat and plant matter.

In the warm waters of South America, they will be found eating insects (dragonfly larvae), snails, small fish, and algae.

This makes keeping and feeding catfish extremely easy. They’ll pretty much wear out everything you put in the tub.

As always, the core of your catfish diet should be high-quality pellets. You’ll remember in the behavior section that we said that catfish spend long periods of their time in hidden areas near the bottom of the tank. For this reason, be sure to use soaked pellets. To provide them with some variety, you can always use food such as:

Fresh foods (brine shrimp and heart-shaped beef).
Frozen foods (bloodworms and black worms).
Vegetables.

They will also spend periods of time searching for food in the substrate of your aquarium, so you can let any algae grow because your Pictus will eat them.

As a general rule, they will ignore most of the live foods that live at the top of the dwelling because they don’t want to get away from the bottom of the tank.

Finally, it must be repeated that they have a great appetite. You must make sure to keep it full to prevent the aggressive behavior of small fish in the tank. Additionally, since it produces a lot of waste, you must ensure that water changes are made at least every two weeks (25%).

Unfortunately, the Pictus catfish does not have any external sexual characteristics. With individuals of the same age and care, females may be larger than males.

Breeding the Pictus catfish is not easy. Many advanced amateurs struggle to provide a suitable habitat for these fish to lay their eggs. A very large aquarium is recommended and using a group of fish will definitely increase your chances. Always ensure that all new breeding fish are properly isolated, especially if they come from different sources.

As with any indoor aquarium, it is recommended to provide a breeding or spawning tank separate from the home tank in order to manipulate the chemistry of the water and provide a safe environment for any offspring.

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Corydoras Julii For Sale: Care, Food, Species & Types

Navarro Edwards — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 19:15:39 +0000

In stock wild Corydoras Julii For Sale including other rare and hard to find Cory catfish. Browse our Corydoras for sale such as Pygmy, Panda and Bronze Corydoras and other armored catfish available in stock today. Cory cats are the perfect choice for aquarists because they are hardy and adapt well. Cory catfish are known to be extremely peaceful and very active and entertaining. They are best kept in small groups or colonies of up to 12 catfish. Not only are Corydoras are fantastic at keeping the aquarium clean they are amazing to watching schooling around the tank providing lots of enjoyment. Buy Corydoras Online Today!

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Corydoras Pygmy For Sale: Care, Food, Species & Types

Navarro Edwards — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 10:41:09 +0000

In stock wild Corydoras Pygmy For Sale including other rare and hard to find Cory catfish. Browse our Corydoras for sale such as Pygmy, Panda and Bronze Corydoras and other armored catfish available in stock today. Cory cats are the perfect choice for aquarists because they are hardy and adapt well. Cory catfish are known to be extremely peaceful and very active and entertaining. They are best kept in small groups or colonies of up to 12 catfish. Not only are Corydoras are fantastic at keeping the aquarium clean they are amazing to watching schooling around the tank providing lots of enjoyment. Buy Corydoras Online Today!