Hi,
I am looking to keep a bottom dweller with 6-8 yellow lab (labidochromis caeruleus) cichlids. I've been recommended a syno, perhaps petricola (i originally was recommended a multipunctatus but heard there could be problems with egg holding between the two etc.).
However, I wondered if there was a Callichthyidae species which grew larger than the small corys (2-3") I'm used to (say one that grew to around 6" or so) that would also be a good tankmate for them? Is it even possible/appropriate to keep South American armoured catfish with Malawi cichlids?
Sorry if this is a newbie question!
Callichthyidae + Cichlids?
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sidguppy
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Bad idea!
for some reason Claroteids (like Anaspidoglanis), Callichthydae (Hoplo's etc), Doradidae (Platydoras, Acanthodoras etc) and Auchenipterids (Tatia et al) are very bad, nay completely UNsuitable as tankmates for Malawian cichlids.
every species mentioned I (or others) have seen dead, dying or severely mutilated by a whole list of Malawian fish; if you like a catfish in with your Labs, Synodontis is the way to go.
several species can be kept as a single cat; S eupterus, S obesus, S nigrita, S angelicus etc all do fine as a solo cat in a Malawi tank; Tanganyikan species like the multipunctatus and the petricola should be kept in groups of at least 5.
for some reason Claroteids (like Anaspidoglanis), Callichthydae (Hoplo's etc), Doradidae (Platydoras, Acanthodoras etc) and Auchenipterids (Tatia et al) are very bad, nay completely UNsuitable as tankmates for Malawian cichlids.
every species mentioned I (or others) have seen dead, dying or severely mutilated by a whole list of Malawian fish; if you like a catfish in with your Labs, Synodontis is the way to go.
several species can be kept as a single cat; S eupterus, S obesus, S nigrita, S angelicus etc all do fine as a solo cat in a Malawi tank; Tanganyikan species like the multipunctatus and the petricola should be kept in groups of at least 5.
Valar Morghulis
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MatsP
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Good idea to ask first!
The only exception to the rule of "fish from the same contient goes best together"[1] would be pleco's, that can usually be housed with just about[2] any fish that isn't SIGNIFICANTLY larger than itself.
[1] Ideally, you want fish from the same river/lake together - and even here there are things to think about (size now and later, terrotorial disputes, etc, etc).
[2] Mixing certain large plecos also require care and attention, and there are of course fish that are stupid/mean/rough/large enough that even large pleco's aren't safe in their presence...
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Mats
The only exception to the rule of "fish from the same contient goes best together"[1] would be pleco's, that can usually be housed with just about[2] any fish that isn't SIGNIFICANTLY larger than itself.
[1] Ideally, you want fish from the same river/lake together - and even here there are things to think about (size now and later, terrotorial disputes, etc, etc).
[2] Mixing certain large plecos also require care and attention, and there are of course fish that are stupid/mean/rough/large enough that even large pleco's aren't safe in their presence...
--
Mats
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coldmachineUK
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Hi there, thanks for the advice (btw MatsP, that name is familiar from another forum 
, really appreciated 
I think the angelicus is out purely b/c I read it grows upwards of 21" :O
I have a friend who keeps plecos and I'm wondering if that might be an alternate route as you say. So much to think about!
, really appreciated I think the angelicus is out purely b/c I read it grows upwards of 21" :O
I have a friend who keeps plecos and I'm wondering if that might be an alternate route as you say. So much to think about!
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Reginator
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A big pleco would be ok I think, but if you want a good cleaner to clear up the leftovers from the feeding cichlids a syno is definately the way to go. Eupterus are nice but that big dorsal fin may get damaged, in my rift tank I've got an angelicus and he does fine, but is sharing with a bunch of lamprologus of different species so he's bigger than them. I've had him a while and he's growing slowly, up to about 7" now, so if you buy a small one it'll be a while before you need to worry about the size factor..