Jason Wilson asked: Caring for catfish in the aquarium can be a very rewarding experience. Catfish have special water and environment requirements they need fulfilled to thrive. Catfish come in many different varieties but they are mostly a very peaceful type of fish to care for.
The most common catfish variety in the home aquarium is the Armored Catfish. Catfish have a great reputation for being a very comical and playful fish to own. In this article I will be going through the various things to consider when you are thinking about getting your very own catfish.
Catfish are naturally scavengers in the wild. You should make sure to pick a soft bottom material for your aquarium, as catfish love to dig and root around at the base of the aquarium. You should feed your catfish sinking pellets, as catfish naturally are the bottom feeders in the aquarium.
You should vary the diet for your catfish between flakes, bloodworms, and sinking pellets. Catfish can also eat smaller feeder fish, but it is not recommended to feed them that often with feeder fish. There have been reports of certain catfish being smart enough to perform certain little tricks to get rewarded with treats for their tricks.
Catfish have a reputation for being a relatively goofy and comical fish. This of course will vary depending on the species of catfish you choose. But it is a generally safe to assume that the catfish will be an entertaining addition to the aquarium. Some types of catfish enjoy being schooling fish while others can be quite the loner.
Catfish are great additions to community aquariums as they normally keep to themselves at the bottom of the aquarium. Catfish will mostly get along will all types of fish, but they can run into a bit of conflict with an over territorial cichlid. You should try your best to avoid such confrontations by not including species of over-aggressive cichlids in the aquarium with the catfish.
Some other things to consider before attempting to add a catfish to your aquarium is the fact that they are predators. It is not a good idea to keep fish small enough to fit into the catfishes mouth as it will generally eat them.
Catfish are also nocturnal so it is a good idea to provide a hiding spot large enough for this fish to rest in during the day. Also you will need to feed the catfish at night and adjust the normal feeding schedule of the aquarium. The problems caused by the catfish being nocturnal are easily outweighed by this fishes delightful attitude.
These are just a few of the things to consider when you are purchasing your aquarium catfish. You should always research in depth the types of catfish you are going to be placing in your home aquarium. I hope I have been able to tell you a little about the things you will need to consider when raising catfish.
Just remember to always do your research before you go out and purchase a new catfish for your aquarium. Make sure that you can accommodate your new pets size and needs in your aquarium.
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