dilemma with glass catfish

orthikon

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Aug 22, 2005
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I currently have a 10 gal (that was given to me) with a featherfin syno 3 blackskirt tetras (2 of them are new to the tank a week old, this was my solution to reduce the aggression of the lone tetra that was chasing the now dead glass catfish) and a now lone glass catfish (his partner died http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56587)

The tetras and the glass catfish get along pretty well. They don't chase him down or anything, they even swim close together at times. But when it comes to feeding time the lone glass catfish seems to be intimidated by the three tetras.

I don't have the time/money for a bigger tank right now as I know that my syno and glass catfish would be better off in a bigger tank (plan to get a 30 in the near future).

The dilemma is that glass cats are schooling fish and I only have one but adding more would make all the fish stressed (I'm thinking that 2 more glass cats would make the tank crowded). However leaving him alone there isn't really a good idea too. Should I settle for just 1 more glass cat?

I'm not really concerned about a spike in the cycle as I have monitored my levels and it was zero since I am using Cycle (the product) and it seems to be working with me.

Any opinions on this? Any other solutions? Anything else I should consider?
 
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maybe bring it to the LFS and get a school of them when you eventually upgrade.
 
If you tank is cycled then why are you using Cycle? That seems to be a waste of money when the benificial bacteria will already have grown in the tank.
 
wataugachicken : u mean like have the LFS store it for me or should I sell it to them?

TKOS: I used it before to cycle my tank because LFS sold it to me and I didn't know better. I'm not not using anymore. The last time I used it was when put the new fish in to prevent a spike in the cycle.
 
The Synodontid caltfish is too large for the ten. If you want to keep that fish you need to upgrade the tank.

The suggestion was to return the fish. If want to board the fish it would cost you substantial amounts of money, that is not practical.
 
Unfortunately the tank was given to me and I don't think the original owner still has the receipts for the fish.

I have plans on getting a 30 gal for the syno to give him more room then eventually a 50 gal if space allows.

So should I get one or perhaps two more glass catfish to accompany my lone one? Would my tank be overstocked then?
 
I would avoid any new fish until you either get rid of syno or get a new tank. No snese adding to an overcrowded tank as that will more likely lead to stress than stop it. I would persoanlly see about trading the syno for a couple of glass catfish and then down the road if you geta bigger tank then get a new syno.
 
sell it or most likely get store credit for it. you don't usually need a receipt to bring live fish back b/c they can sell it again, and it's doubtful that they will give you the whole cost of the fish. if they sell it for 5 bucks, they may give you 3 or 4 for it.
 
Trading the syno for a couple of glass catfish seems to be a good idea.

I looked at your tank specs and notice you have snails/shrimps as algae eaters. I'm thinking of doing the same unless anyone can suggest a bottom feeder/algae eater fish that works in a 10 gal.
 
The best alage reducing method in a small tank is control of nutrients and an algae sponge scrubber. Reduced feedinga nd large weekly water changes will generally keep algae low with minimal work on your part.
 
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