which catfish has the best chance of survival?

**krystalsohun** · 07-31-2009, 05:25 PM

hello everyone. I have an oscar currently housed with a jd and gt in a 40 gallon ( i know waaaaay tooo small) they are about an inch and a half long. so they will all be in different tanks the oscar is going into a 75 gallon. now i would like to get a catfish as a cleaner for the oscar tank. I dont want a pleco because this oscar is already showing that he will be very very aggressive. which type of catfish would be the most efficent cleaner but yet still be some what aggressive. P.s. I do know there isnt a guaranteed tankmate for an oscar.

**Wild Turkey** · 07-31-2009, 05:31 PM

If you get a bristlenose pleco thats mature, that will teach the goldfish not to mess with bottom feeders

But if the oscar is that aggressive already, he may need his own tank/more space before adding more fish. They generally get more aggressive as they get larger

**krystalsohun** · 07-31-2009, 05:45 PM

i wasnt going to get the cleaner until he went into his own tank. the 40 gallon is already way overstocked. so you think a bristlenose would be a good match. i guess my real question is what is the most aggressive cleaner for a freshwater that would fit in a 75 with a oscar. and yeah he's (Could be she cant tell to young)the most agressive oscar i've ever seen. he's onl an inch a a half max and he attacks my hand and arm when i'm cleaning the tank. he'll just slam right into me and try to bite until i GENTLY flicked him for doing it and now he fakes me out. He'll swim right for me at full speed and at the last second veer off. he also chases everything in the tank. he even chases the bubbles. the gt and dempsey eat when the food gets to the bottom and the oscar eats as soon as it hits the water so feeding time is not to bad.

**Wild Turkey** · 07-31-2009, 06:00 PM

The bn isnt aggressive but it has barbs that will stick the oscar when he goes in too close. The barbs are in its face, thats why its called "bristle" or "bushy" nose

On the other hand, the oscar does seem unusually aggressive, so his own tank or at least a tank with very few other fish may be the best option.

Like other plecos he needs wood in his diet and plenty of hiding spaces

They destroy algae

**krystalsohun** · 07-31-2009, 06:12 PM

okay so the bristle nose is my best option. he'll be in a 75 gallon with only the oscar. do you suggest maybe feeding the oscar extra not over feeding but extra feeding to help with the aggression? i"ve heard also that lowering the temp will put them into a "light hibernation" do you think that will work? right now my temp is 79-80 F.

**krystalsohun** · 07-31-2009, 06:14 PM

also i dint know about the wood how do you feed them wood?

**Wild Turkey** · 07-31-2009, 06:18 PM

Lowering the temp to around 77 wont hurt and may help a bit. Fish are more active the warmer the water up to the point that they dont tolerate the heat and become stressed of course.

Just make a few caves out of some pieces of wood in the tank. The pleco will take care of the rest

**rich311k** · 07-31-2009, 06:18 PM

Just put some driftwood in. They will handle the rest.

**Crispy** · 07-31-2009, 06:44 PM

pimelodella blochii (four-line catfish) is a great catfish that won't put up with any Os bullying it. I've kept them with large cichlids for years without any problems. Perfect for a 75 gallon.

**krystalsohun** · 07-31-2009, 08:55 PM

thanks guys for all the help. now the driftwood that u r speaking of is not the kind that is for decoration at the lfs right. can i use regular wood that's dead from out side?