Cave Biotope For Mexican Cave Fish?

[Kevin_D]

I have some Blind Cave Fish, and would like to set up a cave biotope for them if possible, are there other Central American cave dwelling Fish commonly available that would be compatible with them? any idea's for designing a cave biotope also welcomed.

Thanks

 

[Kevin_D]

*bump*

anyone?

 

[ennbee]

Don't know about other cave dwelling fish from Mexico, but as far as decor goes I'd just build piles of rocks with gaps large enough for the fish to swim through.

 

[mlawson]

Nice idea, I like Biotopes.

Well obviously lighting would be subdued or none at all. Rocks piled on eachother to create caves. I'm not sure if there would be a specific substrate but you could just have rocks. I don't know of any fish that would inhabit the same waters as them, there is the cave molly which comes from Mexico but I think it comes from different caves, rich in an acid.

Sorry I can't help you much.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[OohFeeshy]

There's a few cave biotopes around, I recall a book I found in the library had one. Main components tend to be dark substrate, lava rock walls, subdued lighting- not many plants normally. As for other fish, Fishbase doesn't give many hints, although there's a few fish that *look* like they might belong there- albino cories, for instance. There's a few cave loaches but they're impossible to get.

 

[Kevin_D]

there is the cave molly which comes from Mexico but I think it comes from different caves, rich in an acid.

Cave Molly's sound interesting, Ive looked up information, are they Poecilia mexicana? do you think they would like a neutral to slightly alkaline ph, cool temperature (22-23c) and be compatible with Blind Cave Fish?

There's a few cave biotopes around, I recall a book I found in the library had one. Main components tend to be dark substrate, lava rock walls, subdued lighting- not many plants normally. As for other fish, Fishbase doesn't give many hints, although there's a few fish that *look* like they might belong there- albino cories, for instance. There's a few cave loaches but they're impossible to get.

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll look to get dark substrate (at the moment they have silica sand) and larva rock's for them, albino Corydora's are a good idea, I dont think the Blind Cave Fish will bother them much, or at all.

another edit:

For anyone interested in biotopes, I found this great site, that even lists Fish species by region and country, and gives advice on setting up various biotopes.

http/fish.mongabay.com/biotope.htm

 

[Kevin_D]

Ive given up on the biotope, after having difficulties finding suitable species, but im still going to set up their tank to look like a cave, with species that wont look out of place in with them, ive got some small albino Corydoras, and albino Bueno's Aries Tetra's, in a few weeks time Im getting a larger tank for them, then a few weeks later once theyve settled into the new tank I'll be adding more fish, I havent decided what species yet, maybe a small, albino or light coloured Catfish.

 

[jimw13uk]

For anyone interested in biotopes, I found this great site, that even lists Fish species by region and country, and gives advice on setting up various biotopes.

http/fish.mongabay.com/biotope.htm

Thanks for the link - just had a look at it and it seems I've done a South American Blackwater Stream Biotope without realising it - excellent
So now I have that I can replicate it into my new tank - what a great site

 

[Kevin_D]

Does anyone know if any Loach or Eel-like fish species can be kept with Blind Cave Fish, Corydoras aeneus and Buenos Aeries Tetra? as I would like to keep one, or a small group of one species when I have a larger tank if possible, preferably a species lacking in pigment, or naturally drab-coloured. My tank their in at the moment is 2ft x 1ft, Im hoping to get a 4ft x at least 1.5-2ft tank in the next couple of weeks though.

 

[The_Dude]

There are dojo loaches and khuli loaches that are albino-ish, that is, they still have pigment in their eyes but not in their skin, and I've encountered albino peacock spiny eels.They're all not too common though.In fact, they're nearly impossible to find unless your LFS has found a way to breed albinos to make a batch of albino fry, but highly unlikely.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Are you looking for just albino fish, or fish that look like they belong in a cave?

 

[Kevin_D]

Ive just got an albino/golden dojo loach, its small at the moment, but seems to be doing ok.

Are you looking for just albino fish, or fish that look like they belong in a cave?

Both, preferably cave dwelling Fish, but also albino, and other Fish that wont look out of place in with them all, and wouldnt be bothered at the same temperature as the others (currently at 24c) or with long fins, that would become a target for the blind cave fish.

 

[n3ont3tra]

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=2532 - Dusky Panther Goby
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=2526 - Dragon Goby
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=2519 - Ghost Catfish
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=1881 - whiptail cat
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=1172 - red tailed shark
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=1171 - there's an albino rainbow shark
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=940 - Royal Farrowella Cat

Also, many synodotis catfish would look nice, IMO.

All of these fish are fish that I don't think would look out of place in a cave setup. I haven't owned any of these, so I can't tell you much about them. I was only trying to give you ideas. Also, some of these fish need large tanks and they may not be suited to live with each other. Research a little before you make your decision, there's lots of options.

EDIT: Not sure about the temperature, either.