False Cuckoo Catfish?

Does anyone have any experience with cuckoo catfish? I visited Petco yesterday in hopes of finding a couple otos to help with an algae problem in my 20L. No luck there, but the sales girl told me a false cuckoo catfish was very similar and would do the trick. I was so taken by how beautiful this little 1” fish was, that I allowed myself to believe the sales person without doing my own research. Having now taken the time to read up, I’m seeing they grow to 4-6” and can be semi aggressive. I’m supposing this guy’s not the best match for my community tank, but just wanted to check other’s experience before returning him. There’s not much online.

 

Synodontis catfish may eat small fish, the cuckoo is normally are living with African cichlids so being semi aggressive is normal for them. 20gals won’t be suitable for this catfish.

I can tell you now it will not be helping with the algae problem. I’d take it back and remember this lesson, don’t trust the employees to know what they’re talking about. They should be trained better when being in charge of such exotic species.

 

Thank you! Very helpful context. I’ll be sure to do my own research next time - I should have known something was off when the petco associate first tried to convince me the cuckoo was a green Cory. Now I just have to figure out a way to catch the little guy I have a fairly well planted tank and he’s quick!

 

I bred them years ago.
To catch that fish: Do a waterchange and lower the waterline down to 1/3. That helps a lot.
But I fear (from own experience), you will have to get everything out. Mine even dug themselves into the sand at times, when I had to move them.

 

I bred them years ago.
To catch that fish: Do a waterchange and lower the waterline down to 1/3. That helps a lot.
But I fear (from own experience), you will have to get everything out. Mine even dug themselves into the sand at times, when I had to move them.

Sounds like a plan! I’ll take this opportunity to manually clean the algae too.