Ok, So I've Got A 40 Gallon Tank

[qoftheq]

Hi, I recently got a used forty gal nearly free from my local pet store. Its pretty short and wide, and I'm wondering if it'll be big enough to house a few spotted raphael catfish, which I would really really enjoy. I've read they need to be in groups of at least three, so I'm hoping I could keep three of them comfortably in my tank. Also, I'm wondering if there would be any stocking room left over in that tank. Ideally I'd like to have three raphaels and a peacock eel, but that seems pretty unlikely. Reality check, would this tank work for these fish?

Edit: Wanted to add, the tank will be cycled, planted, etc

 

[Miss Wiggle]

whats the full dimensions of the tank?

i'm pretty sure 40g will be big enough though.

however a tank with just those in is gonna look very very bare. you'll see them for the first 2/3 weeks then once they settle they will be very very noctuiral and shy, you'll never see them

 

[smmetz]

I have 3 in a 55. I think a 40 would be good too, unless it is a particularly tall tank.

I had just 1 in a 29 gallon tank at first. After I set up my 55, I got a couple more raphaels. I hoped it would make the one I had more active, having friends in the tank. It did not. I saw the younger ones once in a while, but now they hide all day. At least I can see parts of their body in the places they hide!

 

[andywg]

All depends on which Raphael Catfish. Some stay small, while others get large (one gets past 2 feet in length). Look into the Family Doradidae on Planet Catfish to find suitable species.

 

[smmetz]

All depends on which Raphael Catfish. Some stay small, while others get large (one gets past 2 feet in length). Look into the Family Doradidae on Planet Catfish to find suitable species.

Wow, I didn't know there was more than one and their sizes varies so much. Mine are supposed to get 5 or maybe 6 inches long. Perhaps you didn't see that in his post the OP specified "spotted raphael"


I found only one entry in planetcatfish (for spotted raphael), says 5" max.

Another site I like says 5.5" max, and lists some other "talking catfish".
http/www.scotcat.com/articles/article58.htm