How many Pseudomystus siamensis?

[iam1ru12]

I saw some Siamese catfish (Pseudomystus siamensis) in an LFS today and I was thinking of getting one to join my catfish community 50g tank. At the moment, there are 5 upside-down catfish (Synodontis nigriventris), 3 banjo catfish (Bunocephalus coracoideus), 1 striped raphael (Platydoras costatus), and two - one albino & one regular - leopard plecos (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps).

I'm thinking I could still accommodate the Siamese catfish. How many would anyone who has had this fish recommend I should get?

[Silurus]

They can be territorial, so if you do get more than one, I hope you have enough hiding spaces.
Given the number of fish you already have in there and taking into account potential growth sizes, I'd stick to only one.

[iam1ru12]

Yeah, I was thinking of only one considering the presence of the striped raphael, which could be considered conspecific, so I would probably hear some clicking sounds at night.

I guess I'll just get one.

Thanks for the reply.

[Richard B]

How would you consider the siamensis a conspecific of the platydoras?

[iam1ru12]

How would you consider the siamensis a conspecific of the platydoras?

IMO there's a similarity in their shape.

[Richard B]

Ok - i thought you might be trying to reference their similar colouring. Personally i don't think the body shapes are similar, but maybe i'm being picky

However conspecific means "of the same species" which these two fish obviously aren't. I hope i'm not sounding critical, i'm not trying to be, but some people are very "uptight" about correct terminology - i learnt the hard way

[iam1ru12]

You're right, "of the same species" maybe the literal meaning of conspecific. But I've read in other fora that there are those who consider the Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri), the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) and the stonelapping minnow (Garra cambodgiensis) as conspecifics, simply because they look like each other, particularly when talking about "aggression".

I'm not a native English speaker, so I may have used the wrong term, so I stand corrected.

[MatsP]

Whilst Richard is technically correct, many fish will treat "similar looking/behaving fish" as "conspecifics", even if they technically are not the same species.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Hey no worries - as Mats points out it is a description that can be used with fish that are really similar like those you mention. I didn't think it would apply to the platydoras & pseudomystus - so if i'm wrong, i stand corrected.