Potentially dumb compatibility question involving a delhiezi

[HybridHerp]

So, my current bichirs are a delhiezi and a retropinis (and a rope but that's not important for this). The retro grows slowly and his most of the time so I'm never concerned about him and tank mates but the del is a little tricky at times with what fish do and do not work. My del is probably like 8" and is normally pretty passive and accepting of other fish but there are a few fish he has just straight up murdered (adult swordtails do not work...repeat....do not work....he just ripped them apart but didn't eat them...however he's never bothered cichlids or rainbow fish that have been smaller than these swordtails)

My friend recently offered me 3 adult sized porthole catfish. Now, I've never kept them before but it seems that everything else I keep/want to keep in my aquarium is completely compatible. However, idk if a bichir would go after them or ignore them or what. The del has been fine with the retro and the rope (and a sen that I no longer have) but not sure if it will see 3 catfish as a meal or just ignore them as he does my gouramis and mid sized cichlids. I've heard that these cats spend more time in the middle of the water column anyways, and the tank has plenty of hiding spaces, a surplus of them honestly, but I just need opinions before I grab fish from a friend lol

Thanks

 

[Dr.B]

I honestly am not familiar with porthole catfish, but a quick google search says their max size is 3". If thats the same fish your talking about anything around 3" is a risk period, but with your delhezi they're probably at even more of a risk. It could work, but theres a good chance it won't. Again this is all assuming we're talking about the same fish

 

[HybridHerp]

yah, I've heard max size of 4 or 5"

I decided against it though as they aren't thick fish anyways and it doesn't seem worth the risk

 

[kno4te]

It depends on the species you get. Can get about 6 inches with decent girth and deter from being eaten. I have seen breeder port cats that are massive and no uj species would eat them with an exception of an ornate. All depends on which cats you get.


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