Dmitriyd/Shutterstock
The tiger shovelnose catfish Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum gets too large for almost any tank.
Otocinclus sp.
Common plecos, usually Pterygoplichthys
pardalis, also have their place assisting with
algae control, but they should be reserved
for much larger aquaria because they can
grow well past 15 inches! They’ll also
gradually eat your aquarium driftwood
and will certainly enjoy most live plants
that may be in your aquarium.
Outside of these examples, almost
all catfish will clean the bottom of the
aquarium, eating food bits left over from
your regular feedings or gnawing on algae
film. A note of caution here: All catfishes
added to an aquarium for the purpose of
helping to keep the tank clean will need
regular feeding of a food appropriate for
your particular fish besides scavenged
leftovers. Many catfishes starve because the
aquarist assumes that leftovers are enough
for the bottom feeders. And contrary to
some people’s beliefs, no catfish will eat
the wastes of other fish!
Amazing Diversity
In such a short space, it’s difficult to
describe the vast diversity of catfishes
that are excellent choices for your home
aquarium. Husbandry requirements have
clearly been largely omitted here, but
hopefully this will serve as a starting point
for some research on catfish species you
might enjoy in your tank.
Tropical Fish Hobbyist www.tfhmagazine.com
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