laritheloud Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 So I'm shopping around for catfish options for my 55 gallon tank. It will house platies and pearl (or moonlight) gouramis, primarily. Possibly keyhole cichlids. I want a catfish species that's a bit off the beaten track and with some interesting personality. I think my corydoras elegans are super adorable but I'm ready to try something else! I've heard striped and/or spotted raphaels are really reclusive, but they look really neat (and might eat some Platy fry, I'm aware). Upside-Down cats are really adorable to me. If I get a shoal of them, am I likely to see them out often? Can't wait to hear your favorites! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasLC Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 I have Corydoras brevirostris , which I see all the time rummaging around. I like them a lot and will get more once I move to the larger tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Featherfin Squeaker Synodintis Eupterus for sure! But for fish I’ve actually kept it would have to be Panda Corydoras 😀 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/3/2021 at 9:54 PM, Patrick_G said: Featherfin Squeaker Synodintis Eupterus for sure! But for fish I’ve actually kept it would have to be Panda Corydoras 😀 Every day I look back at Pooka and admire that beauty ❤️ 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 I like my 3 albino hoplo catfish. I like them because they don't hide. They swim around where I can see them and they have a lot of character. Like corydoras, they also dash to the top for a gulp of air every now and then, as you can see from the pictures. They also stand on their heads, digging for food for an hour after feeding time. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLineAquaticsSC Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Having never personally kept a catfish besides oto’s or plecos, I like the marbled Hoplo’s for a tank that size 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeg Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 I like spotted Raphaels catfish. My dad had one it lasted well over a decade. If there's any fish that would survive the apocalypse it would be them. Yes they hide a lot, but they're so cool when they come out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 My bristlenose act like puppy dogs including sitting in their food bowls begging at dinner time. They even come to the tongs to eat the repashy as I am putting it in. They are showboats and never reclusive. Very active during the day. All my previous plecos were the same however I understand the popular internet description is they are mostly nocturnal. None of mine ever have been. I am not an expert just wanted to share my observational experiences of these adorable puppies with you because they are such highlights in my tanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Green phantom pleco are one of my favourite 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 My favorites are definetly the Pygmy Cory because of how cute they are. 😍 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott P. Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/4/2021 at 6:31 AM, Colu said: Green phantom pleco are one of my favourite In general I don't like rare or hard to find fish, but I love that one. Very cool. My favorite simple easy to find is the Panda Cory. I love the Cory cats of just about any size or color. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/4/2021 at 3:31 AM, Colu said: Green phantom pleco are one of my favourite That’s an impressive fish! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/4/2021 at 6:31 AM, Colu said: Green phantom pleco are one of my favourite He's a BEAUTY 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/4/2021 at 7:11 AM, Taco Playz said: My favorites are definetly the Pygmy Cory because of how cute they are. 😍 They are SOOOOO adorable! But I worry they'll be a bit too small for what I'm looking for in the 55. Also, we'd love to try some different catfish. Cories are sweet as heck but we don't discriminate, all catfishes are wonderful. I'm 95% sure we're getting a smallish pleco for the tank, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Okay for small pleco's I would suggest the bristlenose. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 They aren't the smallest pleco but I think they would look really good in a 55 gallon tank. Maybe a pair? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Matt Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 I def love having corydoras (paleatus) they are fun to watch and have handled my beginner mistakes. They are getting a good size, visible in larger tanks, but I need more so they are comfortable (only have 3 atm). They are hilarious to watch forage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchwayAquatics Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 I recently picked up 10 Otos for my 120 gallon and they've been really fun to watch! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameCzar Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Technically a carp, but I always loved the look of the Red-Tailed Shark. They used to be SUPER popular when I was a kid. