Catfish suitable for my 1m. south american ciclid tank?

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 27 Apr 2003, 18:49

Hi,

I have a 1metre south american ciclid tank with one plec* and i want to add another one south american catfish (not plec*)for eating the food leftovers.I want a catfish able to take care of themselve without being agressive towards my ciclids and my plec*.I don't want to get damaged nor to damage any of my fishes even for a single time.I give you the list of my fishes:

Aequidens rivulatus(Green Terror)
Heros Severus(Green Severum)
Liposarcus Pardalis(Common Plec*)

Please give me a list of catfishes which you are SURE that they will not get damaged and that they will not damage any of my fishes.

Thank you in advance.

Post by **Silurus** » 27 Apr 2003, 18:58

Mid-sized pimelodids such as <i>Pimelodus blochii</i> or <i>Batrachoglanis raninus</i> are good candidates.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 28 Apr 2003, 11:55

I'm for any Pimelodus species.
Pseudopimelodus are often very immobile during the day and peaceful too, despite their piscivore habits. They can get ripped to pieces by something like a Green Terror (who can and does live up to the name).
Pimelodus are more mobile and have more character themselves; they're a bit like Synodontis in that.
Any moderately big cat from South America that behaves like a Syno will do fine, but any catfish that behaves like a dorad or callichthyd is toast with these fish. (wich rules out any Hoplo, Pseudopimelodus, Auchenipterid, Platydoras ets)
-Pimelodus blocchi, P clarias, P pictus (they're smaller but incredable FAST).
Maybe the beautiful Pimelodus maculatus or P albofasciatus? these are fairly colorful in character as well!

general-sherman · Post by **general-sherman** » 28 Apr 2003, 13:25

when i was much younger i put exactly the same 3 fish into the same size tank.
everything went fine.
until the green terror killed the severum and shredded the plecos fins.
those things are KILLERS!
i sold the g.t. and set-up my first s. american biotope tank with a more compatible mix of fish.

Kostas · Post by **Kostas** » 29 Apr 2003, 09:17

Ohhh,i am very general-sherman.

I hope that this will not happens to me.
I thank you all for your help but i want to ask and something else.As i saw at the pictures pimelodids have a pair of very long barbels.Do you think that G.T. will bite them or not??Do you think that P.blocchi grows large for my 55g tank?
Thank you in advance

Post by **Silurus** » 29 Apr 2003, 09:33

Do you think that P.blocchi grows large for my 55g tank?

No. They only reach to about 10" or so.