Catfish ideas
- Thread starter jaws7777
- Start date
I am pretty late to the game but will throw in some food for thought.
8'x2.5' very generally to me means a maximum of 1.5'-2' sedentary catfish, 1'-1.5' average catfish, 1' actively swimming catfish.
Plus you want active, at least non-hider.
With this in mind I can think of these cats:
-- bolt, as you say, but only one
-- bullheads
-- gulper colony
-- giraffe catfish "Volta"
-- walking catfish
-- apurensis
-- Ageneiosus marmoratus and Co
-- schilbe
-- ompok
-- LSN (really elongatus)
-- sun cat
-- blochii and Co of medium Pims
-- Hemibagrus nemurus
-- larger synodontis - decorus, notatus, ocellifer, eupterus, etc.
-- Rhamdia quelen and Co
-- centrodoras
-- Neosilurus ater and Co
-- Chrysichthys (can be boring)
IMO, vultures could do tolerably but really need a bigger tank. If a vulture sits in one spot for long, it'd be for too little swimming space.
8'x2.5' very generally to me means a maximum of 1.5'-2' sedentary catfish, 1'-1.5' average catfish, 1' actively swimming catfish.
Plus you want active, at least non-hider.
With this in mind I can think of these cats:
-- bolt, as you say, but only one
-- bullheads
-- gulper colony
-- giraffe catfish "Volta"
-- walking catfish
-- apurensis
-- Ageneiosus marmoratus and Co
-- schilbe
-- ompok
-- LSN (really elongatus)
-- sun cat
-- blochii and Co of medium Pims
-- Hemibagrus nemurus
-- larger synodontis - decorus, notatus, ocellifer, eupterus, etc.
-- Rhamdia quelen and Co
-- centrodoras
-- Neosilurus ater and Co
-- Chrysichthys (can be boring)
IMO, vultures could do tolerably but really need a bigger tank. If a vulture sits in one spot for long, it'd be for too little swimming space.
No problem Jaws and as far as Bufonius, Jeff Rapps used to have them from time to time. If you hit him up he maybe able to source more. I can't remember where I got mine from but I know it wasn't Jeff. It's too bad because I wish I could provide you with more then one lead.
Also in regards to Bufonius they are one of the more attractive IMHO pseudopimelodidae but they are IME big time hiders. Unlike their bigger family members such as Apurensis which IMO is a much more interesting fish. Apurensis have a beastly charm about them that's hard to resist once you've had one and I know Jeff has one as does John/Snookn21 on Aquabid. He used to be a vendor here. Check out this recent thread here on them to read some Apu keeping stories. https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/c-fowleri-vs-c-apurensis.664966/page-3
As for medium cats IMHO Pimelodus Ornatus make a nice addition but definitely benefit from being kept in a group which increases their confidence and activity level. Jeff currently has some for sale. I also personally like Centrodoras Brachiatus as a medium cat, maxing out at around 16 inches. IME they're more out going then many of the other Doradidae are peaceful while rocking that awesome saw armor on their sides. Bluegrassaqautics has Centro's in stock right now. And Jeff has Hemisorubim platyrhynchos which is another nice pimelodidiae that doesn't get too big and is a nice medium cat. They max out around 20 inches.
Centrodoras Brachiatus
View attachment 1258199
Hemisorubim platyrhynchos
The Macro should be fine in a 150 for awhile as their growth slows after they reach about a foot or so in length. I think they're capable of reaching full size in about three years so you should be good
IME not really. They are often times on the move and even when they retire they don't go crazy doing a disappearing act even when fairly young.
Awesome info guys exactly what i was looking for ! Really appreciate it now i have lots of homework to do lol.
I really like apurensis but man if it ate my pearsei the kids and wife would never forgive me.
Say i went with a vulture or bolt since it sounds like i couldnt keep both together in an 96x30 what would be the best 2 or 3 cats to keep with either ?
Hemisorubim platyrhynchos look freakin awesome how would one do with a vulture or bolt ?
Dude just saw a pic of one snacking on what looked like a full grown oscar....lol that would get me kicked out of the house
+1
So jaws is venturing over the catfish side. Great suggestions so far.
When iskoltsixx gonna jump over to the poly side?!
Lol he was dipping his toe in lol my issue with poly is the hassles with obtaining them...one source and lots of conflicting info
A group of s. Eupterus would be pretty amazing. One of my lfs has 6 in a cichlids display. Super impressive when they are all swimming together with their "sails" up
I really want to but getting Toyin to respond is a mission and a half for me and I am apparently not as patient as the other guys in the Poly section. Plus he always insists on airport to airport and that's not always feasible for me at least currently. I have been considering alternate sources such as Amazin and Monster Aquarium just going to have to see what they can do for me.So jaws is venturing over the catfish side. Great suggestions so far.
When is
No problem, our pleasure; hey you and the Poly guys are always sharing your knowledge and experiences so how could we not at least return the favor.
Lol, no worries if I remember correctly the Oscar lived and never bothered the Apu again. See it was a happy ending.
