What To Put In A 29Gallon With 1 Multi-Cat (Cuckoo)

[skiltrip]

I have a 29 Gallon tank with one Cuckoo Catfish.  It's around 4-5" long.  I've had that fish for many many years.  My tank has a sand substrate, and rocks made to form a few caves.  I used to have cichlids of various type at one point or another, but a 29 gallon is a rough neighborhood for multiple cichlids, even little ones.  I've gone the firemouth route.  I've had a number of africans together (they actually had a pretty good run).
 
I'm looking for something to put in with the Multipunctatus.  I wouldn't even mind one single larger cichlid, or just larger pretty fish, so long as it didn't try to murder the catfish, or get lonely.  I could also go with many little fish, schools of zebra danios, tetras, and that sort of thing, but I'd prefer one larger fish to lots of little ones.  Also, little fish, would require me to revisit setting up more of a planted environment.   I'm open to any options though.  My daughter is 4 now and she really wants to go with daddy to the fish store and get a little stock.  Thanks!

 

[wrightt3]

What are you're tank measurements?
I would say that your cat isn't very well suited to that tank as they grow quite big (8"+) and prefer groups of at least 3. Personally, I would look into rehoming him and replacing him with a similar looking cat that doesn't get quite as big. A pictus perhaps?
 
As for cichlids, I wouldn't go any larger than 6". A pair of salvini cichlids may work well or perhaps a pair of proteus pikes? Look them up, they are both great fish.

 

[skiltrip]

The tank is the standard 30" x 12" footprint. I've had that Synodontis multipunctatus for close to or right around 10 years. I'd never part with him. I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Are you sure of the syno ID? PlanetCatfish has a number of Ichthyologists active on their forums who can help you ID these tricky fish with a good photo or two, IDing synos has got even harder in recent years, with numerous hybrids.
 
Even 5" suggests stunting to me for a 10 year old multipunctatus, this species should dwarf other Tanganyikans such as petricola and lucipinnis. Could it be a grandiops? That size would be more tie in better and they look similar.

 

[Brahmza]

You could get yourself a pair of German Rams. Electric Blue, German Gold or German blue, don't get very large, max is 3 inches, but they have a huge personality and are very pretty. If you did a pair of them, you could also have a group of honey gouramis and/or some tetras of your choosing. Groups of rasboras work well, too. Otherwise for a larger fish, You could probably get away with a pair of Pearl Gouramis (Max size is 4-5"), or if you wanted cichlids you could pick out a group of smaller Mbuna cichlids, 1 male and 4+ females. Many to pick from. Hope that helps!

 

[skiltrip]

Are you sure of the syno ID? PlanetCatfish has a number of Ichthyologists active on their forums who can help you ID these tricky fish with a good photo or two, IDing synos has got even harder in recent years, with numerous hybrids.
 
Even 5" suggests stunting to me for a 10 year old multipunctatus, this species should dwarf other Tanganyikans such as petricola and lucipinnis. Could it be a grandiops? That size would be more tie in better and they look similar.

 
I know the pictures I've looked at match it 100%.  But could he be a hybrid?  Sure.  I know he's very healthy, active, always has been, eats like a champ.  He's been his current size for a few years now.