New fish ideas

[Iamfish]

So i have a 55 gallon tank with just 4 fish in it (cory cat,albino bristlenose, blonde rubber pleco, peacock eel). I had other fish but about a year ago there was a tank cleaning disaster that killed most of the fish and for personal reasons i was unable to get more fish until now. The fish i have in there now are great but the tank looks so empty so i want to add maybe 5 or 6 Kryptopterus vitreolus and was wondering how you guys thought they would work in this tank and what other fish you guys would recomend.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Things other than tank mates matter too. For instance, water hardness, pH, temp, current strength, planted vs not, furniture, substrate vs bare, the substrate kind, etc.

I think the glass catfish could work but I'd leave it up to people who actually keep them to advise you. I know they like to be in a group, as you indicated, and that they are rather delicate and sensitive, not hardy.

As for other catfish, I'd recommend browsing through Cat-eLog and/or filtering it by size to see what other catfish you'd find attractive, available, and affordable. Pimelodus pictus is a staple in the hobby. Smaller woodcats would work too. Lancer catfish, black or harlequin, may work. Hoplo cats. Among natives, madtoms.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Small Doradidae come to mind too of Hassar genus and others, black top mouse catfish.

[bekateen]

I think glass cats might not do well with the other fish you have, specifically the rubber lip. I kept glass cats before; they lived for a few years. Their tank mates were albino corys, clown plecos and a few relatively peaceful barbs. Glass cats are shy and tend to hide in still, quiet waters. My concern is your rubber lip: Rubber lips really like well circulated, well oxygenated water. Maintaining both conditions at the same time will be a challenge.

Cheers, Eric

[Iamfish]

The black top mouse cat seems really cool i will look into if my lfs can get some for me. How many would do well in a 55 i saw that they do beter in groups

[Viktor Jarikov]

Hassar orestis can with time reach ~8" total length (7" standard length), so I'd think a trio could be tried in a 55 gal. If you plan to upgrade to say 120 gal after they reach 5"-6" TL, half a dozen could be tried.

There is a plethora of other even smaller growing Doradids.

[Iamfish]

I think im gonna pass on the Hassar orestis because i am not able to get a bigger tank and i dont't want them do be cramped in a not be happy. The Megalechis thoracata seems like a good fish, it seems easy to obtain, hardy, and the right size. Anything i should know about that might not work with the fish i have?

[Viktor Jarikov]

I kept Trachydoras species that were nice and only ~2". A lot like cory. https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/vie ... rachydoras

Hoplo would work in your tank, I believe.

[Iamfish]

Finally was able to get my hoplo from my lfs today

[kvnbyl]

handsome hoplo, i've had 2 for the last 10 years and they are doing great. when it's quiet they come out.

[Bas Pels]

Mine don't need quiet to come out - I almost always see them