Species recommendation

[gzeiger]

I'm looking for a smallish armored catfish intermediate between a bristlenose pleco and a common. I want to keep it with a pickerel, currently about 6-7" but which will soon enough be 10-12". Since the pickerel is an obligate piscivore and will never be trained off live foods, I want to make sure the catfish gets large enough to not be attacked. However, I don't have a big enough tank for a common pleco, so I'm hoping for one that can be kept over the long run in a tank with a 48x18" footprint (standard 75, but it has a 50 gallon sump).

The following information would be appreciated:
-any species that meets this description.
-where I can find one.
-identification keys.
-anything else you think I should know.

 

[dundadundun]

have you checked the cat-e-log? there's a lot to consider species wise.

this range is a little wide for you size wise but you get the idea... http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sizes.php?min=190&max=450

 

[GEV83]

Yup yup there are lots to choose from. There are pleco's in almost every size from the tiny otto's to the giant Adonis pleco. planetcatfish is the best place to look for one some are rare though so dont try to look for only one species to track and buy unless its rather common. Some rarer species could sometimes be found on Aquabid.com but be aware that shipping is normally high priced $40-50

 

[gzeiger]

I guess I was hoping for something commonly traded. The planetcatfish database isn't very user-friendly for what I was trying to do. Is there a way to search by size instead of just looking through every species?

Do the commonly traded bristlenose plecos actually reach 8 inches in a reasonable period of time, or is that a maximum size?

 

[GEV83]

Thats a maximum size. Ive only seen them offered at that size when there wild caught. They normally get 4-5" in the home aquaria. I also look at whats available on aquabid then look up info and see if they would work for what I need or rather plan to do which is have a pleco tank.