Doradidae family questions

[ewok]

hi i was wondering which catfish in the Doradidae family possesses the following qualities

- stays under 12" but preferably around 6 inches or more
- isn't too rare i.e. not too expensive!
- isn't hiding around all the time.
- isn't too difficult to keep. i have kept fish for a long time, but am relatively new to catfish
- is fairly good looking or perhaps odd looking but in an interesting way

i have been to planetcatfish but it seems that the information on most of the profiles are limited. plus it's hard to get answers for my questions above looking at those sheets.

 

[necrocanis]

Any of the rapheals. They stay small and are cool, but they hide all the time. Platydoras costatus, or something like that. They are little pigs, and mine got to about 7" and died after 3 years.

 

[ewok]

thanks for the feedback. i see raphael cats in the LFS around here, but they are boring at best... just laying there and not really doing a whole lot

am i looking at the wrong family in terms of a smaller sized, outgoing catfish?

 

[sandtiger]

There are several that fit your description but I'm afraid none are especially active. If you have a dim tank with plenty of driftwood, rocks and floating plants then you might see them more often then you would in a normal setup but don't expect the activity level of coryodoras or other active cats. If you want active catfishes those are the way to go. If you want something a bit larger the brochis members of the family might work.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=31#114

Pictus catfish are another alternative, so are some of the synodontus catfish. I have never kept synos before but fro mwhat I have seen they seen fairly active by catfish standards.

 

[Tigriuns™]

Bro ewok, can check this link out...I am keeping afew...those active usually can grow quite big..but very long time

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88422

 

[ewok]

Bro ewok, can check this link out...I am keeping afew...those active usually can grow quite big..but very long time

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88422

lol i just replied to the post. what is that one with the spots on him, under your 'updates' from 9/14?

very cool

 

[wayne the pain]

Well None of the dorads are especially active, but i had a few Orinocodoras eigenmanni that would always come out for food, if lights were on or not, very similar to Platydoras but in my opinion a lot better.

 

[Tigriuns™]

I got 3 big catfish about 8~9" they seem very active swimming in circle against each other...