gouramiguy88

ok so I didnt know which type of catfish I should put this under so I just chose Pictus..

Hi all, Im looking for a catfish that can deal with high levels of pH, because Im looking For one to live with my mbunas.

Also I dont want a HUGE one. 70 gallon tank =)


thanks all

anyone have any ideas?

Tony G.

patience
soemone with experience will help you shortly

Shawnie

hey gouramiguy .no need for back to back posts....it just takes up space if someone has info they will definitely comment ....imo there is no catfish that can tolerate the higher ph and the aggressiveness....if someone has some suggestions, im sure they will see the thread pictus will not deal well with the higher ph as others have suggested ....

mathas

What pH level are you talking about? Your aquarium info only mentions one tank, and that has neither mbuna in the stocklist nor a "high" pH.

gouramiguy88

7.8-8.2


Its a New tank.

Just setting up

Shawnie

great ph for your africans but most of what I can find and read, the cats like more soft water conditions..although they can survive in higher ph's, they dont thrive in them...again maybe another member has more info but I cant find any..why do you want a catfish anyhow? just curious

gouramiguy88

Theres this one site.

www.livefishdirect.com

It has a bunch of cats that they say will live well with mbuna, but I dont know if its true.


I want a bottom feeder. thats all

Shawnie

well maybe you can find something that interests you on that site...I havent found any good info myself for the cats or their ph specifics on that site.......mbuna will eat whatever falls to the bottom..they are piglets...

gouramiguy88

Yeah thats why that site is soo frustrating.

mathas

PlanetCatfish has a (relatively) new search feature that allows you to search by a variety of parameters, including pH. Click here for their list of catfish in that pH range, ordered by size.

Some of the larger-tank cookie cutter setups at cichlid-forum suggest Synodontis multipunctatus for mbuna tanks:

http://cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...?species_id=95

Shawnie

so where did you see this then?


ty !!!!!!!

gouramiguy88

Yeah thanks alot for the site buddy


on the other site, if you read the articles about some of the cats it says how well thjey do with mbuna

thanks so much for that site mathas.

def going in my favorites

I like the Hoplo catfish alot.

It seems it would work well. More then one most likely.

I just cant find any place that sells them =(

Toddnbecka

There are Synodontis catfish from Lake Tanganykia that live in higher pH than that. S. multipunctatus and S. petricola/lucipinnis are the most commonly available. Both are social species, best kept in groups if you ever want to see them.
An Asian upside-down catfish would work as a single specimen; they have plenty of attitude of their own, and mix well with cichlids.

gouramiguy88

Should I keep Asian upside down by Itself or with two or three more?

They only get 3-4 inches..

Just wondering

mathas

I don't know if they need to be kept in groups or not, but be very careful what you do buy, if you're looking to avoid large fish.

Synodontis nigriventris stays in the 3-4" range, but that's not the "asian upside-down catfish": http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/co...?article_id=73

The "asian upside-down catfish" is Mystus leucophasis, gets close to a foot long, and can be rather mean: http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/co...article_id=115

gouramiguy88

Yes i checked.

I can tell the difference. but they have it listed as asian upside down... but its actualy Synodontis nigriventris. =)

Toddnbecka

Asian UD cats are best kept alone (though fine w/other species) or in a large group to spread the conspecific aggression around enough that no one fish gets killed. If you try keeping 2-4 you'll end up with 1 sooner or later, usually sooner IME.

gouramiguy88

Ok thanks for the info guys

You helped me out alot =0