which catfish has the best chance of survival?

**rich311k** · 07-31-2009, 09:07 PM

It is driftwood just like at the store.

**Northernguy** · 07-31-2009, 09:09 PM

Take a walk on a beach or near a river.You can always find nice peices there.
I have a hi fin pleco in with my Oscars.It defends itself from anything the oscars try.They also get large, a bristle nose doesn't.I think the pimelodella blochii (four-line catfish) that Crispy suggested would be a great as they get to 10".http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=653

**toddnbecka** · 08-01-2009, 03:34 AM

Bristlenose pleco's are great for eating algae, but I don't know if I'd trust an Oscar not to eat one when it grew large enough (which it will sooner or later.)
An Asian upside-down catfish would be a great choice to hang with an Oscar. They have their own attitude, but aren't overly aggressive other than among their own species. They look like a Synodontis, but they're black all over with a few gold or silver "flakes" on their sides. Just provide some sort of suitable cover (cave) for the catfish to stake out as its own territory.

**krystalsohun** · 08-01-2009, 08:46 PM

so i have a question do they clean the bottom being as they are upside down? I know stupid question but i really dont know. and also i have looked for the pictures of them and i see two different types a black one and a pretty red and white one. which one should work ( please the pretty red and white one lol)

**toddnbecka** · 08-01-2009, 08:53 PM

I've never seen a red and white upside down catfish. They will indeed clean the bottom, they just aren't as bottom-oriented as other catfish like Corydoras.

**Northernguy** · 08-03-2009, 04:06 AM

I have a sailfin pleco that has been living quite happily with two oscars.He also has a taste for algae!

**toddnbecka** · 08-03-2009, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

I have a sailfin pleco that has been living quite happily with two oscars.He also has a taste for algae!

Sailfins grow a bit too large for most tanks. I'd love to have one myself, but my biggest tanks are 75's. One day I'll get around to setting up an 8' show tank, but not in this house.

**krystalsohun** · 08-03-2009, 12:45 PM

this is the red one i was talking about

**Northernguy** · 08-03-2009, 01:35 PM

That is too small to live with an oscar.It only gets to 4".An oscar will swallow that whole when it gets to a foot long.It took a year for my Oscars to get that big.

**krystalsohun** · 08-03-2009, 03:32 PM

on that site it says 4 inches however i read on another that they cant get to 10 inches if properly taken care of. I wonder which is right? Kinda like lfs telling you an oscar will only get 8 inches lol