Catfish suggestions

[JMoor]

Hey folks, I have a new 210 gallon I just set up and wanted to get some suggestions on a catfish to add to the mix. The fine folks in the cichlids forum gave me some great advice on some tank mates for my Uaru and I'm hoping to get some ideas regarding catfish.

I have been keeping tanks for almost 30 years but this is my first large tank and I'm admittedly not very knowledgeable when it comes to catfish other than some of the common species like corys and pictus.

I'm looking for something that gets some decent size like 8"-12" (not set in stone) and if possible doesn't hide constantly.

The tank is stocked with the following:
Uaru A. X3
Chocolate Cichlid X1
Red shoulder/Rotkeil Severum X1
Gold Nugget Pleco X1
and possibly 1 flagtail at some point

Filtration is Oase 850 X3

Thank you so much for any advice or suggestions you folks may have!

Cheers!

 

[Fishman Dave]

Check out Bolt catfish. Doesn’t tend to hide, 12”, good pattern, relatively priced, sturdy without being too aggressive.

 

[Sadrobots]

I love raphael cats and the various kinds therein, but they can tend to hide. certain kinds of synodontis are super cool and get really large, as well.

 

[kno4te]

Check out Bolt catfish. Doesn’t tend to hide, 12”, good pattern, relatively priced, sturdy without being too aggressive.

+1. Think a sturio cat will work too.

 

[JMoor]

I really appreciate the fast replies! I left out one important tank occupant. I want to put a decent size school of dither fish, like Columbian tetras or something similar in the tank. Not sure if that changes some of the suggestions. Sorry!

 

[tlindsey]

Columbian tetras

I personally don't have experience with the Bolt Catfish but the Columbian Tetra would be fine.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

What kind of water do your Uaru need? Very soft and acidic?

Will not any of your cichlids prey on the tetras?

Most catfish, including Bolt, would eat up the tetras, I imagine.

So your catfish requirements:
-- fits your water
-- non predatory
-- not hiding too much / half active or mostly active
-- decent size
-- if these cichlids are aggressive, then the cat must be able to manage that

 

[JMoor]

Thank you for the reply! So the above mentioned cichlids are from around the same area and appreciate soft and moderately acidic water but are all tank bred and more flexible.

They are, as far as cichlids go, not very aggressive and the tetras are around 3 inches in length. The cichlids are more along the 'gentle giant' range. But yes, I would be looking for catfish that wouldn't actively hunt the tetras if possible. I should have been more clear about that. I looked up the bolt per an above recommendation and as you said the tetras would definitely be midnight snacks haha.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Without looking at lists of catfish, I can think off the top of my head:

hoplo catfish, usually smaller species but there is one large species, we had it, that can hit 1ft

synodontis, there are various species, they may need harder water and non-acidic pH or at least neutral, but if captive bred perhaps this is not important

harlequin lancer catfish, or black lancer catfish

medium doradidae e.g. centrodoras or something a bit smaller from the family

 

[JMoor]

Great information! Thank you all for the suggestions! I'll read up on all of them