PlanetCatfish.com

Hi all!

Well, I´ve thought about buying some Dianema urostriatum for my 180 liters aquarium. They´re so beautiful, but I´ve read different things about them in different books and on Planet Catfish, so I´m a little confused. Is it a fish you need to keep in groups? Are they hardy or do they easily get stressed? I have a Pterophyllum Scalare and a Synodontis Schall who might mock it if it´s too shy.

Also, there´s two kinds of Dianema, right? In my local petshop they´re sold under the same name (Dianema) and are in the same aquarium. Is there any difference? (except for the Dianema urostriatum to be larger and having stripes)

Well, any suggestions, ideas etc. would be helpful.

Is it a fish you need to keep in groups? Are they hardy or do they easily get stressed?

Like many callichthyids, they are much better off in groups, and are almost as hardy as Hoplosternum or Megalechis. I don't think you have to worry about the fish being too shy if you keep a group.

I prefer the Dianema Longibarbis. This fish just has character! If you have a group of Cories, they will "hang out" with them. It seems odd, but they do. D. Longibarbis is slightly smaller and you have more options with them (15-20-40 gallons ++++)

Scott

Hm, i keep 2 in my tank..and although they like to their own company, they do not seem to be like 'surgically-attached' to each other, if you catch my drift...they swim on their own too...although i'd agree they like a larger group, but mine is getting along with the hoplos, corys, black lancer, and asian bb catfishes excellently.

That sounds great! I must admit that I have sort of a soft spot for these beautiful fishes.

In my LFS the to species of Dianema are kept together, and they´re pretty much the same size, but perhaps it´s better taking the ones without stripes, if they don´t get so large.

Still, it´s odd that they´re sold as the same specie, isn´t it? I´ve experienced that a lot. . different sort of Loraciids sold together etc. .

stibolt wrote:nd a Synodontis Schall who might mock it if it´s too shy.

If it is a true schall then I would be wary of putting Dianema in with them....

Well, I´m not 100% positively, absolutely sure it´s a true Schall. It´s quite difficult to find out what specie he is. . But I think he is.

However, I will try and get a picture of him (Only problem is that he mostly comes out at night. . )

But he is a kind of territorial fish. . He´s beaten other fishes up. On the other hand, I have som Corys living with him without any problems.