I would split them up if possible,they seem to be very different that most other synos.They change very quickly when they get nasty.

Most of the time you can mix the lake cats with no problems, and some of the more timid river types.I keep many african cats and mix them but some just dont play well with others.Be moe specific on which types and that would help.I think the petricolas do best in 10 or larger schools, you will see ...

Looks like the real deal to me.Seller has pretty good reputation though I have never delt with him myself.

Fronts and decorus would be fine.
But would not put decorus in with active types you listed they are too shy.
Another point is the decorus are very nocternal,probably wont see them much unless feeding .

It really is a shame the way some go out of their way to badger others on the web.

Lot of good information here,one thing thats for sure anything is possible in this hobby.If I had spawned them sure would not be in a hurry for everyone to know till I had it down to a science.
I also tend to follow what I see with my own eyes not what someone on the internet tells me is not ...

I have some in a group and a pair with host fish and the pair produce more for me . i think the larger number of cats disrupt the spawning by compeating with each other.
I have also found that if you strip to late the catfish will eat each other if they run out of cichlid eggs.

I have a decorus that was about 4in when I bought him that is 21 years and still active , and seems to be doing well.

It is tuff get hatches to stay alive ,try adding several air stones to hatching container.I feed after 4 days or so but will need to be mico food of some kind.The container you put them in must be extra clean also add a small pleco works for me.

Keeping them alive now that's the hard part....
I would be interested to know the temperature of your fish room as I have little success keeping them alive in the higher temperatures of summer.I had 5 good dwarf hatches and 1 giant hatch of the larger ones this winter and spring but once June came ...

In my tanks to see the schoaling on a regular basis the group needs to have 10+ members.With less its a hit and miss thing and always some that are loaners,the large males will often bounce around the tank shaking head and moving everyone out of the way.

I have one that is 16 years and it has the typical markings, should be easy to sex at that size.

The last 2 photos are the same fish ,one with flash the other without :?:
When I look in the gallery under petricola I see 3 variations the last picture look like the fish I have to me, but a better picture than I can get.I guess much varity with this fish ,who has dwarf pic's with fish over 4 ...

Couple more shots.
http://img163.echo.cx/img163/4716/img06578dr.jpg
http://img64.echo.cx/img64/126/img06584ro.jpg

The setup is with marbles as you can see in the photo's.The fish are lazy and only active when feeding, normally swim with a snake like side to side action.They became very active ...

I am also breeding the dwarfs ,not the same fish IMHO .Much larger fish and pattern is also not the same.The eggs are larger and mature faster than the dwarfs, also far less mortality rate.
Do others have dwarfs larger than 4inches?

Another shot of fish.
After looking in profiles seems like true petricola.


What ever they are, they are parents.

Anyone currently keeping this fish?
The males are about 6in, and female 41/2 -5 in.

Two cats always fight in my tanks,3 or more works best.Ocellifer will win the battle,can be nasty and will grow much faster, best to seperate till you get more.

Congrats on the fry Sid,must be something in the air this week.I have been trying to spawn the large petricolas for about 2 years and after 100+ water changes,600+ marble washes finaly got eggs today.
I am now crossing fingers to have some make it to adulthood as they are my favorite of the cats.My ...

Good luck with the eggs,possible to do in a 20 but larger is always better.I have found that getting the eggs is the easy part keepping them alive and reach a good size to be the hard part.Seems many die even after hatching unless everything is just perfect.

I would go with the dwarfs ,been working with the giants for a year with no eggs yet but keep hoping.

Anyone have some tips about when you start feeding and what?
I have brine shrimp ready to go but not sure after how many days I should start feeding and if they are too large for the fry.
I would rather not use mico worms unless nessary, never been a problem with the multi's but these cats are so ...

The bottom picture looks like mine,they are a very nice cat.The fins are similar to large petricola with colors reversed.Mine was mixed with other group of cats I bought nice suprise.They are pretty hard to find and always cost quite a bit where I am located.

I have 2 pair of them and they breed very well but I always have several just die after several weeks or even months.I have had them for over a year and tend to give them good care but not sure what I am doing wrong.
Any breeders out there with any tips, I do have them in smaller 10 gal tanks but ...