Fat Catfish for 90 gallon

[Omrit]

I am looking for a fat catfish I can have in a 90 gallon with some sort of tank mates. My favorite catfish based on looks is the Apure Jelly Catfish, but they get far too large. I just love the big mouthed chubby catfish in general, and would like to have one.




I would like to keep it with either a rainbow wolf fish or some kind of medium sized cichlid. A small group of a larger schooling species would be nice as well, but not mandatory.



The Chaca catfish is everything I want looks wise, but I am not sure what it can actually swallow. Could it eat a rainbow wolf fish assuming both are adults? I know the barbs would be a no go with this guy, but if he would work with the rainbow wolf that would be a neat tank I think.

 

[wednesday13]

IMO a chaca would b a good fit… big mouth but small body. Dont think one could ever swallow a rainbow wolf they dont get very big. If not a chaca theres a few south american “bumblee” sp. that would get decent size but not outgrow the tank. Prob the closest looking to an apure jelly also.

 

[fishguy1978]

Black Driftwood cat (Trachycorystes trachycorystes) would work.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

IDK anything about a rainbow wolf fish. So keeping this in mind...

Chaca I thought don't exceed 8". Looks is one thing but you will have to be happy with the sedentary lifestyle, plus they benefit greatly from being able to bury themselves in substrate, so you might only see your chaca during feedings.

As Wednesday13 says - I'd suggest to browse through the Pseudopimelodidae family on Planet Catfish and pick out what looks and sizes you like and see if they are available in the trade. In general, if Planet's Cat-eLog has lots of photos, the fish is available, if few, then rare, if none, then likely never.

As Fishguy also says above, some candidates from driftwood catfish family might fit the "fat" bill. The mentioned ironhead catfish (might grow too big) or the gulper, jaguar catfish, etc.

Raphael catfish feed themselves into a ball like shape too most usually. Perhaps some other smaller doradids might scratch you where you itch.

 

[Fishman Dave]

I would suggest a pair of pseudomystus siamensis the Asian bumblebee cat. Males would reach 7” and females 9” tops.

 

[Omrit]

Love these suggestions some interesting species for sure! I think I am going to go with the Chaca assuming I can find one.

IMO a chaca would b a good fit… big mouth but small body. Dont think one could ever swallow a rainbow wolf they dont get very big. If not a chaca theres a few south american “bumblee” sp. that would get decent size but not outgrow the tank. Prob the closest looking to an apure jelly also.

Do you know how large a fish an adult Chaca can eat? Some people say about half the Chaca's size while others say they can eat fish nearly the same size as themselves.

Black Driftwood cat (Trachycorystes trachycorystes) would work.

Aren't these guys more of a species tank type catfish? I only see people keeping them alone or with huge tank mates. Very cute though I love how it looks.

 

[tlindsey]

Love these suggestions some interesting species for sure! I think I am going to go with the Chaca assuming I can find one.





Do you know how large a fish an adult Chaca can eat? Some people say about half the Chaca's size while others say they can eat fish nearly the same size as themselves.





Aren't these guys more of a species tank type catfish? I only see people keeping them alone or with huge tank mates. Very cute though I love how it looks.

I personally value the info on Planetcatfish as thebiggerthebetter suggested. Info on Chaca Chaca
https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=136

 

[fishguy1978]

Aren't these guys more of a species tank type catfish? I only see people keeping them alone or with huge tank mates. Very cute though I love how it looks.

These guys will eat or attempt to eat anything that fits in their mouth.