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Hi again. The first time I tried to add the picture of gravel for your opinion, I couldn't do it, but I think I've got the idea now . So, here's my gravel, with a green pea in the middle for size comparison. Do you think this gravel will cause barbel irritation and barbel loss to cory pandas?. thanks Robyn

Attached Image:


Cheers
TW

i have a feeling that i read somewhere about barbel loss being attributed more to water parameters than substrate. (can't remember which parameters, tho...) your gravel looks pretty much like mine, and i have no barbel issues with my trilineatus. i had the same gravel when i owned pandas for many years in the past too.

Small rounded gravel is better than sharp pointed gravel for Corydoras. In any case, the one you'll choose must be kept clean from dirt & un eaten foods.


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Hello. I've been reading & re-reading Calilasseia's article re: Panda Catfish, and this made me come up with a Q. in an earlier thread, the gist of which I'll repeat here. Quoting from the article: "....Cory Panda Catfishes will NOT tolerate gunk-filled gravel beds, which again will prove catastrophically fatal....". As I'm starting to dream of the idea of having some sort of green carpet or lawn style plant (don't know what) in the tank. In my mind, it will be a solid cover of plant in the section of the tank where I plant it eg. no gaps of gravel showing through at all. I wondered if this will make gravel vac in that area impossible, resulting in an unsuitable environment for my future Panda's. If so, I'll drop that idea & go back to the idea of lots of individual plants, where I can gravel vac. What does everyone think?

The other Q. I have from reading the article relates to the following comment: Quote: "..take care with substrate choices in the Panda aquarium - rounded gravel and sand particles to avoid barbel irritation and barbel loss are the order of the day..." I'm going to try to upload a picture (hope this works) of my gravel here & would appreciate comments from anyone if they think my gravel is not suitable for Panda's. To get an idea of size, there is a green pea shown for comparison. Unfortunately, I'm kinda stuck with the gravel, as I really can't afford to replace it. So if the verdict is it will cause damage to barbel, maybe I'll have to research a different fish. If anyone can give me their opinion, I'd appreciate that. Thanks, Robyn.

Oh well, that didn't work. I'll have to see if the kids can help me later :#(

Last edited by robynj at 24-Jan-2006 21:15

Cheers
TW

I don't know about gunk, but in my twenty long, the floor is consistently covered in a layer of mulm as a result of incredibly messy panaqolus. That being said, the "aeneus" orange stripe in the tank are as barbelly as ever.

thanks for the advice.

Cheers
TW