20 Catfish That WON'T Bust Your Tank 

While fishing I caught the smallest little bullhead catfish I’ve ever seen, not even bigger then my hand, I took him home because I knew if I threw him back, one of the largemouths was gonna get him, his name is pickle and now he’s beginning to learn hand feeding

Pimelodus pictus are lovely and it's brilliant to see someone recommending they require shoals as their often sold alone. I keep a few Aspredinidae, there is a larger species in that family which is sometimes available Platystacus cotylephorus, I've shown mine in a few videos but I personally wouldn't house them with any cichlids that are likely to pick them up and at night they can be very active. P. cotylephorus are also more hard water and do like a lot of flow. Good on you for using the correct scientific name for Megalechis thorcata, so many people are stuck calling them Hoplosternum but the genus was revised quite a long time ago now. The whole subfamily is great Dianema spp. does get smaller but very manageable although Lepthopolosternum and Callichthys are pretty rare and I think in the UK no Callichthys spp. have been imported for years. Brochis was synonymised with Corydoras in a paper by Britto in 2003, so all Brochis are currently Corydoras. So it's Corydoras multiratiatus rather then Brochis multiradiatus. Brochis will only be resurrected once Corydoras is entirely revised which means the genus as we know it will be separated into around 9 other ones. A lot of people aren't aware that the majority of Synodontis spp. in the trade are captive bred hybrids usually farmed using hormones, some of the rarer species are wild caught and therefore pure. It's a common misconception that a lot of Synodontis spp. are from the Rift Valley lakes, only a handful are and the majority are softer water fish much more similar to Corydoras. There are also a lot of shoaling species within the genus such as S. nigriventris.

Great video. Nice to see you getting back into the groove of things. Took me like 3 tries to finish the video. You kept giving me ideas and I got lost in the internet 😂

I currently have 3 of the catfish that you have listed. I have the eclipse cat, the featherfin, and the four line pictus cat, all great species! One that I would suggest is the Asian bumblebee catfish. I had one max out to 10 inches. Very peaceful catfish 👍

I had a marbled walking catfish that was pretty cool and tough as nails. They're definitely more suitable for larger aquariums with bigger fish that can handle their sudden high bursts of energy swimming around the tank between rests. They get about 12-14" and need a tight cover over the tank or they'll jump out and "go for a walk" around the house since they can survive out of water for quite a long time lol.

I never leave comments but felt I just had to today, ive been binge watching vids trying to find the coolest cats and predator alternatives for weeks and am just coming across yours. They are by far some of the best I have seen and I am so appreciative! Great choices, unique fish NO ONE else has mentioned and you include most of the information I typically have to look up like what families they are in, common and sci names, max sizes. My only suggestion would be to maybe add just a couple more details about each like growth rate which almost no one comments on and some more tidbits like diet or which fish they do or don't do well with aside from their own species. Like, subscribed and recomending your videos to everyone. Like you ive been bit by the bug HARD, went from a 30 gal to a second, then a third now setting up a 150 120 90 and some breeder tanks. Ive been keeping a list of fish I would like to have and your vids are so good and original I have found myself putting almost every fish in them on it haha! Bear in mind I have been watching and reading TONS and never even heard of quite a few of them. You are the man, can't wait to browse the rest of your stuff!

my favorite is the bumblebee cat fish and of course the red tail.

These fish that over grow the aquarium should stop being sold. Anything that get bigger than a foot long should not sold or warn the customer ahead of time. Just put a warning on the tank. I got a black catfish he's about a foot and a half long in a 75 gallon. Soon I'm going to get a 125 4 by 2 tank. That's it. It's unfair that I have to keep the fish like that. Or that I have to be getting a bigger tank to accommodate it. It's hard to move every time you have to move it. I have grown to like my fish as a pet and only want the best for it.

South American Bumblebee catfish (Microglanis iheringi) is awesome too! Max at about 3 inches and are built like a channel catfish.

great list! I've been loving brochis, woodcats, and corys for years, but you made a great point about camouflage catfish not hiding all day, I think I may get a few. Someday I want a tiger lima.... if only I had the space

Nice video!! I'm a huge fan of catfish and bottom feeders ! I love my feather fin catfish , Definitely awsome fish to have in your community tank , thanks for the info 😎

I had a 4 line for 15 years he was my favorite

I have two feather fin catfish they are amazing

Great video and great list, thanks man. I have a dwarf petricola and they are probably my favorite catfish I've seen so far. And since I moved him into a low light tank I see him all the time which is awesome. Definitely would love to have a twig catfish two, so cool!

