Chilid Compatibility

[greatwhitenorth]

Have an established chilid tank mainly with yellow labs, peacocks and haps. Any ideas for adding a compatible catfish or 2?

 

[MartinS]

If the tank is a rift lake setup, i.e. coral gravel/sand, tufa rock etc, then the best suggestion would be a group (size depending on tank szie) of Synodontis mutlipunctatus or Synodontis lucipinnis. Don't buy a single specimen otherwiseyou will never see it - I'd suggest at least 4-6, but again, this is dependant on the tank size. You'll need to ensure there are lots of places for them to weave in and out of and escape from any chasing by the cichlids, but the two species listed are well suited to this environment and, in nature, will use particular species of mouth brooding cichlid to rear their fry.
HTH
Martin

 

[greatwhitenorth]

If the tank is a rift lake setup, i.e. coral gravel/sand, tufa rock etc, then the best suggestion would be a group (size depending on tank szie) of Synodontis mutlipunctatus or Synodontis lucipinnis. Don't buy a single specimen otherwiseyou will never see it - I'd suggest at least 4-6, but again, this is dependant on the tank size. You'll need to ensure there are lots of places for them to weave in and out of and escape from any chasing by the cichlids, but the two species listed are well suited to this environment and, in nature, will use particular species of mouth brooding cichlid to rear their fry.
HTH
Martin

 

[greatwhitenorth]

Thanks MartinS... appreciate the reply and advise. Do have a rift lake setup so sounds good. Synodontis lucipinnis has always caught my eye; great looking fish and active. They mature at about 10cm? 4 sounds good!

 

[KingKuba]

How big is the tank?

All syno's should be fine. Never had a problem with any of them with any cichlids. For many years.

Striped Raphael would be ok too.

 

[MartinS]

How big is the tank?

All syno's should be fine. Never had a problem with any of them with any cichlids. For many years.

Striped Raphael would be ok too.

Sorry, have to strongly disagree - the water conditions for african lake cichlids is very different from african riverine (most other synos) and the rivers of south america (striped raphael). African lakes are hard, alkaline waters (ph of ~8) and the fish are well suited to mix with the cichlids kept in the lakes, but the other synos and the raphae come from acidic to neutral water with a ph of 6-7.

The african lake synos (as suggested) are, IMO, the only option for the OPs tank.

Martin