compatability

[fronto]

hi,this is my first post i just joined.im thinking of setting up a cichlid tank and wondered wot catfish would be suitable with cichlids.the max size would be about 8inch.thanks!!!!!!!

[loachy_406]

Other, more c*****d-wise people can probably expand on this, but a

Synodontis

species may be suitable.

[Marc van Arc]

Hello & welcome to PC.
Major issue: what cichlids are you thinking of?

[fronto]

im not sure yet.but the cats i have in mind r the raphael cats.

[Marc van Arc]

im not sure yet.but the cats i have in mind r the raphael cats.

The thing is that you are planning a cichlid tank, so I take it cichlids are the main occupants. You want them to be accompanied by a/some catfishes.
The raphael seems very hardy, but can be demolished by certain cichlids within days. Thus it is important that you know which cichlids you are going to keep.
Otherwise you should plan a raphael tank with a/some cichlids

[Bas Pels]

Perhaps a dumb question, but raphael - that's a dorid, isn't it? The topic is placed in African cats

Assuming I'm not that far off, I have Platydoras costatus (at least, that is what the shop called them), a related species, which does grow bigger. These have bene combined for the last 20 years with all kinds of South American and Central American cichlids, but not the most agressive ones

As the raphael does not grow as large as Platydoras does, perhaps you should refrain from Vieja, Chuco Amphilophus (CA) and Astronotus, Crenicichla (SA)

[MatsP]

I moved the subject, as the fish that the original post relates to is a South American cat, rather than African cat - there is a mention of Synodontis, which is an African cat, but I still think it belongs in SA Cats (others).

I also think that Marc and Bas are on the right track in the sense that you have to decide what you want with what - either decide what catfish you want, and find other fish that goes with it, or decide what other fish (e.g cich lids) and then ask for advice on which catfish you want with it.

A personal non-catfish favourite of mine are eartheaters, I have two different species. They are cichlids, but they are on the friendlier end of the scale, so they go fairly well with most other fish - even small fish like tetras. There are a few dozen species of eartheaters in a handful of different genus. Most of them grow to the size where you need a largeish tank, but some are on the smaller side.

--
Mats

[nvcichlids]

I agree with the eartheater idea. They are extremely mellow cich lids in my opinion. I currently have 8 young gymnogeophagus balzanii growing out with my L201's. The only problems I seem to have with them are with eachother. I assume they are trying to get territories, but then as soon as I think that I see 7 of them swimmin in a school. I know the average size of geos (aka eartheaters) is about 8" with some getting into the 16" range (from what I have read) and some as small as 3.5" (the Biotodoma complex has one that stays that small.) I could also recommend apistogrammas. They stay small and from what I have noticed, do not bother any other fish but themselves.
If you have any particular questions about certain species, I would be willing to do some research for you, just have to name the species and I can try to recommend some cats that go with it, or you name the cat and I will try to help find a cich lid ( would prefer to help you find a cich lid to go with your catfish tank )

NV

[Bas Pels]

Eartheaters would be a very good combination. Another genus would be Mesonauta, the former Cichlasoma festivum. These fishes always remain at the surface, which eartheaters, or cats, mostly ignore. Try to find amazonian species, as these are the most mellow eartheaters (in fact, 'Geophagus' brasiliensis is an agressive beast)

@ NVCICHLIDS, Gymnogeophagus balsani is a species in which males do not tolerate each other. In the wild they stay at approx. 50 meters from each other (that is, where I collected them). So be carefull with that.

Further, they come from sub-tropical areas, most likely yours come from Paraguay, and are best kept at 24 degrees in summer, and 15-18 degrees in a short (2-3 months) winter. Your L201 will not like that, thus I'd suggest taking one of the species out. If your balsani come from Uruguay, much further to the south, and are best kept at 22 degrees i nsummer ,and 12-15 in a longer winter, lasting 3-4 months.

The summer temps are averages, incidentally heating to 30 degrees will no be a problem, if the temp may fall back after

[fronto]

thanks for help,my question probably seems daft but im fairly new to this game.your info is appreciated and thanks again

[MatsP]

thanks for help,my question probably seems daft but im fairly new to this game.your info is appreciated and thanks again

Well, there are only two ways to learn:
- Ask someone who knows. This usually means that someone else will have made a mistake in the past and learned from it.
- Figure it out yourself. This usually involves making mistakes.

And as Amanda (Bronzefry) says "There is no stupid question except the ones you never asked".

What makes your question difficult to answer is that it's not very precise - so the answer has to cover many possibilities, which makes it vague.

A question like "Can I keep Neon Tetra with Pimelodus pictus" is easy to answer, because it's very precise, and the answer is known (the Neon tetra become expensive food for the Pictus cats).

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Additionally, even with the best expert advice going, sometimes something will happen which defies the rules - ie 2 totally incomaptible species wil live together in perfect harmony - this however is the exception to the rule