I have found a bottom feeder that is very compatible with these fish. Albino channel cats. I bought two of them, about four inches in length and the cichlids don't seem to notice them. The only thing that worries me is the high ph but the cats seem to be doing really well.
Africans and Bottom Feeders
- Thread starter graysilm
- Start date
Agreed, channel cats will get MASSIVE. And its not only that and the pH you should worry about... aren't channel cats coldwater? Synodontis species from lake Tangynika (multipunctatus and petricola) fare really well with both lake tang and malawi species, and both are from high pH environments.
-Diana
-Diana
I've added this link before but it is so pertinent when people speak of channels as aquarium fish.
http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/stories/channelcat.htm
http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/stories/channelcat.htm
I have tons of bottom fish w/ my cichlids never a problem I know channel cats will work but I like red tails and shovel noses much better!
Flowerhorn none of the catfish you listed will work with africans, they all get way to big. I've seen pictures of redtails big enough to eat my dog, a border collie. There just not suitable tankmates. Not to mention they have different water parameters. Im sure others will agree with this
It does not matter if they get massive. I like them in my tank, and they do fine with my tempature. Channel cats live in the rivers and lakes around me and the water gets much warmer than my aquarium in the summer. I have a pond to release these fish in once they outgrow the tank. For now, they are perfect and they are doing a great job keeping the bottom clean.
