new kid in town

[november, posts: 31]

hi there,i'm new here.

after several years of keeping other fish i'm getting more and more interrested in catfish.

i've got quite a few questions but first of all this:

my tank contains over 700 ltrs and my idea is to make it a mystic dark one,stuffed with a lot of wood and some artificial rocks.

i'd like to see a group of day-active catfish,not shy and ofcourse not too big (tank is 1.6 mtrs wide only), wich ones you think'll suit me?


for now,everything is still open,it doesn't matter what continent because the rest wil be "build" around these fish.

i really hope you guys can help me a little further.

thanks in advance.

[Jools]

Welcome along!

Jools

[MatsP]

Welcome to Planet Catfish, November.

As to recommending fish, it's always difficult, partly because what I think is a "Nice fish", someone else thinks isn't so nice (for whatever subjective reasons). Catfish that is constantly active are pretty rare. There is Corydoras, but they are relatively small (but a LARGE shoal of Corydoras in a large tank would look stunning). Some of the Pimelodidae can be quite active and outgoing, but my experience is that they tend to hide if they are not hungry (or there is no food available).

What other fish are you planning to keep?

--
Mats

[bigamefish, posts: 311]

welcome along! nice to see new members! in my experience a pimelodus pictus would be a good fit for an active cat! i had a single one and he was as active as any fish! so i can`t imagine how active a group might be! so if you picked up a group you could have a lively tank! and the best thing is that they are a very avalible and cheap fish!

[corybrummie2010, posts: 482]

Hello and welcome to PlanetCatfish

[november, posts: 31]

thanks.

with recommending i meant as "living in shoals,day active and not too shy/big".

helpfull was the link to pimelodidae and strangely enough i found P.pictus a fitting kandidate,i like the ones with tentacles.
for example: S.limas are very nice but unfortunately a little too big.

now i know a little more were to look the search is started.

suggestions for above are appreciated.

[november, posts: 31]

now the saerch is a little further a next question came up.

"husbandry" doesn't tell me too much about living in a group (5,6,maybe 7 fish'is what i have in mind).

the ones who caught my eye are basically Mochokidae (Synodontis) and every fish between 16 and 22 cm would be great i suppose.

overall,the ones i discribed will they do well in a group,not every specie will be available offcourse.

[Birger]

A good active Synodontis that is great in a group is Synodontis brichardi...and they can be found with some looking, these are rheophilic.

Lake Tanganyikan synos Synodontis lucipinnis or Synodontis grandiops are day active, good in a group but like more of a rock habitat, which can still be set up nicely.

Birger

[MatsP]

I second the S. brichardi suggestion, and would add Synodontis decora to the list of "social Synos". They can be a little hard to find, and there are hybrids about, which means there may be fish that looks similar to S. decora but aren't "right". Stripey tail and dorsal fin extension are the signs to look for.

--
Mats

[Richard B, posts: 6306]

If its a mystical dark tank stuffed with lots of wood...how about Mystus bimaculatus?

[Marc van Arc]

November, it may be wise to choose several species you'd like from the Cat-elog and put them in this thread or rather start a new one. By doing so other members may be able to help you out in a better way, as there is quite some choice and only you know what you'd really like to keep.
Also, people don't expect your current question in an introduction topic, so there won't be many replies.

Possible title of that new thread: help me find a shoaling and visible catfish (or some such).

Welcome btw.

[Phyllonemus, posts: 281]

Welcome to the best Catfish forum .