Fish for a "carnivorous tank"

C

Cksnffr

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Aug 5, 2013
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Someone I consider an expert suggested that I put my two large bumblebee cats in a "carnivorous tank" setup, as they are not working out well in a tank of small peaceful fish. (Sigh.) When he told me that, I nodded approvingly. Now I realize that I have no idea what the term means.

So, what's a carnivorous tank (assuming it's not just a tank with fish-eating fish), and what kind of mates would go well with a couple of hungry large bumblebee jelly cats in a 200g or so tank?

I've got my eye on some pictus cats, tinfoil barbs, a fire eel ... none of which might go in a "carnivorous tank" for all I know. :)


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A carnivourous tank would be fish that eat other fish to stay alive not because the fish fits in its mouth but because its food for them in nature and thats how they survive. Id say a shoal of red tailed barracudas MIGHT work because they stay in the upper level of the tank as the cats stay lower. Or possibly a hujeta gar.
Edit: sorry i totally bypassed your question. Try to get larger fish that will take up the upper levels of the tank so that way the cats might not be so tempted to go chasing them.

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I'd say it's more about finding fish large enough that your carnivores can't eat them. They'd be the 'show piece' and everything else would be a dither or potential food. Large silver dollars, for example, aren't predators, but would be big enough as adults to be safe.
 
Cichlids tank but aggressive one which get big

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I knew this wasn't too simple a question. :)

It seems to me like there are subtle differences between predatory, aggressive, and carnivorous. True?

(You could have an herbivorous fish that's an aggressive fin-nipper, a carnivorous fish that's not predatory, etc.)


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The answer to the question can go on forever, but your situation is very simple :) just pick big fish that have a reputation of leaving catfish alone. You can try some SA cichlids, knives, large cyprinoid schoolers, or pacus. Plenty of other stuff works, too. Enjoy the adventure
 
All carnivorous fish are predatory by nature...whether they include your other fish in their diet is a different story. Size/feeding habits/temperament all come into play.

It certainly isn't a simple question. But like Glabe said there's no reason to complicate the situation. Larger fish that stay out of the way of the catfish are going to work just fine...you have the room so you have options.
 
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