Pepper corydora sifting through substrate

11 Aquarium Catfish Species Perfect for Your Home Tank

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Key Takaways

  • There are numerous catfish species appropriate for aquariums, every with distinctive traits just like the Bandit Cory’s distinctive “bandit” masks and the Upside-Down Catfish’s uncommon swimming habits.
  • Many catfish are nocturnal and have particular care necessities equivalent to water high quality, tank dimension, and dietary wants.
  • Some species, just like the Bristlenose Catfish, are pure algae cleaners, whereas others have particular appearances which will require exact distinguishing, just like the Julii Cory and Three Stripe Cory.

There’s all kinds of catfish to think about if you wish to add to your aquarium. Catfish are named for his or her barbels, or “whiskers,” which they use to find meals within the substrate. Many favor dwelling on the backside of the tank, whereas some catfish swim like typical fish. Curiously, one species swims the wrong way up close to the water’s floor.

Uncover eleven widespread catfish species that can assist you discover the right addition to your fish tank.

Tip

Many species have protecting barbs on their dorsal and pectoral fins, so watch out when dealing with or netting.

  • Bandit Cory

    Bandit corydora resting on aquarium substrate

    Named for his or her distinctive facial “bandit” masks, the Bandit Cory is a small, peaceable catfish species. Like different Corydoras species, these fish do greatest when stored in small teams. The Bandit Cory can also be a nocturnal feeder, so do not anticipate to see them a lot throughout the day.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Bandit catfish, bandit cory, masked cory, meta river catfish, rio meta cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras metae

    ADULT SIZE: 2 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 years

  • Bristlenose Catfish

    Bristlenose Pleco on a rock

    Also called the Bristlenose Pleco, this catfish species stays comparatively small and won’t outgrow its aquarium like different plecostomuses. These catfishes are distinguished by the a number of bristles, or whiskers, surrounding the top, as an alternative of simply the mouth. The bristles are bigger within the males. Though they may feed on algae and detritus, it’s best to feed them a sinking pelleted meals to make sure a well-rounded weight loss program. This species additionally is available in an albino variation, which has darker yellow spots on it gentle yellow physique.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Bristlenose pleco, bristlenose catfish, bushynose catfish, bushy nostril

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ancistrus cirrhosus

    ADULT SIZE: 5 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5-10 years

  • Bronze Cory

    Two bronze corydoras resting on the substrate

    The Bronze Cory is distinguished by its total dusky metallic brown to gray to inexperienced coloration. Given this shade sample, these Corydoras are nice at hiding—one thing that drastically advantages a nocturnal fish. As with different cory species, hold them in a gaggle and feed sinking meals that drops to the substrate. That is the species that’s commercially accessible as an all-white fish with purple eyes, offered because the Albino Corydoras. Whereas white is probably the most generally accessible Corydoras catfish, they can be discovered within the inexperienced and albino shade varieties.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Bronze cory, inexperienced cory, albino cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras aeneus

    ADULT SIZE: 2.5 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 to 10 years

  • Julii Cory

    Julii Cory resting on rocky substrate

    The Julii Cory is nearly an identical in look to the Three Stripe Cory (#7). The important thing distinction is the consistency of the strains on the fish’s head. The Three Stripe Cory could have a completely related sample, whereas the Julii Cory could have an interrupted sample made up of dots. They are often very tough to distinguish between when the fish are small.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Julii catfish, julii cory, leopard cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras julii, Synonym Corydoras leopardus

    ADULT SIZE: 2.5 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 years

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  • Panda Cory

    Panda corydora resting on rock in front of plants

    A typical Corydoras within the aquarium commerce is the Panda Cory. Named for its distinctive white physique with black markings, it very intently resembles the Bandit Cory. Water high quality and upkeep is essential to good cory well being, and make sure to give them numerous locations to cover throughout the day. They’re additionally nocturnal, so you could not see them a lot till it will get darkish.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Panda catfish, panda cory, panda corydoras

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras panda

    ADULT SIZE: 2 inches (5 cm)

