Hi! I signed up a while back but always just lurked around. Don't think I ever properly introduced myself.
I'm AddictingAnimal, and for now the biggest tank I have is a 29g. Soon I might be getting a freshwater 90g, and I'd really like some suggestions on a bigger cat to add. (As well as other fish if you'd like, I have no clue as to what to put in as of yet.) All I know is I have a love of catfish and would really like a biggie when the time comes.
I recently added a large 4-line pimodella catfish and am very happy with him. He won't be a monster, but will get decent sized. I have him with a large group of frontosa in a 125 gallon tank and he's doing very well so far despite being a soft-water fish. As far as large(r) catfish go, I'd highly recommend one for looks and activity. Schools of regular pictus catfish are very interesting, too.
For a 90g, you'd want nothing longer than 9", since the tank is only 18" wide and you'd want room for the fish to turn around. Synodontis eupterus is a nice mid-sized synodontis catfish that would fit the bill. They're a fairly personable catfish. You could also try north american bullhead catfish. They stay reasonably sized and are fairly easy to tame.
LOTS of choices, those are just a few. Have fun browing the site and picking your fish!
Thanks! Can you give me a link to the bullhead? The ones I've looked at are fairly large. My LFS is pretty good with exotics, so I might be able to have them order one for me if they don't have something.
I was actually thinking of the 4-lined pim before coming here, but heard varying info on how big it got. The Cat-elog says 9.8". I think they're neat, love the long whiskers. Regular pictus are awesome as well, and I have wanted them for a while, but for this tank I'd rather one big than many smaller.
Advising/suggesting to others what fish to get is very difficult. If you know what temperature and size tank it is, you can use the formula of 4L x 2L x 2L to in reverse (whichever is smallest of length/4 or width/2 and height/2 gives you the max size). Then use the search feature in the Cat-eLog to search (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/search.php) for fishes that are in the suitable size range and look at what you can get.
Thanks for the welcomes. That's a neat feature there. Don't think my LFS carries most of them, though they do have a good selection. Could always ask them to order me one.
UPDATE--I may be getting a 125g at a good deal, so perhaps a wider selection of fish!
the nice thing about bullheads is that you can catch them yourself. It's past the season where swarms of babies can be seen near the surface of ponds, but you can still catch them on hook and line all over America.
Thanks for the bullhead link! I'd rather go to the LFS and get it, 'cause knowing me I'd probably fish out a baby 10-footer. (I don't fish, so I'd have trouble IDing it.) If the LFS can order it, I'll probably go for a smaller one like a flat bullhead.
Since it might be a 125g I'm getting, what's the footprint for that so I can calculate with that tool you showed me?
the footprint of most 125g's is 72" long by 18 wide" by (I think) 22" deep. There is also a 135g that's common, which is 24" deep. It's essentially a 90g tank (48x18x24) but two feet longer. So with the recipe, you're still limited to a 9" catfish. I'd say you can fudge things a bit and go up to a 12"er.
There is a relatively common North American standard size that comes up to 120g, which is 4' x 2' x 2', which allows you to keep fish up to around 12". Otherwise, most tanks tend to be taller rather than wider. My favourite shape of tank is the onese that Jools has, which are 4' x 30" base with a 15" height - gives LOTS of space on the bottom, large surface area for oxygenation of the water, and with a reasonable volume (about 120g in US gallons).
Thanks for the info! I've been looking into bullhead info along with 4-lined pims... What do you guys think? I'd probably go with a spotted/snail/flat bullhead since they're the smaller ones. I was also interested in an oscar. (Not a catfish, but figured I'd throw that out there so y'all know.)
(I don't fish, so I'd have trouble IDing it.) If the LFS can order it, I'll probably go for a smaller one like a flat bullhead.