This video was on point ! I have searched for the Hoplo catfish for decades.. 😍 ..all great choices considering, size, optimal habitat proximity and longevity of each showcased species.. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Coridoras catfish are peaceful catfish! I even kept one in a fish bowl with a guppy and both fish survived! I love coridoras ! 😊

Sun cats just got 2 well cool fish.gulper some my favourite catfish

Great tour of the bigger but keepable catfish family.

Thank you so much for the information. I'm planning on growing my tank ,so this is very helpful.

I really enjoy your videos where you list recommended fish, thanks!

Great content as always bro, I have 2 groups of 6 Synodontis Catfish that reside with my African cichlids, 1 group of 6 is in with my Neolamprologus Cylindricus pair, and the other are in with my pair of Psuedotropheus Saulosi. They are definitely entertaining to watch. They are the cuckoo strain, and neither group is intimidated by either pair of cichlids. Thanks for the vid I always enjoy your content, even 3 years after you posted it.

Great vid thx! I was out of town this week and brought home a spotted Rafael. Because if this vid! Love him! Thanks d!

Currently having Synodontis Ocelifer (6”) with African Cichlids. They are doing gr8

I'm a big fan of Ancistrus (AKA Bristlnose Plecos). They're fairly small and a lot more visible than Clown Plecos, plus they eat algae (although you still need to feed them). …. Have you ever considered getting a large Common or High Fin Pleco for your big South American tank. They grow too large for most tanks, but you should have plenty of room.

i have not watched the video yet but my top picks are synodontis nigrita asian bumblebee catfish bristlenose plecos pygmy corydoras hastatus corydoras spotted raphael catfish hoplo catfish synodontis nigriventris

I have 9 Irediscent Sharks in my 800gal Pond😊

Great video Darius... very informational.

Fun fact: all synodontis are in the upside down catfish family, depending on the personalities some of the bigger ones will do it to, i have a 7 inch eupteris who does it all the time while my other featherfin who is almost 11 inches never goes upside down. i also have a angelicus/featherfin hybrid if anyone wamted to hear me gloat

Poor Peacock, still a gorgeous fish man!

Another great video I have three of the ones you mentioned favorite is the Raphael about 5 inches long and 4 years old looking forward to your next video

Thanks bro...i always thought that the lima grew to the same size as the regular shovel nose, love to learn something new, I know a fair bit on new world cichlids but catfish and rift lake cichlids I'm out my depth with

Where did you get your strapped catfish? I have the doted one but would like little bigger one

Awesome video could you do some more videos but of larger talking catfish like ripsaw catfish know big catfish but it so peaceful with other tank mates

My striped Raphael catfish is really sociable specialy when I feed he comes straight out of his cave even when the lights are on...likes to chill with the pleco aswell.. but I've herd most people say they rarely see them come out.

I was worried this list might b weak but once I saw 4 line number 1, knew it was legit. My top 3- 4 line, Raphaels and featherfin squeaker

i personally would have suggested the synodontis flavitaeniatus over the angelicus, since angelicus can get a bit temperamental and more aggressive from the two. i would also suggest a black lancer OR marble lancer (these are best kept alone)

The bass look incredible.

I’m setting up a catfish tank. Would a Lima shovelnose be fine in a 75 gallon?

Great list I have lots of them on this list, including the 4 line pim. which I found at Walmart! The bumble bee catfish is also a good one.

Just picked up a couple of hoplo cats. I'm liking your American cichlids. As a mbuna cichlid keeper I could easily make switch to Americans after seeing your set up.

a modest size 20 gal. long tank with a variety of corys and brochus species cats along with some schooling pristellas with an abundance of plants and sand with wood and small rocks with hiding areas can be stunning

Loved it brother!!!

Great 👍 vids keep them coming brother

4 line pimelodella and eclipse catfish are cool as hell. I’ve kept them both

another cool one is akysis vespa or the wasp catfish. tiny nano catfish but so cool

Jaguar catfish is my favorite

Love the squeaker ❣

Gorgeous tanks

You should add grass cuter catfish

Do you know a place that currently sells Banjo catfish in Australia wa I'm sorry I'm being to specific

What's that silver fish with the orange tiger stripe fins

Gulper catfish r the best

Finally!!! But now I have to decide what to put in my 36..

Great info thank you!!!

