Going to be new catfish owner, help with stocking, cories or pleco?

Philnominal

39 gallon would be more then enough for a bristlenose, but remember they still need driftwood in their diet.

Byron

Agree. As for catfish in groups, depends upon the species. Our profiles include this info. I recognize not all catfish are in the profiles, there are thousands of "catfish" out there.

LyzzaRyzz

I actually just read though all the catfish files, and most of them are cories, and alot of them dont have the tank mins! Gave me a few ideas though, for other tanks in the future..

I know they need driftwood, my mom has a habit of collecting it, and ill soak and boil it before i do anything with them..

I think Ill coerse my boyfriend into walking to the petstore to check out species they have...heheh.

Akeath

If you are looking for a small catfish for a 10 gallon, you might try Corydoras pygmaeus. These guys are very tiny. They are more social than regular sized Cories, so you should try to get a large group of them - like 8. Corydoras hastatus would also work.

SomeDudeAtHome

If I were you I would put the beta in the 10 gallon with some pygmy cories. Corydoras Habrosus is a great little fish. I have a small school with my beta in a 5g and they get along fine. I also don't have an aggressive beta so it works out nicely. Tank is moderatley planted too and I do atleast 2 but usually 3 water changes a week

Set the 39 up as a regular tropical tank with a bristlenose some tetras and maybe some other fish. I have 2 tanks going on right now (the beta tank and a 40g breeder) and it's much more enjoyable to be able to provide the fish with a correct home where you can tell they're happy.

LyzzaRyzz

Okay, so here's my choices..

There is a mature bristle nose, at 4 inches

Two banjo cats, also mature at 4 inches each, store has owned them for two years.

Grass cutters, not matured, but small, only two inches, my friend got some about a year ago, and they only ended up 5 inches, same breeder and species.

I'm leaning towards a couple grass cutters and a banjo cat?
I have a 20 gal I scrounged up..could I get both banjos and three cutters?

1077

Some research would reveal that Betta's originate from Southeast Asia and are found in shallow rice fields and ditches ,where high temps means oxygen depleted water, hence,,the fish have developed Labyrinth organs which allow them to breath from the surface of the water where oxygen is in gretaer supply.
In contrast,,the corydoras are found in river's and small streams where running water = more oxygen and deeper depths where water is much cooler.The two species do NOT share same enviornmental condition's.
Those who think different are misguided.(Wrong)
Fishes kept in condition's uncomfortable to them, are more prone to become stressed which weakens their immune sytem= sickly fish.
Keeping fish in comfortable enviornment's is the difference between fishes that live four or five weeks,or month's,and fishes that live long healthy lives of a few year's.
Cory's with exception of Sterbai corydoras will fair poorly over the long haul in temps much above 76 degree's F and 72 degree's would be much more to their liking.
Betta's are tropical fishes, that have evolved to do well in the warmer tropical temps where they can as mentioned, take oxygen from the air at, and above the surface and when kept in cooler water's, they often become sluggish due to decrease in metaboloisim, and are more prone to health issues for the cool water also slows digestive process and fishes become more prone to bloat and immune system is also hampered.

Bristlenose pleco's with good care, grow to around six inches with four to five inches being more common in aquaria.
They prefer oxygen rich water a bit on the cooler side of 78 degree's F and appreciate as mentioned earlier..moderate current, along with some driftwood to help with digestive process and or smooth stones fashioned into caves where they can rest.

39 gal tank would in my view allow for a group of five or six cory's and one bristlenose and perhaps some small tetra like fishes most of which also enjoy cooler temps.
Leave the betta to himself and way less problems IMHO

LyzzaRyzz

I am aware of the bettas labyrinth organ, and where they come from, and i know that cories and most if not all, catfish need lots or aeration, and water movement. I have two air pump powered filters in the tank, and soon to be another. The way i have it set up, I have a baffler for most of the movement, though there is a section that has more movement than the rest, but my betta likes to ride the current to the other side, rest, then do it all again!
78* is on the cooler side? thats a bettas prime temp! Thats my tanks temp always.

So, even with all that, If it comes down to it, i will move the betta into another 2.5 that i have, and Ill have the tank as a catfish tank.
so from my above post, heres the list of what i can get at my LPS..

There is a mature bristle nose, at 4 inches

Two banjo cats, also mature at 4 inches each, store has owned them for two years.

Grass cutters, not matured, but small, only two inches, my friend got some about a year ago, and they only ended up 5 inches, same breeder and species.

I'm leaning towards a couple grass cutters and a banjo cat?

Byron

Others may, like me, be wondering what fish "grass cutters" are?

Jayy

I know I am, LOL