best predatory catfish for 55?

[MasterJW]

hello, I'm new to keeping predatory catfish and would like to know what species would do best in a 55 gallon. Any advice would be helpful, thanks.

[talldutchie]

Are you going to make it a species only tank?

[genocidex]

Tbh you dont have many choices.... Because the 55 is very narrow compared to the volume. Striped raph cat is semi preditorial but youll likely never she it... All i see is the tail of mine every now and then

[talldutchie]

Drifting off on a tangent... hows the availability of rhinogobius in the states? It's a micro predator and lives on the bottom. A 55 gallon could be made in a lovely habitat for some of those.

[MasterJW]

yeh I could do a species only tank.

[MasterJW]

would bumble bee cats work?

[steeler58]

would bumble bee cats work?
That was one I was going to suggest :thumbup:.

[MasterJW]

Would the bumble bee be compatible with any other fish?

[genocidex]

Hatchets would stay away from the cats.... Zebras might work too because they are super fast...

[MasterJW]

Thanks, would dwarf cichlids like bolivian rams or maybe gouramis.

[steeler58]

As long as they can't swallow the fish your okay. Read this thread my one of our members: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=109122

[mommy1]

Drifting off on a tangent... hows the availability of rhinogobius in the states?.
I don't know about other areas, but in mine they aren't very common, at least not in the shops I frequent. I do see a couple species occasionally. They are more readily available online though.

[genocidex]

dwarf cichlids would be a great choice in a 55g. also theres killi fish... flag fish are native to your area so you can get a very attractive native tank (mixing your thread ideas here)

[talldutchie]

I don't know about other areas, but in mine they aren't very common, at least not in the shops I frequent. I do see a couple species occasionally. They are more readily available online though.

IMO this would be an unusual and intriguing choice. I love to watch them hunt frozen bloodworm in the shops.

Anyway... when you guys say bumblebee catfish which one do you mean? According to wikipedia there's several:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee_catfish

[MasterJW]

how many bumble bee cats could live comfortably in the 55 gallon if I did do the species only tank.

[talldutchie]

I suspect that would depend on which species you are thinking about.

[MasterJW]

The smaller south American ones.

[talldutchie]

ahh...Microglanis iheringi Do make sure your dealer has these correctly identified and that you do not end up with juvenile Pseudopimelodus.

hmm... a 55 gallon is 48" x 13" x 21" ? that's 120 cm wide.

I think if I had my mind set on these here's what I'd do:

Get pool filter sand. Get some well rounded river pebbles in various sizes. Scatter in a way that looks natural but allows for nooks, crannies and hiding places. Even go as far as to silicone a few together to offer shelter and minimize the risk of rock slides. Get some wood that looks like tree roots, something really tall so that it reaches the edge of the water. Manzanita would be suitable since it releases relatively little tannins and often comes in attractive shapes.

Decorate with some anubias nanae if you want. Get some amazonian frogbit for shade. This is not a species that likes bright light. Spice up the top layer with Astyanax bimaculatus if you can get them or maybe bloodfin tetra. Run relatively cool, say 75f. Position the spraybar over the water to get some air in. ideally you do want some a moderate flow but certainly no whirlpool. Start with 6 of these cats and see how that works out. 8 should be possible as well.

[MasterJW]

Wow, that sounds amazing. Great advice, if I do that I'll be sure to post pics when the tank is done.

[MasterJW]

What about 4 bumble bee cats, 4 porthole cats and 10 tiger barbs? Or would that be over stocked?

[snappinfool]

Lover of the Bumble Bee cat, they have a great personality and are fun to watch. You will not be disappointed if you decide to go with a few of these guys!

[genocidex]

Imo tiger barbs are demon fish that require a 55 all to themselves. Smaller schools like 10 would cause bullying if you dont get a good 1male for every 3 female ratio... That would work out to 2 males and 8 females... The females are hard to sex when in the store...

[MasterJW]

Oh, what about panda barbs.

[MasterJW]

Ok, heres the revised list 4 bumble bee cats, 4 porthole cats, 1 banjo cat, 6 bolivian rams.

[MasterJW]

Also would yellow zig zag eels or tire track eels be able to fit into that plan.

[mommy1]

Imo tiger barbs are demon fish that require a 55 all to themselves.

This is a bit extreme. They are some of the more aggressive fish, but if stocked properly they aren't so bad. 6 bolivian rams seems a bit much for the bottom of a 55, especially when they will be sharing it with all those catfish. I would leave the rams and the eels out and get the cats and the barbs. Mixing the color morphs of the tiger barbs would look neat in a heavily planted 55g.

[MasterJW]

Oh, thanks, will post pics when done.