The catfish answer to kuhli loaches!

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Some of you might remember my comment in the swamp eel thread, in my search for a kuhli loach substitute: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/so-you-want-a-swamp-eel.740393/page-2
I can't believe I didn't remember it at the time, but there is a catfish answer: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/gymnallabes-typus.747019/
Thoughts on the compatibility of an eel catfish with clown loaches, horseface loaches, archerfish, chalceus, and pictus catfish in a 2.42m x 77cm x 36cm tank?
Rtc/tsn

 

[Midwater]

Thoughts on the compatibility of an eel catfish with clown loaches, horseface loaches, archerfish, chalceus, and pictus catfish in a 2.42m x 77cm x 36cm tank?

Don't know at all about swamp eel, and I don't fancy it. All the rest I would say can go together, but you would need much more than 36cm height. You may also need some extra headroom for the archers.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Yes, the swamp eel ended up off the table. This thread was asking about the eel catfish.

Based on my research, 36cm would be sufficient. Archers are frequently kept in paludarium setups of around that depth, and have a very strong bias towards the top anyway. Chalceus tend to stay within the top 15cm of the tank as well.
And when I asked redshark1 about the height for the clown loaches, he believes it will work from the behavior of his adults. They don't really go above the mid level of a 45cm tall tank, and this together with the strong top bias of the chalceus and archerfish works out nicely in 36cm IMO.
Horseface loaches and pictus catfish are of course also bottom-biased fish. I've never seen either as an adult utilize 36cm of height as part of their normal behavior, that I have seen is generally staying in close proximity to the substrate.

Edit: Here is a video of those clown loaches. You can see what I mean by 'not really going above the mid level':

 

[Midwater]

I see archers in a lake about three or four metres deep. They are often at the top, and then they can disappear into the murky depths. Horsefaces and modesta (similar size to clowns) also inhabit deeper water.

Possibly you can get away with 36cm, but I think it is a bit restrictive.

 

[Friller2009]

Alright. You could keep Archers at a depth of 36cm.
You could keep can keep chalceus at a depth of 36cm
You could keep clown loaches at a depth of 36cm
But, id you keep them all together, there will not be enough depth to give them their own space. The archers would be touching the clown loaches basically. 36 cms is not that big.. a clown loach wouldn’t be able to swim up the sides. It won’t work mate

 

[Fishman Dave]

Eel catfish (assuming you mean channalebes) will be great escape artists since in nature they feed on land eating beetles. You won’t keep one in your 36cm deep tank for long.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

For Friller, I can see your doubts but so far I believe it will be fine, again based on the top video as well as observations of my own fish. The majority of that time in the video, the clown loaches are right on the substrate, and the body height of even the tallest leaves a good amount of clearance space - given what their behavior is most of the time, these fish are highly unlikely to always be touching each other.
And I do believe the long, wide footprint allows for plenty of clearance space, in case the archers and chalceus have to get out of the way of the loaches (whivh again will be rare based on the video). Providing that clearance space is the reason why the archers and chalceus are the only top fish, and why the clown loaches are the only deep bodied big bottom dwelling fish.

Now of course I could possibly be incorrect, in which case going taller (say 45cm) would be a good idea. I just find that as mentioned, actual research and observations of these very fish tells me it is likely to work, together with understocking the top fish+deep bodied bottom fish to give clearance space..

Midwater, I appreciate that you're sharing observations of these fish in the wild. But from what I have found, fish in tanks don't really want for the same height they have in the wild because it's not really a dimension they use even if they live with it.
Another example: https://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=77

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Midwater, I appreciate that you're sharing observations of these fish in the wild. But from what I have found, fish in tanks don't really want for the same height they have in the wild because it's not really a dimension they use even if they live with it.
Another example: https://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=77

Reread the statement. I now noticed it said they disappear into the depths.
My guess is that mine won't do that and be fine with the shallower height, they have no predators to worry about and mine are very top biased in general anyway.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

The species I have is gymnallabes typus and he’s full grown right now at about 9” and I’ve had him over a year, you could most definitely keep a gymnallabes typus in that size tank with those tankmates. They’re pretty territorial and hide most of the day and are out swimming a lot early morning and afternoon throughout the night.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Your input is much appreciated Rtc/tsn. I'm glad you were able to give some as you're probably the only the only person still active on here who has kept one.