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/4/2021 at 4:20 PM, GameCzar said: Technically a carp, but I always loved the look of the Red-Tailed Shark. They used to be SUPER popular when I was a kid. Yup, in the 80s I had one in my 10 gal along with an Angel and Tetras and Cories and a Molly and… 😳 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Orange Laser Cory’s and Green Laser Cory’s 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Sorry to sound like a broken record, but more Corydoras catfish! They work with pretty much any peaceful community fish, even the smallest ones! They are really cute and there are so many different species to choose from, so you will have a much different experience with one species than you have with another. Also have plenty of personality! Bronze and peppered cories: More peppered cories: Pygmy cories, they hover midwater, and are super tiny. A great new one to try for a new experience: Watch them school! (older video, sorry) Of course, Otocinclus catfish are not bad options too: As other members mentioned above, Synodontis catfish (like @H.K.Luterman's Pooka) and fancy plecos are great ideas for that tank too. I hope this helps! I'm looking forward to seeing how the tank turns out! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 On 8/8/2021 at 10:31 AM, CorydorasEthan said: Sorry to sound like a broken record, but more Corydoras catfish! They work with pretty much any peaceful community fish, even the smallest ones! They are really cute and there are so many different species to choose from, so you will have a much different experience with one species than you have with another. Also have plenty of personality! Bronze and peppered cories: More peppered cories: Pygmy cories, they hover midwater, and are super tiny. A great new one to try for a new experience: Watch them school! (older video, sorry) Of course, Otocinclus catfish are not bad options too: As other members mentioned above, Synodontis catfish (like @H.K.Luterman's Pooka) and fancy plecos are great ideas for that tank too. I hope this helps! I'm looking forward to seeing how the tank turns out! We're SO excited to get started! We're thinking of getting 1 pleco (we're open to different species since there's so many, but will do our research before we settle on a purchase) plus a group of catfish. We absolutely ADORE the Synodontis Eupterus but I'm slightly concerned that maybe we should wait for an even bigger community tank for one. We are heavily leaning towards upside-down cats (synodontis nigriventus i think?) or wood cats for something different, but I'm not discounting trying another corydora species. We have Corydoras Elegans right now, and I have to say--they're super adorable little creatures but they're staying quite small for a cory (I've seen some full-grown sterbais at the store before). I don't know why I expected them to grow more than they are. Maybe they will still grow broader very slowly over time, but they're quite petite corycats. I also wonder if it'd be a much different experience if I got a larger school of 8 to 12 instead of only 6 with a bigger tank! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 On 8/8/2021 at 10:31 AM, CorydorasEthan said: Sorry to sound like a broken record, but more Corydoras catfish! They work with pretty much any peaceful community fish, even the smallest ones! They are really cute and there are so many different species to choose from, so you will have a much different experience with one species than you have with another. Also have plenty of personality! Bronze and peppered cories: More peppered cories: Pygmy cories, they hover midwater, and are super tiny. A great new one to try for a new experience: Watch them school! (older video, sorry) Of course, Otocinclus catfish are not bad options too: As other members mentioned above, Synodontis catfish (like @H.K.Luterman's Pooka) and fancy plecos are great ideas for that tank too. I hope this helps! I'm looking forward to seeing how the tank turns out! Do you know if this is their full size? So petite!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 (edited) On 8/8/2021 at 9:36 AM, laritheloud said: We're SO excited to get started! We're thinking of getting 1 pleco (we're open to different species since there's so many, but will do our research before we settle on a purchase) plus a group of catfish. We absolutely ADORE the Synodontis Eupterus but I'm slightly concerned that maybe we should wait for an even bigger community tank for one. We are heavily leaning towards upside-down cats (synodontis nigriventus i think?) or wood cats for something different, but I'm not discounting trying another corydora species. Sounds great! I've always wanted upside down catfish, but there is simply not enough space in my community aquarium. It is already pretty crowded with cories and guppies! Anyways, yeah I think this is a great idea. If you wanted to, you could probably do smaller species along with the upside down Synodontis or the wood cats. I would recommend maybe pandas, metaes, adolfois, or habrosus maybe. Pygmaeus and hastatus might work as well, just moniter them closely if you do pick them. On 8/8/2021 at 9:36 AM, laritheloud said: We have Corydoras Elegans right now, and I have to say--they're super adorable little creatures but they're staying quite small for a cory (I've seen some full-grown sterbais at the store before). I don't know why I expected them to grow more than they are. Maybe they will still grow broader very slowly over time, but they're quite petite corycats. I also wonder if it'd be a much different experience if I got a larger school of 8 to 12 instead of only 6 with a bigger tank! On 8/8/2021 at 9:47 AM, laritheloud said: Do you know if this is their full size? So petite!!! I've sought after Corydoras elegans for the longest of time, but still haven't found any! They are my favorite Corydoras in terms of patterning. The reason yours are smaller is because Corydoras elegans are actually smaller than most cories. I think 2 inches max? Maybe smaller. I hope this helps! Edited August 8, 2021 by CorydorasEthan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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