I Need Catfish

[Wills]

Hi like the title says really, I need some catfish to zip around the sand in my tank. I keep getting a few dead spots and its getting out of control now. I dont really want cories as all my LFS charge at least £6.99 for even peppered and bronze and I just cant justify that to my self really.

The tank is a Roma 240, stock is in my signature. I know when the fish are all adult the tank would be over stocked but most of my fish are slow growing species and I am on the lookout for an upgrade as we speak I just need the catfish to bury in the sand or dash around a lot.

I was thinking of maybe some kind of tatia woodcat? Or maybe SA bumble bees but I dont know I want something a bit different and Im not afraid to track them down so any wired and wonderful suggestions would be great.

Oh also was thinking the flagtailed catfish I forget the scientific name but similar to hoplos but not as big...

thanks Wills

 

[rdp50734]

what about pictus?

 

[mbsqw1d]

I have 9 Cories in my tank with sand. They really dont bury themselves in it as much as I'd like them to... what fish do???

 

[Carlovel1]

WOW in my LFS , they sell Bronze and Peppered Cories for £1.75

 

[Davo86]

My suggestion would be botia kubotai, Mine are always routing around in the gravel, picking out anything they find

I have 2 SA Bumblebee Cats and I haven't seen them since i added them, so don't seem the most active cats IME

 

[Wills]

Thanks guys, rdp I thought about pictus but they get a little big for the tank right now with everything else. Davo, I thought about loaches but I want to keep my tank as american as possible and the rainbows are just to please the mrs lols.

I really like jaguar catfish they are amazing but big, and probs something for a mega tank but what do you think as grow outs in this tank?

Wills

 

[star4]

Been nosing on PC site, found this section of american catfish, I like the Noturus Gladiator

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/family.php?family_id=5

Its a shame there isnt a mini pictus, just love them to bits.

 

[Wills]

Yeah I think Im going to look out for flagtails.... I have been for a while but never ever ever seen them

these are the jags I like http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=173

 

[star4]

Smack you wrists they grow bigger than the pictus! see why you fancy some of them they are utterly gorgous.

 

[MartinS]

Tatia intermedia is often available, though it is also sold as T.galaxias (which it never is ). Size wise about 5", though as with a lot of catfish, will generally hide in the day. They can become quite bold at feeding time, but no guarantees you'll ever see them when the lights are on. They certainly won't bury in the sand, there are a few cats that will (banjos spring to mind), but one fish I had recently that became available for a while is Imparfinis pseudomonachir (the last two images for the species are actually my pictures). They hide themselves in the sand - can often be found with just the eyes sticking out, but are very fast (like pims) and will feed with the lights ons.
Not sure if you'll have any luck sourcing them - if your LFS has an account with Neil Hardys, you could try them first.
HTH
Martin

 

[Wills]

Wow thanks man They look great, little small but if I could find some decent sized ones

Any other ideas you seem like the kind of person whos brain I need to pick haha! going to have a google of your stock list looks interesting!! Any pics of your tank anywhere?

 

[Wills]

Oh wow just seen the Brachyrhamidia on your stock list and they are amazing!! Just had a ring round a few LFS and seeing if they can get some in for me

Wills

 

[MartinS]

Oh wow just seen the Brachyrhamidia on your stock list and they are amazing!! Just had a ring round a few LFS and seeing if they can get some in for me

Wills

I have just one - it's fully grown, I'd say it's a cross between a corydoras and a pim in looks and behaviour, though in single numbers are quite shy. You'd be much better off with a small shoal of five to six - can't see you'll have much problem getting hold of some, though which species will arrive is luck of the draw. Most of them get to a reasonable size (not big but big enough to be safe with the fish you have).
The Imparfinis aren't a big fish, but are extremely quick and can hide faster than you'd believe - as I said you may have trouble getting them. They appeared on the market for a while as Hardys got a load in and they were shipped all over, but not sure if it is a fish they continually stock. A fascinating fish to keep, but with your other tank mates you may not see much of them.
Not a recent one, but if you check out 'My Aquaria' over on PC, it will give you an idea of the tank. I'm hoping to add some Centromochlus reticulatus soon as well .
Martin

 

[MartinS]

Oh and i have to say, if I had a bigger tank, I'd definitely have some of the Hypsophrys Nicaraguensis - along with Geophagus steindachneri, they are my two favourite cichlids. I have to say the checkerboards are perfect for my tank, and having a single male to two females seems to work well.
Martin

 

[Wills]

Wow those are nice again I wish I knew more about rare catfish, wish I could find them I really like Centromochlus schultzi actually. How active are they?

Any other ideas? Ill enjoy some reading on fish so just give me some families to look at and Ill what I can find haha

Wills