Catfish are very popular in freshwater aquariums. They are very different and unique in their own way compared with other fish regarding their care and health. These catfish are so called because they have "barbells" which are a distinctive and prominent feature which resembles whiskers of a cat. Catfish also have no fish scales which are present in most other fishes. If the fish is in danger or irritated in any way, they can emit a stinging protein from a powerful, hollow ray which is found on their fins.
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| Spotted raphael catfish (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Most aquariums house the more popular catfish known as the armoured catfish which are the smaller sized catfish and look great in any aquarium. When setting up your tank, it is the best time to decide on whether you are going to purchase catfish, as you will need to buy the correct type of gravel or sand for your tank. You will also need to know the pH level of water required to house your catfish. A soft bottom material in your tank is the preferred option of the armoured catfish which like to forage for food within the substrate. Catfish like to hide from the light as they feel more secure so have some hiding places such as caves for your fish.
Caring for catfish is not much different to the care of other fish, although you should try to purchase food that settles to the bottom of the aquarium as they feed on the bottom. The water in the middle should be a temperature in the 70's and it should be neutral pH level. This set up is usually the same for the water balance of other fish that you will house as well, so it is not a major concern when choosing to house catfish.
Catfish are an amusing addition to your aquarium as they have funny and comical looks, but this also depends on the species that you buy. Their behaviour can vary, though they do look rather nice to have in your tank. Catfish can come in groups and schools which get on with each other quite well, but you can also buy loners which prefer not to have neighbours. When you have a communal tank full of different species of fish, the catfish is a good choice to have as they occupy the bottom of the tank, unlike many of the other occupants. They usually mix well with other types of fish, so you don't need to worry about them. You watch out for the larger Cichlids which are very territorial in trying to claim the whole tank.
Look at the other size of the other fish in your existing when choosing to add a catfish. Catfish, in general, get on with other fish, but they will also eat smaller fish. As they are nocturnal, catfish do not need to be feed until later on in the day or night. Adjust your schedule according to when you can feed your fish and to what types of fish you have in your aquarium. Armoured Catfish come in many different species so you can have an array of comical looking fish. The aquarium should be kept clean and healthy at all times so that all your fish stay healthy and you will get years of pleasure as you learn more about caring for them.
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