Need Inspiration (new Fish)

[nurglespuss]

Hi all, the missuss has decided she really likes catfish, yay!

In our 60l tank we have 5 peppered cories, and 2 baby hoplos at present.

We would like a more 'showy' catfish, that would be comfortable in a tank with bog wood, stained water, live plants and good water flow.

I was intrigued by the Pim-pictus, (after seeing them for £6) but decided this was a no no, due to eventual size and predatory tendancies (also the fact they should be in a group of 3 or so). But we did love the look of that fish. Im tempted by synodontis alberti as a possible idea, but am up for any suggestions you might have that arent plecs (dont want any small plecs, yet, not until the tank is fully established plants wise). Upside cats seem interesting, but I don't think there would be space enough for a shoal of 3 in my tank....

Any ideas (p.s. I would LUUuuurve som C. Pygmaeous or similar, but cand find them anywhere!).

 

[pica_nuttalli]

you really need to get a larger tank first. a 60L (~15g) is really not quite large enough for 2 adult hoplos, much less any of the other catfish you mentioned. however, a 120L (~30g) should be sufficient. get one of those and then have your wife check out the pinned 8" pleco topic

of course, you may not be able to upgrade in which case you should get rid of the hoplos once they hit around 2.5"-3" total length. then perhaps get a nice school of otos? any of the dinky cories such as Pygmaeous or Habrosus would also be a good choice, especially since they like to swim about mid-level. a group of Tatia perugia (honeycomb woodcat) would also be an option, but those can be tough to get ahold of.

--EDIT--
here's a link you may find helpful
http/www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/s...?article_id=170

 

[fishfishfish]

if u upsized to a 30+ gallon than u could get a S europterous.very nice active cat.8 inch max.dont bother other fish unless they bother it than theres a quick chase but nuttin else

 

[dwarfgourami]

I saw a couple of the tatia species in tropicalfishfinder last night, was probably either Wholesale Tropicals in London (they do delivery) or Wildwoods in Enfield.