Compatibility in a catfish community tank

Saara · Post by **Saara** » 03 Feb 2003, 17:11

I am considering setting up a catfish community tank of 490 l the main water parameters beeing: 27,5 C, pH 7,0, KH 2,0, a powerhead producing current. Could I have there these fish?

- 4 Synodontis flavitaeniatus
- 10 Corydoras sterbai
- 2 Baryancistrus LDA 33

(- 1 + 2 Apistogramma nijsseni
- 6 Crossocheilus siamensis)

I myself have some arguments for (+) and against (-):
- too many bottom fish
- too warm for synos and corys
+ these particular synos and corys seem to tolerate warm
- too many synos together
+ these synos peaceful to each other
- too soft water for synos
+ maybe they won't be bothered by that
- apistos might bother corys
+ they have plenty of room in there

I have not until recently been interested in synos and corys so that I need your help in deciding how to weigh these fors and cons. I have a big tank just waiting for catfish and I have trouble in choosing the right fish. Could somebody familiar with sterbais and flavitaeniatus comment on this, please?

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 03 Feb 2003, 17:25

It looks like a PERFECT tank to me; almost UNDERSTOCKED!
These fish will have a nice big roomy place in there.
just two questions:

Why so warm? all those fish will do fine at 24-25'C
Why just one or two nijsseni's? and not 2 males with a few (4-5) females? (this is a harum substrate brooder, but it's really small and harmless in such a big tank....)
If you have two males; they boost each others colors. The only catfishes spending 100% on the bottom are the sterbai's; the Syno's tend to dwell in the bogwood, or in the center water layer (in fact, everywhere), just like the Pleco's.
And Crossocheilus is also an active swimmer, although you should leave a roomy piece of sand for them to rest too.

Saara · Post by **Saara** » 03 Feb 2003, 17:46

SG_Eurystomus wrote:It looks like a PERFECT tank to me; almost UNDERSTOCKED!
These fish will have a nice big roomy place in there.

Wow, I am so happy if you really think so!

Thank you for your opinion, SG Eurystomus.

Why so warm? all those fish will do fine at 24-25'C

For the LDA 33's that I already have in there. I have a specialist opinion that they should be kept in temperatures above 27 or at least 26 in well oxygenated water because they come from Rio Tapajos. They are the apples of my eye. Their needs are the starting point of this setup.

Why just one or two nijsseni's? and not 2 males with a few (4-5) females? (this is a harum substrate brooder, but it's really small and harmless in such a big tank....)
If you have two males; they boost each others colors.

There is a long story behind this. In brief: I am turning my 170 l tank into a zebra pleco breeding tank and removing nijssenis from there. Now they are kind of what has left over... Maybe I will buy some more of them.

Post by **Dinyar** » 03 Feb 2003, 17:46

I don't see a problem with this setup either, Saara. You should be fine. I have many of the fish you mention, though in my case I separate them by continent of origin.

My tanks all tend to run hot, even though I use no heaters in most of them. Typical is 26° C and in summer as high as 30° C. I certainly don't recommend such high temps, but I can also say that as long as you have enough aeration (power head), all your fish will be OK at up to 30° C.

And yes, you should have plenty of space to add more fish in future

.

Dinyar

Saara · Post by **Saara** » 03 Feb 2003, 18:08

Thanks, Dinyar, thanks.

I really try to compensate the heat by an effective powerhead keeping the surface water moving, good filtration and weekly 50 % water changes. Thanks again two of you. *very, very happy, thinking of jumping up and down but trying to calm down*

I really don't know what other fish to add in addition to those already mentioned. I have considered Geophagus jurupari but I am not really so sure about it. I do not like densely populated tanks, really. Maybe I will just keep it like this for a while.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 03 Feb 2003, 22:11

Geophagus is an excellent choice; really beautiful, and very nice character as well.
I know a guy with a LFS, who has an Amazon-showtank in it; it contains a shoal of Geophagus (!), several L-numbers (probably snowball plecs; all of the same species); a shoal of Corydoras sterbai, a shoal of Aphyocharax, a few Loricaria and the biggest piece of bogwood I've ever seen. That tank has a fine sandy substrate and bushes of Echinodorus sp.
believe me when I say, I've rarely seen such a great tank, and never such a beautiful South American setup.
Roomy tanks with few species and bigger numbers per species are the best!

Zack · Post by **Zack** » 04 Feb 2003, 15:56

Hi, I dont know much about the other fish mentioned ecxept here say or what not but i do have a couple geophagus they arent however geophagus jurapari. The species i have changes colors and patterns all the time, every time i look at him hes a different color they also seem to grow really slow. The eat anything and are very peaceful but will however eat fry and eggs.They dont seem to be one of the smartest cichlids iv ever kept though but oh well. Good luck. By the way i keep mine with pictus,Upside down synos,featherfin synos,striped raphael,chocolate raphael,reg plec,and a marbled horned plec. Well Again GOOD LUCk

Saara · Post by **Saara** » 04 Feb 2003, 18:38

Thanks, I will come back to this topic after a while to tell you how it all ended up.

Saara