Catfish Species Advice

[kewskills]

Morning all, Some advice on species would be greatly appreciated.

I have a 6'x20"x24" tank containing 4 fish of about 8-10" in size, all fairly friendly. I am after a Catfish (or group) of a similar size that is fairly active. I like Pimelodus pictus because of their activity and I think they are a great looking cat, however as they only get to about 5" I am a little worried about them being seen as food especially as they usually are much smaller when you first get them from a dealer.

Many Thanks Karl.

[MatsP]

I very much doubt that P. pictus will get eaten, but if you tell us WHAT the fishes are that you already have, then it would be much easier to be certain about that.

You can sometimes fine larger individuals in shops, although I agree that small ones are much easier to find (and they are easier on the wallet too!).

--
Mats

[kewskills]

1 Coal Grunter approx 6" (still growing, probably get another 2-3" in length)
1 Pike Cichlid approx 7.5" (fully grown)
1 Para channa africana approx 10" (still growing, probably get another 2-3" in length)
1 ATF (Severely stunted in growth before I got him 8" and appears to have stopped growing)
None of the above are aggressive to each other apart from the a little tussle if one intrudes too much in another ones territory.

It is really only the Pike and the Africana that I am worried about as their mouths are probably big enough or get close to being big enough to fit a P.Pictus in.

Cheers, Karl

[MatsP]

Sorry, but I don't know what "ATF" stands for [I'm sort of guessing "african tiger fish", but I'm by no means sure of that - and I doubt any of the other fish would still be there if that's what you meant].

I think you would be OK if you can find some relatively fully grown specimens of P. pictus, but as you say, the small 2-3" ones you find in most shops are probably on the small side. If you have a second 3-4 ft tank, you may be able to grow small ones out to suitable size there, they take about a year to grow an inch or so.

--
Mats

[kewskills]

You are right to assume that ATF="African Tiger Fish" however this one is a real runt, stuck at 8" and really scared of everything, if anything he is the one that gets picked on the most. strange to say but he is the last one I am worried about hurting anything else in the tank.

Maybe I will reconsider the P.pictus after all

[Richard B]

Pimelodus ornatus

,

Pimelodus blochii

would be ones to consider if you think the pictus are too small

[kewskills]

Pimelodus blochii

looks very cool indeed have not come across these before shall investigate further.

I had thought about the

Pimelodus ornatus

before, but decided against them after some people I have spoken too have said that they are a bit easy to spook and often run into the sides of the tank when they do get spooked and can damage themselves.

Cheers, Karl

[Richard B]

Pimelodus blochii

looks very cool indeed have not come across these before shall investigate further.
I had thought about the

Pimelodus ornatus

before, but decided against them after some people I have spoken too have said that they are a bit easy to spook and often run into the sides of the tank when they do get spooked and can damage themselves.
Cheers, Karl

Blochii are generally more available than ornatus - so should be around somewhere.

I have not found ornatus to be a sp particularly susceptible to beeing spooked at all & in that size tank would have no reservations on including one (or a small group)

[kewskills]

Well I guess either or could be a viable option in that case.
The

Pimelodus blochii

appear to be about 1" smaller than the

Pimelodus ornatus

, so i think would be better suited especially in a group of maybe 4, I also like the ease at which we can get hold of them.

Cheers, Karl

[MatsP]

I'm pretty sure P. ornatus is [or was] available at Maidenhead Aquatics St Albans. When I was there some weeks back, they had a large P. ornatus at £90 or so.

--
Mats

[kewskills]

Now that's a handy bit of info as I live 3 miles from that store, may be have a look on my way home tonight. Many thanks for that

Cheers, Karl.

I'm pretty sure P. ornatus is [or was] available at Maidenhead Aquatics St Albans. When I was there some weeks back, they had a large P. ornatus at £90 or so.

--
Mats

[MatsP]

Now that's a handy bit of info as I live 3 miles from that store, may be have a look on my way home tonight. Many thanks for that

Not sure I would classify you as lucky or unlucky - I think my finances would be much worse off if I lived that close to that shop!

--
Mats

[kewskills]

Hehe, know what you mean, as I am also close to Wildwoods as well, my wife is most unhappy

Now that's a handy bit of info as I live 3 miles from that store, may be have a look on my way home tonight. Many thanks for that

Not sure I would classify you as lucky or unlucky - I think my finances would be much worse off if I lived that close to that shop!

--
Mats