Most schooling fish would feel more secure in a group. For example if I kept my tiger barb by itself, it'll be timid and start its bad habit of fin nipping. But kept in a large group, it display its natural habits
What catfish is right for my setup/me?
- Thread starter philipraposo1982
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Most schooling fish would feel more secure in a group. For example if I kept my tiger barb by itself, it'll be timid and start its bad habit of fin nipping. But kept in a large group, it display its natural habits
Okay so I have been looking up pimelodus catfish and synodontis catfish. Seems like all of these guys would like to be in a group.
I think I would be okay with adding a small group of 6 or 7 of either. I just want to pick the right fish for the tank.
I think I would be okay with adding a small group of 6 or 7 of either. I just want to pick the right fish for the tank.
IDK if Pimelodus pictus would eventually be at risk of predation by the GT because IDK much about GT.
Pictus behave more naturally and are most active in large groups. I imagine you'd be happy with a dozen. They will add a lot of livelihood and cuteness and quirks to your tank.
Synodontis cannot be lumped together. It's a huge genus and roughly half the fish are solitary (riverine) and half are gregarious (lakustrine). They are much more of the hiding kind than the pictus.
BTW, some LFS call 4-line Pim catfish also 4-line pictus catfish, erroneously but not too uncommon. Just to be aware and not get confused. These are not gregarious but it depends on a tank. I have about 7-8 in 4500 gal and they do not fight, often hang together but also explore a lot on their own.
Pictus behave more naturally and are most active in large groups. I imagine you'd be happy with a dozen. They will add a lot of livelihood and cuteness and quirks to your tank.
Synodontis cannot be lumped together. It's a huge genus and roughly half the fish are solitary (riverine) and half are gregarious (lakustrine). They are much more of the hiding kind than the pictus.
BTW, some LFS call 4-line Pim catfish also 4-line pictus catfish, erroneously but not too uncommon. Just to be aware and not get confused. These are not gregarious but it depends on a tank. I have about 7-8 in 4500 gal and they do not fight, often hang together but also explore a lot on their own.
It sounds like pimelodus pictus catfish is the way to go.
They look interesting, seem active, don't grow to large, and shouldn't bother my green terror and vice versa.
They look interesting, seem active, don't grow to large, and shouldn't bother my green terror and vice versa.
I'm looking at synodontis multis as an option too. I read they also like to be in groups and can be bred in captivity which I like as well.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Only one or 2, Especially with a GT that has the potential to grow large and chunky. That's what i would say
Multies come from very hard water of African Rift Lakes. Have you read their profiles on Planet Catfish and SeriouslyFish?
I ended up going with synodontis petricola (10 of them, only about 1" maybe a bit bigger). I am aware they come from hard water. I got this at $6 a piece 
My tap is 800 TDS with super high gh and kh. Everyone keeps Africans around here. My GT male doesn't seem to mind the hard water at all. I would say he is actually thriving and loving life. He is growing at a fair rate which from what I read is normal for this fish.
Adding the synodontis has made my GT more active if anything. He is always hungry and glass surfacing for me to come feed him. I can be 25' away from the tank and wave my hand in the air and he will come right up to the front pane, its really cute.
The synos have been doing good so far, eating already too. they are a little scared of the GT and he is a fair bit larger than they are. I didn't notice at the time of bagging up the fish but one of the synos is midding his dorsal fin. Note sure how it happened but its healed and looks fine. I doubt it will grow back though.
My tap is 800 TDS with super high gh and kh. Everyone keeps Africans around here. My GT male doesn't seem to mind the hard water at all. I would say he is actually thriving and loving life. He is growing at a fair rate which from what I read is normal for this fish.
Adding the synodontis has made my GT more active if anything. He is always hungry and glass surfacing for me to come feed him. I can be 25' away from the tank and wave my hand in the air and he will come right up to the front pane, its really cute.
The synos have been doing good so far, eating already too. they are a little scared of the GT and he is a fair bit larger than they are. I didn't notice at the time of bagging up the fish but one of the synos is midding his dorsal fin. Note sure how it happened but its healed and looks fine. I doubt it will grow back though.
