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Catfish

Catfish are interesting fish which liven up the bottom of the aquarium. They get their name from their barbels - the ‘whiskers' by their mouths which help them locate food, and many have eyes that appear cat-like.

Many have sharp fins, which contain a mild venom and require careful handling as they can become stuck in nets and transport bags, if the fish is not handled properly.

They vary in size from the tiny Pygmy Corydoras at 2cm to the giant Wells Catfish that can grow up to 5 metres.  Almost all the different Catfish species are freshwater dwellers, but there are brackish water and saltwater Catfish too.

Many people think that Catfish will ‘clean' an aquarium by eating fish waste from the bottom of the tank, but this is not true. Catfish will take food from the bottom of the aquarium, but they should be fed a catfish food rather than being left to scavenge. They should not be relied upon to keep the tank clean as they need clean water and will often become ill if there's too much waste in the tank, so regular removal of waste from the aquarium using a gravel cleaner is essential.

The most sought-after fish are the South American sucker-mouth Catfish of the family Loricariidae which are often called Plecostomus' or ‘Plecos' These fish can be mixed with most other tropical fish and will perform the beneficial task of eating algae from the aquarium glass and decorations such as rocks or wood, but in their search for algae they can also consume live plants and should be fed algae wafers to ensure they have sufficient food. Many of these sucker-mouths grow more than 30 cm long and will outgrow a tank, but the popular ‘Dwarf Plecos' and Ancistrus or ‘Bristle-nose' catfish stay small.

Another extremely popular type of Catfish are Corydoras. These are small shoaling Catfish from South America, which are very peaceful and ideal for a community aquarium containing smaller fish. When kept in groups they are always active in the aquarium, and will dart up and down the height and length of the tank.

Other popular peaceful Catfish include Upside Down Catfish, which swim upside-down in shoals and are an interesting addition to the middle or top levels of the fish-tank, and the Glass Catfish which are completely transparent.

When purchasing catfish always take advice from your supplier. Many catfish are sold as babies a few centimetres long, but will quickly grow and may out-grow the tank they're in or eat their tankmates.

Disclaimer:  This article is supplied for informative purposes only. Seapets Ltd has done its very best to make sure that the above information is up-to-date and correct, but takes no responsibility for any consequences resulting from the following of this advice. As always, it is recommended that you consult with your local vet regarding any concerns that you may have for your pet.

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