Glass Catfish

[platyperson]

I want to get glass catfish but need to know if they are compatible with platys in a 21 gallon tank,
I have a strong current, but my Ph is 8 will this be ok?

 

[Bloomjack]

yer the glass fish like a bit of current but must be kept in groups. The fish dont really like flake though

 

[bunjiweb]

Sounds fine to me. In 21 Gallons you should get a group of 6 glass cats if you dont have too much else in the tank. Just remember not to overstock with delicate fish such as this

I have 8 of them in a 55G with 5 african glass cats and they are a great addition to a tank on the whole.

Ben

 

[platyperson]

Cool, I have three platies and plan to get a Passive betta, and a shoal of 6 Glass cats.
Would that be overstocking?

 

[pahansen]

I think that might be pushing it. How big do your platies get to be?

We were recently looking into glass catfish (for a future 55 gallon tank), and it appears as though there are multiple fish called by that common name. Two get to be about 6" in length (Kryptopterus bicirrhis and Parailia pellucida), the other gets to be about 3"-3.5" in length (Kryptopterus minor).

In other words, if you are careful to buy the Kryptopterus minor and you keep 6 of them (the smallest group you should keep), you've suddenly added about 18"-21" of fish to your 21 gallon tank. That is what many people consider to be a fully populated tank already, and you still have the platies (and possibly a betta) to consider.

While I agree that the glass cats are very cool fish, I would probably be inclined to give the glass cats a pass until I could have a larger tank or until I could use the 21 gallon as a "species only" tank.

This is just my two cents, but why risk the health of the fish you care for or force yourself into constant monitoring of the tank because of potential overstocking levels if you don't have to?

Good luck,
Pamela

 

[bunjiweb]

3 platies and 6 glass ghost cats would leave the middle and top water fully stocked, I wouldnt push it by getting a betta aswell. If you want glass cats I would leave it at that, and then get some ottos or corys for the bottom feeders.

Ben

 

[Mr Miagi]

By glass cat do you mean this in the photo below? If you do, they are fine in groups like ppl above had said. I would go for 6-8. Plus your mollies and some small bottum feeders like corries and u will be well stocked.

They do eat flake. just make sure any food u feed em goes past their faces. It sounds strange, but they will not go to the bottum to look for food.

Goodluck, Benny

(damm, i forgot pic) sorry.... )

Here is a link instead. http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/glasscat.htm

 

[Raechal]

I hardly ever see my glass cats eat anything! I occasionally see them swallow a flake if it goes right infront of their face. I've tried blood worms but they won't eat those either. None of my LFS carry daphnia either.

 

[Mr Miagi]

I hardly ever see my glass cats eat anything! I occasionally see them swallow a flake if it goes right infront of their face. I've tried blood worms but they won't eat those either. None of my LFS carry daphnia either.

Try and get the food right passed them. If you dont, chances are they will not look for food. That is why they swim in the water flow. Because they want food to come to them. I use BS and blodworm and i release it defrosted infront of where they swim and my guys always eat it. Plus they know now to come to the surface for their fav. flake.

 

[Raechal]

I hardly ever see my glass cats eat anything! I occasionally see them swallow a flake if it goes right infront of their face. I've tried blood worms but they won't eat those either. None of my LFS carry daphnia either.

Try and get the food right passed them. If you dont, chances are they will not look for food. That is why they swim in the water flow. Because they want food to come to them. I use BS and blodworm and i release it defrosted infront of where they swim and my guys always eat it. Plus they know now to come to the surface for their fav. flake.

I try to send the bloodworms and flakes near the filter so the flow of the water will push the food infront of them but they never go for it. I hope they are getting food when I am not looking or something. I used to have four, but two died recently and now I only have 2 left.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Its a bummer about thme passing away. I still have 7 from my original 8. (one lost his swim bladder, so i euthanised him) Anyways....its better if they are kept in groups of atleast 5-6. Then they feel more at ease.

Try flake, which im sure you have. It stays on the waters surface longer so they are more likely to come to the surface and eat if they are hungry. How big are their silver "bags". i refer to their stoimach wall, the silve thing under behind their heads. If they are tiny, they are not gettin enough, if they are big like mine. U know they are ok.

 

[bunjiweb]

It is best to feed them just after you turn your tank lights off. I use small granules that slowly sink down. They seem to go for these no problem and They have grown fast and look great

Ben

 

[Raechal]

Its a bummer about thme passing away. I still have 7 from my original 8. (one lost his swim bladder, so i euthanised him) Anyways....its better if they are kept in groups of atleast 5-6. Then they feel more at ease.

Try flake, which im sure you have. It stays on the waters surface longer so they are more likely to come to the surface and eat if they are hungry. How big are their silver "bags". i refer to their stoimach wall, the silve thing under behind their heads. If they are tiny, they are not gettin enough, if they are big like mine. U know they are ok.

Yea when I first bought them I knew nothing about them and had them in a 10 gallon. I moved them to a 29 gallon and only one survived. Then I bought two more because they were 8$ each and that was all I had! But then the oldest one died so now I only have the two that I recently bought. I just don't have good luck with them I guess. I know what "bags" you are talking about. One's is always full and fat and the other is really thin.

 

[Bloomjack]

yer glass catfish are nocturnal little fishys