Schooling catfish?

[fishhead0103666]

I can attest that hoplo catfish are active, mine will be up at the top checking out what everyone's doing while silently plotting to steal their food when they aren't looking.

 

[amazonfishman]

Lima Shovelnose school but would eventually need more space though it takes them a while to push past 14", max size is around 2ft depending on the species but only a handful have been seen at that size

 

[Bertie07]

Lima Shovelnose school but would eventually need more space though it takes them a while to push past 14", max size is around 2ft depending on the species but only a handful have been seen at that size

99% of Lima shovelnose sold are actually elongatus and only get to a foot so a school of them should work

 

[fishhead0103666]

The ornate pictus catfish are now marked down to $100 just incase op was considering them but the price was too much.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I've got a 170g tank being custom built for me. 60x30x22. Which actually has a larger foot print
(in square inches) than your run of the mill 240g tank.

I have always wanted to have larger cats but space was always an issue before. Can you guys recommend a species that wouldn't get enormous but would look awesome in a group of four or five? Four line pims? pictus perhaps? I'd like them to be an active species. Other tank makes will likely be SA or CA cichlids, plecos, possibly a Fire eel as well.

One of the standard 240 gal, of which we've got ten, is 8'x2'x2'. 8x2=16 sq ft. 5x2.5=12.5 sq ft. Just a pedantic note that your footprint statement could be mostly a wishful thinking, IMHO.

But I was pleasantly surprised, if not blown away, by the realism you showed in the size of fish you think you can house.

Four line Pims are not a schooling fish, not even what I'd call a shoaling fish. A loose shoal in large tanks of thousands of gallons and no or not much association in smaller tanks 150-300 gal.

School = tight and directional formation. Shoal = loose association.

A shoal of 25+ Pimelodus pictus looks really cool IMHO and IME. The same goes for LSN. Suncats are a gamble. They often squabble but in large tanks may occupy the same territory, still enforcing the hierarchy rather viciously.

I liked the Schilbe suggestion. Ompok can be looked at. So can be great many smaller Bagridae, Heptapteridae, and of course, as stated above, most smaller Pimelodidae.

I like your thinking. I too would rather get more of smaller cats than fewer of larger if the aim is activity.

 

[brent245]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have had a lima shovelnose in the past in a 125g. I never thought of putting multiple ones in since I assumed they grown over 15" maxing out at 2'. But if you guys think it would work they that's a very tempting idea.

I like the pictus cats, however they are relatively small. I think we've narrowed it down to several species. I'm still 2-4 weeks away from having the tank, and then I need to cycle it and get it ready for fish. It may be mid November before I actually buy anything.

 

[brent245]

Wet spot has Ornatus for $35ea.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Statistically we see that 99.9% of "LSN" sold in the states fail to exceed ~1' even when properly kept, which makes me assume they are elongatus, not lima (these are ~impossible to tell apart by external features by a hobbyist). Alternatively, they could be lima mass-produced carelessly and as cheaply as possible at farms. But if this was the case, I think we'd see a LOT of birth deformities, which we don't see at all or almost at all.

Anyhow, I've posted a small write-up on MFK several times on lima versus elongatus topic. Search for "elongatus" and narrow by my screen name and you will find it in the hits, if you wish to know more. Beware, not everyone would agree with me, so process critically. Perhaps Trent amazonfishman may offer a different and fresh prospective.

I have 20 lima / elongatus right now in one of our tanks. They look real nice together.

One more caution is that they tend to dart and damage their rather brittle upper jaw by running into walls. There are things one could do to try to minimize this.

Wet spot has Ornatus for $35ea.

That's not at all a bad price. Their range is $25-$85.

 

[justarn]

Sounds like your looking for some sort of Pim

As suggested above if you could get Pimelodus Ornatus these are stunning and like to be kept in groups , thou they are rare and pricey. I only have the one and trying to find more in the UK is tough may be easier in the states to get some.

And also suggested above Pimelodus Blochii ,four line pims which are the most active Catfish outside of Hoplo's i have kept ,again i have only kept the one thou they are quite easy to come by.

Wildwoods Enfield has had one a while, not sure if it's sold. They do mail order.

 

[Aqua_Bankie]

Wildwoods Enfield has had one a while, not sure if it's sold. They do mail order.

Cheers, Just phoned them its sold, will keep searching.