URGENT - Asian Stone Catfish Temp Question - Arriving Today!

[scteel24]

Hello all - I have 3 Asian Stone Catfish arriving today. I had originally read a temp guideline of 72 - 76 on two different sites. Now I am reading 64 - 75 on another site. My established 10 gallon tank will be their new home and its currently at a steady 76 degrees and has been for two years. Is that temp too high for these little guys? If so, will decreasing the temp to 74 be unhealthy for my existing fish (5 Panda Corys, 1 small Betta, 2 bumblebee gobies) that have been at 76 for so long? I could really use some help on how to proceed.

Thank you!!!

 

[Essjay]

This is the most reliable site. I would go with the temperature they give, 64 to 75 Deg F.

Hara jerdoni (Asian Stone Catfish) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

However, I do feel that this temperature is a bit too low for a betta (which prefer 76 to 82 deg), though it is fine for panda cories.

 

[scteel24]

Thank you! Will lowering the temp one degree bother the established fish? Do I lower it then acclimate the new guys? thank you - I'm still new-ish to the hobby.

 

[Essjay]

If you lower it slowly, the cories and gobies will be fine. But it will then be too cold for the betta. Could you manage another tank of around 5 gallons for the betta? They are best kept alone anyway.....

 

[Byron]

Agree. In addition to temperature differences (there is no "middle ground" with fish having such diverse temperature requirements), the Asian Stone Catfish needs a decent current in the water to ensure good oxygen, and this also will be detrimental to the sedate Betta. As essjay said, the Betta should be on its own anyway, he is worth it.

 

[scteel24]

Well the Betta has been in that tank 2 years and seems healthy and happy. I have 2 air stones on opposite corners for extra current and the Betta often swims up and down in the bubbles. It looks like he's having fun! How do you lower it slowly for one degree? I have a 6 gallon shrimp tank with lots of plants and guppy grass. That tank is at 72 degrees but I have about 60 shrimp. No one told me they were the rabbitss of the ocean - they breed like crazy! I started with 8 adults. Would that tank be better for the catfish?

 

[Essjay]

I would increase the temperature of the 6 gallon to around 78 deg, and move the betta into that. Yes, he will probably eat some of the shrimps, but by the sound of it that's not a bad thing.

 

[scteel24]

I appreciate the help, but he's so healthy looking, active, has a great appetite and seems to enjoy the big tank. I don't know why I'd move him after 2 years. And he would eat all of the baby shrimp - probably to the point of overfeeding - he is a PIG and LOVES to eat.
What I really need to figure out now is which tank to put the catfish into.

 

[Byron]

I have a 6 gallon shrimp tank with lots of plants and guppy grass. That tank is at 72 degrees but I have about 60 shrimp. No one told me they were the rabbitss of the ocean - they breed like crazy! I started with 8 adults. Would that tank be better for the catfish?

Perfect. Ideal. Excellent. [get the drift? )

 

[Byron]

I appreciate the help, but he's so healthy looking, active, has a great appetite and seems to enjoy the big tank. I don't know why I'd move him after 2 years.

Some general observations on this. When a member posts a question, those of us who respond have to keep in mind that not only the member but also many others will read the thread. So it behoves us to not mislead by seeming to agree with this or that unless that is needed. I know that I always respond with the normal behaviour/requirements/temperament of a species, recognizing that there are individual fish that will not adhere to the norm for the species. It is always wiser to assume the norm for a fish, rather than risking the fish (and others in the tank).

Male Bettas should never be placed in a community aquarium because the majority will be under stress either from the attention given to them by other fish or the reverse. Stress causes 95% of all fish disease, so avoiding it clearly is a significant preventative to disease. This attention may be fin nipping, other physical aggression, or just the reading of the chemical communications of fish (pheromones and allomones). Stress usually has no visible external signs when it is relatively mild, but this can change literally overnight. There is more than one thread on this forum describing a Betta that supposedly resided peacefully with other fish for months, until literally overnight is killed one or more fish. None of us can possibly know how a fish "feels" but we can understand the fish's normal behaviours and requirements and provide accordingly if we want to do all we can for its well-being.

