PlanetCatfish.com

Hi, I'm new to the group, and to fishkeeping the 'correct' way, as when I was a kid we just used to buy a bunch of fish and stick 'em in a 10 gallon tank and hope they did well (sigh). I'm trying to do everything right by my fish these days!

I have just finished a fishless cycle on my 16 gallon (U.S.) tank. Currently it has one male betta and two dwarf neon tetras. I know I need to get more tetras as they like larger groups (these were all passed on to me when a friend moved so I had little choice what I started with). I would also really like to get a catfish as I've always loved them--had one for several years as a kid--but I could use some input.

A couple people on another board suggested I look into plecs or bristlenose as I don't have enough room to buy many more fish so I have to avoid ones that prefer to shoal. I need to know, though...will these fish do well in a new tank or are they better off in a well-established tank? Do they appear to get along well with the small tetras and bettas? I've done some research on these species already but could use a few more pointers, if no one minds. I particularly need a catfish that doesn't get too large as I'd like to eventually get at least one two or three more small fish for the tank.

Thank you very much!

Christine Tilden
Baltimore, Maryland, USA

although bristlenoses are very peaceful and useful, you might think about something smaller.

Ancistrus cf domesticus does reach 4" in time

what about Otocinclus? plenty of those around and they're very small and good cleaners too. they should be kept in a group.

other great not-too-difficult-to-keep pymy's are corydoras pygmaeus, C hastatus (this one's a bit fragile) and the bottomdwelling C habrosus.
all three are groupers, but mix very well with tetra's and the like.

if you keep the temperature not too high; Hara jerdoni is a welcome weird little critter. it sort of behaves like a lively version of the Banjo-cat.

for these min-cats, a 16US gal is roomy!

other tiny ones are the small bagrids Rama chandramara (usually in store as chandramara spp), Hylaobagrus flavus (often sold as 'pelteobagrus') and the tiny Africans of the Mochokidae family: Microsynodontis spp, wich turn up now and then.

but if these are to your liking I'd ditch the Betta if I were you, unless you are keeping tiny mouthbreeding Betta's such as B picta or the red Betta's, B cocchina and the like. those are very peaceful.