Central American catfish advice needed

[tokyo]

Hey all,

Could anyone recommend a rough and tumble catfish that would be ok in a 75g with a parachromis motaguense?

I'm trying to put together a Honduran biotope, but I'm not going to be that strict about it. So anything from central America will be fine. Although if I could find a species from Honduras that would be even better. Thanks!

[Silurus]

Your best bet would be something like

Rhamdia quelen

, which is about the toughest Central American cat I know.

[tokyo]

Thanks for the suggestion. Any idea where I could look to find one?

[Bas Pels]

Hey all,

Could anyone recommend a rough and tumble catfish that would be ok in a 75g with a parachromis motaguense?

As this 75 G is, roughly 300 liter, and the fish - assuming it's male - will grow to over 30 cm (a foot) of length, the tank wil lbe far too small

These fish can, and need to, swim fast, and therefore the rule of thumb for cafish - 4L * 2l* 2L (which, for L = 30 cm would result in 4'* 2'* 2'= 412 l (or ~103 gallons) ) does not apply. The fishes wil lneed at leas 2 times the length - that is an 8 feet tank

[Viktor Jarikov]

Bas, it is unclear to me which fish you are referring to, R. quelen or this parachromis.

[MatsP]

I think Bas is referring to Parachromis - which is a fairly predatory cichlid.

--
Mats

[Bas Pels]

Sorry, As mats quessed, I referred to Parachromis motaguensae

Quite predatoty,m but more importantly, very agressive

[tokyo]

Are you sure your not thinking of managuense, which can easily reach 16"? Motaguense don't usually get over 12". A single can easily be kept in a 75g tank(48" x 19" x 22"H). Even a pair could be kept in a 75g if you get lucky with aggression, as the females generally don't reach over 10".

Also, this is not a standard 75g. The dimensions are 48" x 24" x 17"H.

[Bas Pels]

I have had 3 male P motaguensae in the last 3 years. They all reached 30 cm = 12 inches and grew larger. 2 died, of old age, the last however, is still alive.