Can they burrow?

[captmicha]

I want to plant some kind of grassy looking plants in my aquarium. I'd really like for it to fill the bottom of the tank, fully or at least most of it.

Would this be a problem for my banjo catfish? I have two and they're always under the substrate in their current tank.

And if I can't stir up the substrate when I'm siphoning, is that going to cause a toxic nightmare?

[davcheng]

My banjo cats dug up some of my plants that didn't have deep roots, but they don't cause too much harm to big plants (swords, etc). I use play sand and haven't really rooted around for a while now, and none of my fish have died (have had this tank for about 6 months now). MTS can help with the rooting around in the substrate.

[captmicha]

It came out the wrong way, I meant, would my banjos still be able to burrow? I don't care if they mess up the plants, I just want them to be comfy.

What does MTS stand for?

[davcheng]

Yes they'll still burrow, they always seem to find a way! and MTS stands for malaysian trumpet snails (SP).

[toddnbecka]

Get several more, Banjo's are social critters. Besides, they don't add much to the bioload...

[captmicha]

I have a lot of bottom dwellers though, should I still get more?

[TwanDizzle]

sorry for thread theft, but I need to focus more on catfish. I've been obsessed with fish for a few years now, and the only catfish i've ever heard of in an aquarium is syno's, cories, oto's, and plecos. I don't even know if plecos are in fact catfish... but anyway, i had never heard of rafaels or banjos until last week, when i went into the new LFS in town. I didn't pay attention to the labels on the tank, but I saw this butt-ugly fish wedged between 2 leaves of a fake plant, and another laying on the ground next to it, and then i looked at the label and saw banjo... i came home and googled it up, and thought "i gotta have one!" ... same thing happened with the rafael, but it was on the second trip. still no fish yet, but i know what i want!

[toddnbecka]

Check out planetcatfish.com if you want to focus on catfish, the entire sire is all about them. Incidentally, pleco's are indeed catfish.

[Ozymandias]

what plant are you planing on using?

[captmicha]

You find them ugly? I think they're cute! For some reason, without meaning to, most of my tank is bottom dwellers and most of them are catfish. Maybe it's my scale phobia subconsciously directing me on what to buy.

I haven't decided what plants I want yet. I usually just go to my favorite lfs and pick out what looks nice. I keep my tank in a window with no supplemental lighting and I've had great success with other than low light level plants. Low light ones too.

[toddnbecka]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person finds ugly, another sees as exquisite, and who is to say which is right or wrong?
Personally, I've always liked the appearance of banjo cats, but it's simply the fact that they're seldom seen that stops me from keeping/breeding them. I prefer pleco's, prettier overall when they do show themselves.