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I have a group of 5 zebrina pike cichlids that I will be soon moving into a 225 gallon (6 ft x 4 ft foot print). There will also be some uaru and severums in the tank. I was initially planning on doing some large plecos (L14 and L25) but I am moving away from plecos. I am looking for catfish suggestions for the tank that might be interesting. Though there is some tricky criteria. The goal is to breed the zebrina so I need some thing that will not eat the fry. Ideally I would like something out in the open or shoal. There are some botia I would really like do try but their slow growth rate makes me nervous so I am hoping to find some fun catfish. thank you

Would any of the , or be safe in your tank? Are they fry eaters? Honestly, I don't know if they meet any of your criteria, but since they are in the Callichthyidae family, I thought they might be more like corys and others in the family which have personality and which shoal together. I'm just guessing.

Off the top of my head, I don't know a catfish that won't eat fish eggs. They are a very good eating for any catfish, I'd imagine, barring the strictest of herbivores.

Will the pikes not protect their fry?

Will you have a chance to take the fry out?

Generally speakig, cichlids are good at protecting their fry during daytime. Catfish most often hunt at night.

That's why Platydoras, a very resilent fish, is not a really good option. But Hoplosternum could very wel be mostly day active, and in that case the cichlids will be able to protect the fry. I only wonder, Hoplosternum (and the other Callichtinae) are vagely shaped like a Crenicichla. Chanses are Crenichichla is more agressive to them than to other fishes, and in that case the agression could be a bit too much

I'm tempted to suggest dianema or brochis

I've generally found botia will snack on small fish - some species more than others

thank your for the suggestions. I will look into them. I was actually thinking hoplo myself. In general most cichlids are good parents. Though Crenichichla are excellent parents and will protect their fry for about a year.

I would think maybe some of the larger 6"+ kryptopterus or Parailia spp.? They are more obligate to the middle/upper water layers. And with their relatively small mouths and delicate constitution, less likely to want to tangle with a pair of big, vigilant pike cichlids for a few eggs. Problem is; trying to find them. Rarely see any of these fish online, or available in the shops anymore.

Was just reading about Dianema urostriatum. What do you guys think of this cat?

It has no agression, but I wonder whether it can withstand being bullied by Crenicichla.

Remember, almost all Crenicichla will bully other fish in their tank

It is a pretty fish but, my experience with D. urostriatum is that it can be a very high strung fish if it 'disturbed' in the wrong way. I once had one swim/'jet' across a 40g so fast I barely saw it. Luckily it didn't crash into the glass; if it had I'm pretty sure it would have died or been permanently injured.

That said, I don't want to be a nay sayer. There might be a small chance it could work, depending on how you setup the tank and how aggressive your zebrina are. Remember your cichlids are large and D. urostriatum grows to about 5" max in a tank.

Zebrina are fairly docile for a pike and will have dithers. Will keep my eye out for some others that I like. If it doesn't work will just have to go bigger!

A Panaque is so perfect for this though

Anyway... some of these cats come to mind however these are based off of cats that A.) I like (the only ones I tend to remember ) B.) that most of these are fish I have no experience with and cannot speak of how well they will behave themselves.




Then these are plecos... but they aren't like most plecos, but then they are plecos...



OR you could get a freaking and name him George (Rufus is acceptable though).

thanks for the suggestions. there are some interesting banjos out there...