Will some Mystus mysticetus fit with this stocking?

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

The pet store got some Mystus mysticetus in today, and depending on how things go I may possibly be able to accomodate them.
If I do end up possibly being able, could 5-6 or so work with 9 or 10 pictus catfish (bottom) and 9 small scale archerfish (top) in a 1.83m x 47cm footprint 473 liter? Thanks.

 

[Fishman Dave]

In theory yes, they are quite placid, although that really more depends on how your Pictus grow, and develop socially. I had six originally and as they grew and progressed towards 5”to 6” they became VERY individual and each preferred their own slice of the tank rather than interacting as they do when younger. Then they would disagree more on occasions.
Put a group of similar sized placid, similar shaped cats into this scenario and there is potential to force this territorial individual nature out in your Pictus.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I'd probably echo Dave. It can work out fine. Mystus are Bagrids and can be assertive or unpredictable. Our pictus too often quarrel to a various degree of intensity. Hard to predict for sure but I, for one, would try it. Then again, I lose a lot of fish to trying or having to cohab different fish together, so I am not a good example here.

 

[Fishman Dave]

I too would try it, but then both of us have other tanks we can move fish to if it doesn’t work out.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I can always rehome the Mystus mysticetus if it doesn't work.

Speaking of Mystus and pictus catfish, this species has a basically identical pattern to the white line pictus catfish/Pimelodus albofasciatus.
I've always somewhat admired this species of pictus catfish, but can't provide a 3.66m tank for it, so I love how similar Mystus mysticetus looks.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Perhaps you have noticed long ago that your judgements, while arguably admirable, are an exception.

Maybe you are the voice of the future. But no one from the past and the present on the MFK or even Planet Catfish would tell you you need a 3.66 meter = 12 foot tank for a 25 cm = 10 inch max fish that mostly sits on the bottom and swims occasional laps.

If you saw the group of our 1-foot long 4-line pims P. Blochii in our 1800 gal 16ft x 6.5ft x 2.5ft, you'd realize they'd be equally happy in a tank 1/2 size, or even 1/4 size. Just my humble judgment. I've been known to be wrong before once or twice haha...

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Perhaps you have noticed long ago that your judgements, while arguably admirable, are an exception.

Lol, yes I have. About 3 weeks after I first joined.

Maybe you are the voice of the future. But no one from the past and the present on the MFK or even Planet Catfish would tell you you need a 3.66 meter = 12 foot
tank for a 25 cm = 10 inch max fish that mostly sits on the bottom and swims occasional laps.

I thought I would need a 3.66m tank for the following reasons/assumptions:

-25cm is standard length according to Planet Catfish. Total length would be around 30cm with a standard length of 25cm.
-That these were as active as regular (P. pictus) pictus catfish - I could not find anything that said these fish were not active, so I went with the default assumption. Of course, I have kept this 15cm species, and I have found it only really does well in 1.83m+ tanks because of how active it is, so I presume a 30cm catfish as active as P. pictus would need a 3.66m tank.

If you saw the group of our 1-foot long 4-line pims P. Blochii in our 1800 gal 16ft x 6.5ft x 2.5ft, you'd realize they'd be equally happy in a tank 1/2 size, or even 1/4 size. Just my humble judgment. I've been known to be wrong before once or twice haha...

Looking at the video of them in the 17034 liter, they were pretty active in there. I'm certainly not saying your judgement was wrong, but it's at least theoretically possible the 6814 liter's space isn't sufficient for them to be as active as they were in the 17034 liter.

Different stocking levels and fish in each tank could also play the role in different behavior instead of tank size, of course. Hence why I'm not discounting your judgement.

 

[jjohnwm]

If you saw the group of our 1-foot long 4-line pims P. Blochii in our 1800 gal 16ft x 6.5ft x 2.5ft, you'd realize they'd be equally happy in a tank 1/2 size, or even 1/4 size. Just my humble judgment. I've been known to be wrong before once or twice haha...

Woah, woah, woah...so you are saying that you have confined those poor pathetic blochii in a mere 487.68cm x 198.12cm x 76.21cm tank? That's only 6813.741 liters!!! And that's not even taking into consideration the fact that, at an assumed glass thickness of 12.7mm, you have actually lost 140.4044 liters of capacity just to glass volume! And you are actually suggesting that they could be kept in smaller volumes of water???

I am forced to wonder if you have even provided the minimum suggested turnover rate of 73.47 x, i.e. a minimum of 500605.55127 liters per hour.

Viktor, I think you need to take a long, hard look at your increasingly cavalier attitude towards the long-term happiness and well-being of these fish; it seems to me that you are playing fast and loose with the basic elements of care that they require. These fish have physical, emotional and intellectual needs; I'm pretty sure that they also have calculators, so they can quickly do some math and know when they are being short-changed.

We look to you as a shining light, an example of how things should be done. Please...don't let us down...

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

The cavalier attitude and the fast and loose play sum up my ways pretty good That was mighty funny to me but I'd hate for MTS's feelings to be hurt...

 

[jjohnwm]

The cavalier attitude and the fast and loose play sum up my ways pretty good That was mighty funny to me but I'd hate for MTS's feelings to be hurt...

Translating questions and comments into metricese even when they are originally in English seems to be accepted practice; why shouldn't I follow suit? In fact...why would you even think to ask that question?

Dang it, I'm trying my best to be woke; can't switch the pitch and expect me to go back to sleep now...