Seriously IME they aren't that predatory when well fed and I'm betting the situation with the Oscar was much like mine with my wife's Red Devil. They started something they couldn't finish. With an Apu it's like when a dude starts with a heavy dude and the heavy dude warns, bruh, you start somethin' I'll sit on ya. Well with the Apu it's bruh, if ya start something I'll eat ya. Hopefully your Pearsei isn't as stubborn as my wife's Red Devil. Viktor made some great suggestions, many that didn't come to my mind right away. Shilbe for instance has been a cat I've wanted but just can't get my hands on. By the way
thebiggerthebetter
do you know of any vendors who get them? I also didn't know that Volta Giraffe don't grow as large as other Occidentalis. And IMO Giraffe's are great cats with only their size being their biggest negative. As for what you keep with either a Bolt or Vulture the only limiting factor might be the Bolt's aggression but in a large tank I'm guessing it won't be too much of an issue. Of the cats suggested the only really incompatible IMO would be a bolt with an Apu. The bolt might try to lay it down on the Apu just to find himself in the Apu's mouth. Other then that most cats are pretty food competitive so I don't think you'd have issue there and most aren't aggressive. So the only limiting factor would be over all size and how predatory the cats are.
Viktor believes the Vulture should be eliminated so I'll err on his side because I never kept one as a adult and he has several. While I love the Apu it's IMO a risky addition so we'll cross him out as well. Pims in general are awesome. Predatory but not necessarily aggressive with sleek body lines and that tri pod stance. A Hemisorubim platyrhynchos IMO would make a nice addition with Bolt and maybe a Centrodoras, Occidentalis or Pimelodus Ornatus. My guess is most would learn to stay out of the Bolts way so any issues would be minimal.
That's pretty much one of the major reasons for me not jumping on Poly's. Right now I'm also doing some personal stuff that is keeping me a little preoccupied. However it should be good stuff and hopefully I'll soon be in a better position to keep more fish and be more active in the hobby in general.
I really want to but getting Toyin to respond is a mission and a half for me and I am apparently not as patient as the other guys in the Poly section. Plus he always insists on airport to airport and that's not always feasible for me at least currently. I have been considering alternate sources such as Amazin and Monster Aquarium just going to have to see what they can do for me.
No problem, our pleasure; hey you and the Poly guys are always sharing your knowledge and experiences so how could we not at least return the favor.
Lol, no worries if I remember correctly the Oscar lived and never bothered the Apu again. See it was a happy ending.
Viktor made some great suggestions, many that didn't come to my mind right away. Shilbe for instance has been a cat I've wanted but just can't get my hands on. By the way
As for what you keep with either a Bolt or Vulture the only limiting factor might be the Bolt's aggression but in a large tank I'm guessing it won't be too much of an issue. Of the cats suggested the only really incompatible IMO would be a bolt with an Apu. The bolt might try to lay it down on the Apu just to find himself in the Apu's mouth. Other then that most cats are pretty food competitive so I don't think you'd have issue there and most aren't aggressive. So the only limiting factor would be over all size and how predatory the cats are.
Viktor believes the Vulture should be eliminated so I'll err on his side because I never kept one as a adult and he has several. While I love the Apu it's IMO a risky addition so we'll cross him out as well. Pims in general are awesome. Predatory but not necessarily aggressive with sleek body lines and that tri pod stance. A Hemisorubim platyrhynchos IMO would make a nice addition with Bolt and maybe a Centrodoras, Occidentalis or Pimelodus Ornatus. My guess is most would learn to stay out of the Bolts way so any issues would be minimal.
That's pretty much one of the major reasons for me not jumping on Poly's. Right now I'm also doing some personal stuff that is keeping me a little preoccupied. However it should be good stuff and hopefully I'll soon be in a better position to keep more fish and be more active in the hobby in general.
Lets not leave out the vulture yet...maybe i can sneak a 96x36 in there lol or use the fish to upgrade down the road again lol wife and kids get attached to the ones with personality lol
Sucks because bolts are soo awesome looking.
Been googling all of
thebiggerthebetter
suggestions. Man some really cool fish.Keep the suggesrions and combinations going guys this is really helpful...seriously because i need to retrain my way of thinking, with polys the more the better much less aggression
How would the vulture do with the Hemisorubim platyrhynchos ?
What makes you say "sucks because bolts are awesome looking"? They should make a good addition just can't have a group of them. And their aggression should be manageable IMO. I only said I wouldn't try one with an Apurensis.Lets not leave out the vulture yet...maybe i can sneak a 96x36 in there lol or use the fish to upgrade down the road again lol wife and kids get attached to the ones with personality lol
Sucks because bolts are soo awesome looking.
Been googling all of
Keep the suggesrions and combinations going guys this is really helpful...seriously because i need to retrain my way of thinking, with polys the more the better much less aggression
How would the vulture do with the Hemisorubim platyrhynchos ?
As far as the Vulture and the Platyrhynchos they should be fine as long as there isn't a great size difference. As I said my vulture used to cuddle up to my RTC and hybrid RTC/Shovelnose so I don't see any problems with those two.
As far as suggestions, there aren't too many in the size range and that are prone to staying in open water available to us. I could name some cool but more reclusive cats.
Haha said thar because i thought somewhere ot was said the bolt and the vulture would be a no go.
What about juruense ?
Again sorry about all the "what about this one or that one" questions
Lol, it's fine. As for the Juruense they should be fine with most of the cats listed except the Bolt IMO. Juruense aren't quick and may not be able to get out of the Bolt's way fast enough. Which may lead to the Bolt stressing the Juruense.
But again I've never had a Bolt myself. I have had Juruense though and mine was fine with his cat tankmates which included Rhinodroas dorbignyi, Jaguar cats and a Irwini. I don't know if it's just me but IME Juru's don't seem as food aggressive as other cats and I always worried about mine but I might have been messing with myself. They're so pretty you just feel like they have to be fragile.