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 years

  • Pepper Cory

    Pepper Cory using barbels to sense food in substrate

    The Pepper Cory is distinguished by its mottled black or darkish brown physique look. Though the underside, pelvic, and pectoral fins are white to translucent, the dorsal floor of the fish takes on a shadowed look—excellent for hiding out from predators throughout the day. This species is usually confused with each the Three Stripe and Julii Cory.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Blue leopard corydoras, peppered catfish, peppered cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras paleatus

    ADULT SIZE: 2 to three inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 years

  • Pictus Catfish

    Two swimming pictus catfish

    The Pictus Catfish is among the most typical aquarium catfish species. Though they begin very small when offered on the fish retailer, these catfish can develop up to some toes lengthy within the wild. The Pictus Catfish is a nocturnal fish, so do not anticipate a lot exercise throughout the day. Feeding ought to happen later within the day because the fish get up for his or her night actions.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAME: Pictus catfish, Pictus cat

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pimelodus pictus

    ADULT SIZE: 5 to six inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 4 to eight years

  • Skunk Cory

    Skunk corydora resting on white rocky substrate

    The Skunk Cory is called for its daring black band working alongside the dorsal ridge of the fish. It may be confused with the Adolfi Corydoras (Corydoras aldolfoi), which has an identical black band however is interrupted by a vivid orange patch on the top. Like different Corydoras species, the Skunk Cory does greatest in small teams and in a tank with numerous locations to cover, given their nocturnal nature.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Skunk cory, arched cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras arcuatus

    ADULT SIZE: 2 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 years

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  • Suckermouth (Plecostomus) Catfish

    Suckermouth catfish resting on rocky substrate

    Extra generally referred to as the Plecostomus, these catfish are recognized to make use of their mouths as anchor factors, hanging on crops or the aspect of the aquarium glass. Their specialised mouths can rasp surfaces, cleansing them of algae and different particles. Some Plecos can get very massive, so make sure to appropriately determine your species earlier than including them to your tank. The widespread pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) can usually develop to 18 inches or extra, however rubber-lipped plecos (Chaetostoma milesi) and bristlenose plecos (Ancistrus cirrhosus) will keep at 4-5 inches lengthy.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Suckermouth Catfish, Plecostomos, Pleco

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypostomus plecostomus

    ADULT SIZE: 3 inches to 2 toes

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 to fifteen years

  • Three Stripe Cory

    Three Stripe Corydora swimming in aquarium

    The Three Stripe Cory is adorned by a maze of darkish black to brown strains throughout its translucent, iridescent physique. Also called the Leopard Cory, this species follows the care guidelines for a lot of Corydoras, together with nocturnal feeding, strict water high quality necessities, and choice to being stored in a small college of 3-5 Corys.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: False julii cory, leopard catfish, leopard cory, three-line catfish, three-lined cory, three-stripe cory, trilineatus cory

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corydoras trilineatus

    ADULT SIZE: 2.5 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 years

  • Upside-Down Catfish

    Upside-down catfish swimming right-side-up with tetras in planted tank

    Do not be alarmed; these catfish are presupposed to be the wrong way up! Named for his or her extremely distinctive physique positioning and swimming habits, the Upside-Down Catfish is cleverly constructed for floor feeding—the precise reverse of most different catfish species. They’re able to swimming right-side-up and can exhibit regular bottom-feeding habits when meals is current on the substrate. Nobody is aware of fairly how this habits originated, since their swim bladder and inside ear constructions resemble different catfish.

    Species Overview

    COMMON NAMES: Upside-down catfish, blotched upside-down catfish

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Synodontis nigriventris

    ADULT SIZE: 4 inches

    LIFE EXPECTANCY: 5 years

Three issues to remember when including new fish to your tank:

  • Correctly quarantine all new additions
  • Make certain the tank is massive sufficient and that each one fish have sufficient room 
  • Ensure all fish are fed an applicable weight loss program for his or her species

As with every fish species, do your analysis earlier than including any fish to a brand new or established aquarium.

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