Sun / Lima shovel nose catfish

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

Hello everyone this is my first post I am wondering about my 75 gallon tank that I am cycling can you give me some large catfish ideas thanks.

[Jools]

Please don't double post, I have removed your other post asking about the sun catfish. So, I presume its Horabagrus brachysoma you mean?



Cheers

Jools

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

Yes

[sidguppy, posts: 3827]

juveniles can be kept in such a tank, but soon they will outgrow it by a large margin

add to it that this is a social fish; it really should be kept as a group of 4-5 animals.

a loner will not be happy; Horabagrus really likes speciesmembers.

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

I am a little bit skeptical about the sun catfish... On another note what large catfish (besides plecos) could I keep

[racoll, posts: 4492]

Depends on the dimensions of the tank.

The general rule is a fish of adult total length no bigger than 50% of the smallest dimension of the tank (usually its width).

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2317]

Welcome Red Tail Catfish!

This does not belong in the "Other catfish". Maybe "Tank Talk"?

Suggestion: go to Cat-eLog and find a catfish that is the right size for your tank in the second paragraph "Species Information", first line. The length given is the max known, reliable length for that fish in SL (i.e., lacking the tail). Then press one of the three options: "Find near, nearer or same sized spp." This filters the entire Cat-eLog for you! Browse the lists and see what you like, then check the entire page for your candidates paying particular attention to the tank water conditions you are looking to provide your fish with. Then check local availability.

Or start with availability, as many experts suggest, as your first step and then check for the fish's sizes and conditions you have to provide - i.e., Cat-eLog.

Judging from your nickname and the requests for a "large" catfish ideas, you should define what you mean. If you are thinking an RTC - forget it, a 2-footer, then it is still a no. If you are thinking one-footer TL (total length, not SL), it's a "maybe" but even then rather "hardly". Depends on the body mass too and other things. As Racoll says your tank should be 4 times longer and 2 times wider than your fish - rule of thumb. For some actively swimmers, like irridescent sharks, you need even larger quarters, for others, like some pseudopimelodidae, a bit less will still work.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2317]

Sun cats grow slowly. You may be ok with 4-6 of juvies for a year or two but you better have a firm plan how you are gonna keep upgrading their tank to bigger sizes.

[Viktor Jarikov, posts: 2317]

it really should be kept as a group of 4-5 animals. a loner will not be happy; Horabagrus really likes species members.

mine 5 fought sometimes, not viciciously but did for the best hiding places. but they are much emboldened by the presence of their own kind. Otherwise you will rarely see them if ever.

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

Sorry if my name confuses you I am not thinking about getting a rtc just dreaming...

[racoll, posts: 4492]

If you can provide the dimensions of your tank, we might be able to be more specific, and recommend some fish for you ...

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 3/8

[Bas Pels, posts: 1931]

48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 3/8

That's close to 122 * 45 * 55 cm

Í hope the last numger is the width, not the heighth

[Red tail catfish, posts: 11]

Yes the last number is the width

[racoll, posts: 4492]

That's a nice sized tank, and you have lots of options for "medium sized" catfishes.

I wouldn't get anything that gets much larger than 10" or so, and smaller still if its an active swimmer/hunter.

Here's a few ideas, and all should be available in the trade at some point (some more than others):

Pseudopimelodus bufonius
Callichthys callichthys
Gymnallabes typus
Chaca chaca
Anaspidoglanis macrostoma
Chrysichthys ornatus
Ompok pabda
Liosomadoras oncinus
Trachelyopterus galeatus
Liosomadoras morrowi
Pseudomystus siamensis
Bagrichthys macracanthus
Platydoras armatulus
Orinocodoras eigenmanni
Synodontis alberti
Synodontis angelica
Synodontis notata
Synodontis nummifer
Pimelodus pictus