Catfish

Catfish are often thought as the cleaner fish for a community aquarium. It is true that sucker mouth catfish, bristlenose catfish and many other species are perfect for this purpose. Their temperament allows them to be kept with a range of smaller fishes without fear of any predation occurring. The predominantly vegetarian and opportunistic diets of these catfish varieties is the key to their usefulness as an algae eating and scavenging unit in the fish tank.

This is not the case for all catfish however. Many of these lead a predatory lifestyle that makes them suitable for inclusion with larger fish species only.

The following catfish may need to be avoided in tanks with smaller fish. Carnivores are family members of Pimelodidae, some Bagridae and Ictaluridae. These are all rather large growing fish that require larger aquariums. Omnivores which will take some smaller fish include the family members of Mochokidae, Callichthyidae, and Schilbeidae. Further research on each individual catfish species will reveal it's suitability in a community aquarium.

One of the defining features of a catfish are its barbells. It is these protrusions around the mouth area that give the catfish a feline quality. Far from being just decorative, the barbels help the catfish feel around the substrate of the aquarium and taste and food that might be found. In some species this constant rubbing on the substrate can cause abrasions on the barbells. If this is the case a finer material should be used such as white sand.