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I have 6 Platy, 2 Pictus cats, and 2 Sun cats(also know as Golden Red Tailed Catfish, and Bullseye Catfish. the cats hang out under a root wad, the platys are mostly toward the bottom of the tank most of the time so I would like to add a small school of fish that will hang out around the top of the tank. Any suggestion? My tank is 46 gallons and all the fish listed above are still young and small at the present time.

Thanks Jim S.

Last edited by muddydogs at 03-Jan-2006 22:02

I know that, before you get any more fish, you need to do something about those catfish. Red tailed cats get far too large for 46 gallons.

Golden Red Tails are better known as sun cats, which incidentally, still get far too large for a 46 gallon.

When you decide on what to get remember once the Pictus get to a decent size (which is very quickly) they love any thing that is small enough to fit into their mouth.

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Keith

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A school of Congo Tetras would be good in there. They are colorful and active, and they are too large to become catfish food (considering you rehouse the Sun Cats once they reach about six or seven inches).

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I like the Congo idea as well. Some others to look at would be any of the Rainbowfish family. They would all do nice in that tank.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Thanks for the replys

As I am new to this fish stuff I asked the pet shop workers about the Sun Cat when I got them. They of coure said that the Sun Cat would be all right in my tank and not get that big. Well now that I have joined this forum and started to do more research I find that I have a couple potential monsters on my hands.

One other question is. How long under normal conditions will it take for these cats to get say 6" and 10+"? I guess what I am looking for is a general time line as to when they will probably outgrow the 46 gallon tank. I am fairly sure this will not be my only tank and I am sure that my next tank will be even bigger but as you all now this is not a cheap hobbie so it will be a year or so before I get a differnt tank, probably something in the 100 gallon range.

Growth can vary in each species and can be sometimes controlled a bit by the amount of food given, temperature of the tank water, etc. In my experience catfish (especially the larger species) tend to be gluttons and are some of the faster growing fish you can have.

If you think you may not eventually have room for these larger species it may be a good time now to see if the LFS will take them back in trade for a smaller type, especially since it seems they gave you erroneous advice as to their needs.

Jim

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