 

[scteel24]

If I put the betta in the shrimp tank he will eat them all - kind of defeats the purpose of a shrimp tank. So I still have no answer on the catfish and where to put them, but need to invest in a third tank for the betta.
I welcome the advice of the experts and get that you’re trying to help, but are all of these sites wrong? He’s been in there for 2 years, not just a few months. He has no fin nips or rips. He doesn’t bother the bumblebees and they don’t bother him. The Panda Corys stick to the bottom and don’t bother anyone and vice versa. I honestly came here to get some advice on the new catfish (and I’m still unsure what to do) and now I’m supposed to feel guilty and get my betta his own tank or I’m a horrible pet owner, right? I think with any fish or pet they are individuals. Water parameters, diet, etc. aside, I think you can have a betta live perfectly fine in a community tank, while another betta may not.

https://www.tropicalfishcareguides.com/betta-fish-care/9-excellent-male-betta-fish-tank-mates/
https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/Tankmates-for-Bettas-and-Betta-Fish-in-a-Community-Tank
https://bettafish.org/betta-fish-tank-mates/
https://bettafishawarenessday.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-community-tank-myth.html

 

[Byron]

If I put the betta in the shrimp tank he will eat them all - kind of defeats the purpose of a shrimp tank. So I still have no answer on the catfish and where to put them, but need to invest in a third tank for the betta.

What is wrong with the Asian catfish in the 6g?

 

[scteel24]

Finally! that's what I was asking originally - is it better to set the 10 gallon down 1 or 2 degrees or put them in with the shrimp? Feeding in the shrimp tank will be more difficult as they get a shrimp powder every other day. I've read these fish are nocturnal and shy so trying to get food just to them in the shrimp tank may be difficult. In the 10 gallon, I'll already be feeding what the catfish eat so they are sure to find the leftovers if I don't get it to them directly. Also, the shrimp tank is probably a bit dirtier. The water parameters are good, but I only vacuum the poop (and there’s a lot) once a month because I have so many babies and end up fishing them out of the change bucket, which takes forever. I do biweekly water changes on the ten gallon and the water is crystal clear. I read that the catfish need pristine water. They were all set for the 10 gallon until I read the other temp parameter. Now I'm torn as to what to do.

 

[Byron]

I welcome the advice of the experts and get that you’re trying to help, but are all of these sites wrong? He’s been in there for 2 years, not just a few months. He has no fin nips or rips. He doesn’t bother the bumblebees and they don’t bother him. The Panda Corys stick to the bottom and don’t bother anyone and vice versa. I honestly came here to get some advice on the new catfish (and I’m still unsure what to do) and now I’m supposed to feel guilty and get my betta his own tank or I’m a horrible pet owner, right? I think with any fish or pet they are individuals. Water parameters, diet, etc. aside, I think you can have a betta live perfectly fine in a community tank, while another betta may not.

https://www.tropicalfishcareguides.com/betta-fish-care/9-excellent-male-betta-fish-tank-mates/
https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/Tankmates-for-Bettas-and-Betta-Fish-in-a-Community-Tank
https://bettafish.org/betta-fish-tank-mates/
https://bettafishawarenessday.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-community-tank-myth.html

I tried to explain this issue in post #10. We are safe to assume a fish will behave according to the norm for the species, but individual fish may be different. While this seems to have occurred here, it is not "normal" and it could suddenly not work, there is no way to tell until it happens (or doesn't happen). Fish behaviours are programmed into their DNA and none of us is able to change them.

As for those sites, I can easily answer your question...yes they are all mistaken. Some of the fish they all mention are notorious trouble with a male betta. I don't know who wrote these sites, they don't give their names, but the fact that one of them is "an advanced aquarist of ten years" does not mean he (or she) knows anything about fish behaviour, species, habitats, etc. I prefer taking the advice of the trained biologists and ichthyologists just as I prefer a qualified medical doctor and not a fortune teller at the local fair to tell me about my health. It really is the same thing.

 

[Byron]

Finally! that's what I was asking originally - is it better to set the 10 gallon down 1 or 2 degrees or put them in with the shrimp? Feeding in the shrimp tank will be more difficult as they get a shrimp powder every other day. I've read these fish are nocturnal and shy so trying to get food just to them in the shrimp tank may be difficult. In the 10 gallon, I'll already be feeding what the catfish eat so they are sure to find the leftovers if I don't get it to them directly. Also, the shrimp tank is probably a bit dirtier. The water parameters are good, but I only vacuum the poop (and there’s a lot) once a month because I have so many babies and end up fishing them out of the change bucket, which takes forever. I do biweekly water changes on the ten gallon and the water is crystal clear. I read that the catfish need pristine water. They were all set for the 10 gallon until I read the other temp parameter. Now I'm torn as to what to do.

I can't tell you what to do, but I can provide guidance on the needs of the fish. The Asian Stone catfish need a tank (3 gallons is minimum) with some water current and a temperature around 70F (64-75 F is the range on SF). Their habitat tells us the temperature and the clean water aspect.