PlanetCatfish.com

I have a recently set up Mbuna tank, Yellow Labs, Ace, Pseudotropheus zebra - please could someone advise me on a good catfish to keep in this set up? - also on whether any fish recommended would be happier singly, paired or in a group.

Many thanks

Rita

I personally think that the optimal choices of catfish for your Mbuna tank would be either Synodontis multipunctatus or S. petricola. They are both good looking species that are quite at home in the water parameters needed by your Mbuna. My decision as to which species, and how many would depend on the size of the tank you're using. The petricola (3"TL)are only about half the size of the multis (6"TL)and so a group might do better in a tank of smaller proportions. The multis school in their natural habitat, but I've had a pair in one of my tanks for at least 10 years now with no signs of stress. I would recommend using a tank at least 4 feet long for the multis to exhibit normal behaviour, mine seemed skittish ( no they don't eat haggis)when housed in aquaria any less than 4 feet. So by deduction, I would recommend the Synodontis petricola for tanks under 4 feet. My breeding colony of 5 adults are quite at home in a 20 gallon tank. I could safely recommend 5 adults or more for tanks 20 gallons and bigger. Just be aware that both species will form a pecking order amongst the group and can get nasty with the low fish in the pecking order.(this is especially true with the multis)Enjoy!