PlanetCatfish.com

I am setting up my 250 gallon tank, the tank has these specs: Lenght: 80", Width: 31" ,Height: 23" so it has a quite good size base for that size tank.

What I am looking for might be one of the semi- large pimelodids. I am not sure, I used to keep a Psaudoplatystoma fasciatum (TSN) but it was too nervous and "non-interacting" for my taste. I have kept a red tail once and even a large H. wyickii, both of these were very aware of the people watching them. I liked that. Pluss they weren't nervous at all. Actually you coulden't scare the wickii if you tried . A scary fish.

So, I was wondering if the B. juruense could be something for me, I love the duckbill shape, but I want a fish that's not nervous.

The tank's main purpose will be to show off some big clown knifefishes, so the catfish can't be very territorial and brutal, just robust and with nerves of steel.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I have fallen in love with the M. tigrinus but.... I guess that's out of the question. Also, other species than pimelodids are interesting too.

(sorry for typeos and stuff, it's been some years since I was in the game, and knew all the scientific names of things

The tank's main purpose will be to show off some big clown knifefishes

I take it the clown knife fish are Chitala ornata.
If it is, why? not put some Asian Cats into your tank.
for example:- Clarias batrachus, Mystus gulio or a few vittatus, maybe;a couple of Hetropneustes fossilis,
saying that years ago a friend of mine had a large Giraffe cat (A occidentalis) in his tank and that was quite an active fish.He had some large cory cats in with it, and it never bothered them. I saw it vacuming up the sand in amongst the cory, and it gentley moved them to one side.

I want to keep several individuals of a few species rather than a lot of different species. So I must choose wisely.

I have concidered getting a handful of Hetropneustes fossilis, I think their body shape will match nicely with the knifefish. Do you know if they can be kept together in groups? I think I remember that I have seen them fight each other at the LFS.

Do you know if they can be kept together in groups? I think I remember that I have seen them fight each other at the LFS

They do tend to squabble amongst themselves, especially if two or three are kept together, this squabbling, seems to diminish the more you keep together, this may be a type of hierarchy thing with them? and that the squabbling is nothing more than trying to get closer together for safety; seeking the middle part of the pack, in a manner of speaking.
Iâ??ve seen as many as twenty in a 350 gallon tank, and they all seemed healthy, and they all stayed in close proximity; sort of grouping together. Sometimes the group were tightly bunched. Also have you read the cat-e-log file on them.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/cl ... /134_f.php

Another nice match for large Knifefishes are large Synodontis.

a small group (say 4-5) of S decorus will do fine, and they look at least as pretty as any Notopterus. other peaceful Syno's are S pleurops etc

If you want something more robuust; S angelicus fits that bill perfectly, as does S schoutedeni.

H fossilis is an excellent choice, however. quite peaceful in larger tanks, and if you get 5-6 or so; they'll tend to stick together like a wriggling ball of eels.....

other fine matches for your Knife-fish would be Pimelodus blochii or P ornatus.

Auchenoglanis is indeed a fine fish, and an excellent scaveger; unfortunately it can outgrow even a 250G tank.

And of course there are several gorgeous looking Pleco-species suitable; Pseudacanthicus spinosus and Panaque nigrolineatus to name just 2.

I have (almost) decided to go for a group of 5 H. fossilis.

Actually I am a big fan of Synodontis, and my favorite beeing decorus I am very tempted, would they go well with the H. fossilis?

yup, if you add a few large rooted bogwoodpieces.

the decorus tend to dwell near the wood, even in midwater and cruise the tank.
the fossilis is stricktly bound for the bottom, except when coming up for air.

in that huge tank, they'll combine fine.

In general such cats wich are so diverse do OK in a large tank. no species is fiercely agressive (you don't have Mystus nemurus-like behaviour), and the occasional territorial spat is more likely between speciesmembers than between different species.

of course you DO want to make enough hiding places.

for the decorus big rooted bogwoodpieces are fine; the fossilis likes dense plants, narrow rockwork-caves, woodpieces lying flat on the sand (they'll dig out a burrow underneat), PVCpipes etc.

I've decided to go for 5 H. fossilis, I think they will fit in great as they won't steal the knifes' thunder. I might add some common gray plecos, but thats all.

Thanks for helping me decide