Looking for catfish suggestions

[LD50]

Hey guy's n' gal's. I am looking for a catfish that will max out at no more than 20" in size I'm guessing (tank foot print is 72"x24" ). and be able to hold his own in a tank of agressive medium sized cichlids such as cyanoguttatus, Midas and Trimaculatus. I just want to add some diversity to my tank and think a cat would be a cool addition, but I'm not sure where to even begin in species selection. So I'm open to all suggestions and information about doing this, thanks!

[MatsP]

I wouldn't go over 12" in a 72" x 24" tank (at least not much over - 20" in a 24" wide tank is a very tight fit).

Also, all of those fish that you list are Central American species which will like the hard water you find in large portions (if not all) of Texas. Most of the Catfish from Tropical America come from South America, which prefer soft water (and slightly warmer) - there are a few species in Central America, but it's not many, and they are very rare to find in the shops.

Obvious very tolerant choices are big pleco, or perhaps a "previously owned" large

Doradidae

, such as

Platydoras armatulus

- they can grow quite large, and live for a very long time.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Does it have yo be a SA cat? There are a few synos that could be included...

[Bijn]

Mystus leucophasis

would be ok I guess. Not fussy about water parameters and not too fragile. It eats everything and is not shy. And as a bonus: it isn't really a bottom dweller, thats a good thing since it must live with cichlids.


Some Clarias would be a good suggestion to I think.

[MatsP]

Does it have yo be a SA cat? There are a few synos that could be included...

Good point - especially those from rift Lakes could be fine - although the post was in South American....

--
Mats