Sorry. No Catfish. They like their caves too much.

Pictures update.

Snap a few shots. I can never get a shot of any of the lucipinnis' under the aquarium lights. They just don't stay still.

I can tell you what might happen.
With regular tan/white sand they will fade a bit, even their black stripes will be a bit faded. With the black sand, the fish will darken up, both the white and dark. Can't really say which sand will show them off best. Can't go wrong with either.

Will do with the updates Mr. Jools.

Yeah, the water is basically neutral.

Thanks!! Sand and rock are my passion.

I've been in they hobby many years. I've learned my share about it.

You don't think they're compatible. I think they are.

Lets agree to disagree.

Cool fish! post more pics of them when you can.

Hi Darrel.
I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me about the water chemistry, and differences between both bodies of water. But what I have been saying from the beginning is that i agree with you.
Your argument is: they are from different waters, thus they should not be kept together ...

Hi all,
Water parameters wouldn't really matter, other than relative neutrality and stability They do, as Richard B says they are totally incompatible tank mates. Lake Tanganyika is more like the ocean than most other fresh water, its water parameters are a world away from the rivers of S. America ...

Wow. Great looking tank.

a few more attempts

well i tried. One not so good shots after like 30 shots.

most likely water parameters. if the catfish are like rift lake cichlids then they like very high pH and hard water. rams don't like those conditions. may be why yours a little faded in those pics, idk.
Well these are commercially bred aquarium fish. Water parameters wouldn't really matter, other ...

Richard B wrote:This is a superb tank for the Luicipinnis, but tless than ideal for the other fish you have i'm afraid

In what ways?

I love the look of a tank with good rock work. I'm much fonder of Bolivian rams than African cichlids, though I've kept several in the past. The cats love the rock work. They are always swimming on the underside of the rocks. They spend like a third of their time upside down.

Believe it or not, this really is a catfish aquarium. There are 3 synodontis lucipinnis, a rubber lip pleco, a ninja south american bumblebee catfish, and 2 rams. My cats are super camera shy.