needing suggestions for a catfish

tx26257 · Post by **tx26257** » 04 Nov 2005, 15:15

I have a 125 gallon tank and want a catfish to go in this tank. I will also me stock african cichlids malawi

Jackster · Post by **Jackster** » 04 Nov 2005, 18:13

A group of 6 or so Synodontis multipunctatus will work well with Malawians.

jhunbj · Post by **jhunbj** » 11 Nov 2005, 04:13

What kind of african cichlids? Mbuna or Haps?

You could also put a group of petricolas.

toddnbecka · Post by **toddnbecka** » 30 Nov 2005, 08:50

If you don't want a group, Synodontis decorus or S. eupterus would work as a single catfish for the tank, or one of each. Eupterus are commonly available, and probably the most inexpensive, though you could keep several in a tank that size with the malawi's.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 30 Nov 2005, 13:00

I wouldn't use Synodontis decorus.
most often this is a much more peaceful species (apart from slight territorial agression), a bit clumsy, shy and fairly slowmoving.
and it developes elongated finrays on both dorsal and upperlobe of the caudal.

so if you have a tank full of Mbuna (like most Malawi-keepers) DON'T add this one; use the much more assertive ocellifer/angelicus/nigrita/eupterus as a single Synodontis.

decorus will be fine with Peacocks, sandchewers like Fossochromis or Cyrtocara or Haps.

Tanganyikan Syno's are great; they're used to the waterparameters (Tanganyika and Malawi have very similar water) and to dense cichlid-populations with territorial issues as well!
however S multipunctatus is THE Chuckoo-cat.....and hence, might disrupt spawnings.
if that's not a problem; this is your catfish.
if it IS, go for any other Tanganyikan species, from the tiny S "petricola dwarf" right up to the large, stunningly beautiful but expensive granulosus.