Is there any active catfish during the day?

[pedrous]

Hello
Is there any big catfish that is active during the day?
Is the RTC active during that hours?
Thanks

[nvcichlids]

I don't know why you would want a RTC as they grow to monsterous size and not many people have tanks large enough to keep them. What size tank do you have that your looking to keep them in and we can give suggestions from there.


-Nate

[pedrous]

I have a 2 meters aquarium, i dont remember now the liters...

[PeterUK]

A 2 metre tank isnt going to be big enough to hold one of these




How about Sorubin lima ? They only get to about 16inches (40cm)

[PlecoCrazy]

I second the Lima Shovelnose. A small group of them would be perfect for that size tank.

[DJ-don]

you know what would look good?

just filling the tank up with an amazing amount of corydoras of any kind!!!

[MatsP]

A 2 meter tank is suitable for fish that grows no larger than about 50 cm - and most 2m long tanks aren't wide enough for that size fish - the guideline is that your fish should be no bigger than 1/4 of the longest side and 1/2 of the shorter side. Most 2m long tanks are between 45 and 80 cm on the shorter sides, which gives a size around 20-40 cm max length.

There are a few diurnal (active during the day) catfish. Some

Pimelodidae

are diurnal. Some of the larger

Callichthyidae

are also active during the day [the smaller ones are too, such as

Corydoras

and

Brochis

), but I guess you want a larger fish for a larger tank - but having a LARGE shoal if smaller fishes in a large tank can be quite an impressive sight]. There are a few others that are diurnal and grow to a reasonable size, but most catfish are either nocturnal (night-active) or crepuscular (active around dawn and dusk - "in between day and night or night and day").

--
Mats

[mod edit: Fixed incorrectly typed clog tags]

[Back]

My own experience with Sorubim is that they're not particulary active during day. But they don't hide away in a cave either. If in a group they will interact and change positions and move around slightly. In that sense they're to be seen during daytime despite not doing much. When served favorite food directly where they are they will eat but they wouldn't start searching the tank before the lights are out if food is placed elswhere.
But that's my Sorubims. Others probably have other experiences.
Also to keep in mind that there should bee enough hidingspots for all the fishes that might want one. I dislike diurnal activity caused by fish feeling discomfort and stress when not being able to hide.

I've seen someone mention

Ageneiosus

when it comes to daytime activity. Don't remember which species though.

[Richard B]

you might want to consider a shoal of

Synodontis multipunctata

..?

[Mod edit: make cat-elog link --Mats]

[syno321]

For a day active species for your size tank I would recommend Pimelodus pictus

[sidguppy]

my own experiences with the pictus is that it's quite shy and still fairly nocturnal or at least not active till evening comes around

I used to have 6, so kept as a group with mildmannered tankmates like Dianema, Doras punctatus, Corydoras robinae and Platystacus. it was by far the least visible catfish in that tank.

as for daily active catfish: the freeswimming shoaling species are THE most visible catfishes.
many people don't rate them with "true" catfish, but they are.

a few species are easily available, most common of course is

Kryptopterus minor

, the Glass Catfish.
this one is easy to keep when you keep in mind that docile, friendly tankmates are a must. and ofcourse buy a group, at least 10 or so.

another one wich should be available almost anywhere is the very lively

Pareutropius buffei

, still sold as "Eutropiella debauwi" by many stores.
care is similar as for Kryptopterus, but this one likes a bit more current. also: to keep it visible, build up the numbers.

if tiny fish are not your cuppa the unfortunaterly only erratic available

Schilbe intermedius

is a very nice and easy to keep fish for a larger tank. this one is not to be trusted with tiny fish; it can and does eat 1-2" tankmates. it can reach 30 cm/1foot, but usually a 20cm/7-8" fish is considered fairly large.
it's always visible and always on the move if you keep mit as a group of at least 6-8.
it's much tougher than the small shoalers and can be kept with some cichlid species, larger Anabantoids, Polypterus etc.
keep in mind that it's a very active fish that eats a LOT and slowmoving fish might suffer from foodcompetition.
I once tried to keep this species together with Sorubim lima (wich were quite a bit bigger) and the lima's had to go or starve to death.
it's usually sold as "Schilbe mystus" and it will eat anything, it does fine on flake and granules as well.

[MatsP]

my own experiences with the pictus is that it's quite shy and still fairly nocturnal or at least not active till evening comes around

Yes, this is my experience as well. At least until there is food available!

I would also add

Mystus mysticetus

to the list of shoaling catfishes that are diurnal.

--
Mats

[Bas Pels]

How about Hoplosternum littorale?

I've had 1, a female, which was always swimming - that is, during the lights on period. Perhaps I was lucky, I would certainly like to find out, but they are not that easy to find

[TP]

I have 5 Hoplostermum Littorale, 1 male and 4 females, they are out all the time often just hanging in mid water and I think are a brilliant fish. As soon as you approach the tank they get really active!

Megalechis thoracata are also really active at all times of day, you just have to go near the tank and they are there swimming along the front glass.

As Sidguppy above says Pareutropius buffei is also a really good day time fish, it really needs some cover such as floating plants to make it feel comfortable but a good size shoal, say 15 to 20, is a really good sight.

The fish above along with my Sorubim limas are the ones that I know I can see any time of day.

[sidguppy]

I definitely second the littorale as a very visible, social and active catfish.

the one drawback is that it can and does rearrange the tank. it's large, clumsy, digs a lot and is always hungry.
fun to keep, though