Living artwork has 4 line pictus cats and they only sell in multiples. Pretty expensive for their prices but they have free 1 day shipping because of it. Any recommendations on quantities for the group I'm assuming a minimum of 5 would be good?

Right on man

Great videos

Awesome video

Love catfish

I mean its kinda obvious that a cat fish the size of a quarter is NOT gunna burst my tank

Damn need to get my tiger shovelnose out of my bio orb fish bowl

18 inches for a eclipse cat is huge. It's not normal for them too get that size. They usually won't get bigger than 12 inches, and the smaller ones will be around 10. 18 inches is the exception.

I think an awesome catfish that wasn’t mentioned is a dwarf giraffe catfish, they get about 8-10”. I have one but couldn’t get a good vid, so here’s another vid of them ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zGcCJNm29lg.html

Can any of these be put with goldfish

Corydoras!

I was also hoping to see bumblebee catfish in this list 😘

I like the South American bumblebee catfish but from what I’ve heard you’ve got to be careful because the Asian bumblebee and the jelly cat are sometimes sold as South American bumblebees

Great video. I have two tanks, and one of them has a catfish called the synodontis schall. I got it from my lfs and they had told me that it was donated to them and the lfs didnt know anything about the catfish. I can't find anyone selling it, so idk if it's a rare or uncommon fish. Have you ever encountered this catfish?

You forgot the best one gulper catfish

Bro, I love Nile Tilapia! So much personality! However, Blue tilapia are better looking IMO. I will sub for the nile tilapia! I love the fish. As pet not food!

Great content thanks for sharing just curious but what is that beautiful fishs name dead center at 16:67

I have an eclipse catfish, but she was way too peaceful and sweet to be put with a cichlid. I paired her with a peacock cichlid, but the cichlid became way to aggressive and my eclipse would never try to hold her ground, so she was getting picked on big time. My cichlid would go as far as to purposely hunt down my eclipse and harass her. This cichlid would even pick on the pleco I had in the tank who is also very peaceful and would never hold his ground. My eclipse ended up being to scared to come out of hiding to eat. I didnt have any other tanks to put him in, so I donated my cichlid to a local pet store in order to make my catfish happier and ensure she was healthy. It was one of the hardest decisions Ive made when it comes to my aquarium. I loved my cichlid though, seeing as he would eat from my hand and always go to the edge of the tank when I would come into my room, but I didnt have the means to keep him and I didnt want my pleco and eclipse to suffer from it. When visiting that pet store the next day, just to see how my cichlid was doing, they had put him in a tank with a larger fish that was very territorial and I noticed that my cichlids fins were all ripped up and he was hiding in the upper most corner of the tank. The next day I visited the store again and he wasnt in any of the tanks, and seeing how bad his injuries were, I dont know if he made it. 😭😭😭

Can you keep most of these different catfish in the same aquarium?

Eclipse catfish get over a foot long. Just commenting from seeing the thumbnail.

Wow , yes you were correct, very shaky bye bye .

Asian Bumblebee catfish they get about 6 inch’s

are there any that could fit in a 20 gallon (us) tank

I need help because I’m currently keeping a weld catfish in a pond it’s about 50 pounds now but it’s food is expensive I have to buy fish fillets and whole fish from the store but would catching the fish from a local lake be a solution

Surprised you didn’t mention a pleco or two.

Madtoms native to the us get to 4 in

which catfish are the best for small tanks

What. No love for Hemibagrus wyckii? :-) lol

Lets not forget the bumble bee catfish.

bro i wanna see ur new tank Build it PLSSSS

8:30 platystacus cotylephorus maybe ^^

Do pictus catfish need a soft gravel or i can out them with small stones in acquarium

What about wood cat fish ?

I have a channel catfish. But I know they need a 1000 gallon pond.

The glass catfish is the stupidest fish I’ve ever kept

Video starts @4:35

the african feeather fin killed 3 of my oscars,

interesting!

Lima shovelnose catfish have venomous skin.

a good nano tank catfish is the asian stone catfish

16:00 Fish sneaks its eggs into the mouth of a cichlid intentionally? Thats one crazy fish! I dont trust them! its like those birds that clean the teeth of crocodiles... Im not going to keep an animal that does crazy shit like that in my bedroom. :-O

Thank you for always the great contents but I don't understand the part on ditching african cichlids due passion...I mean is it because you got into bigger fish by time and feel you needed to make space to produce new content? Otherwise think africans are always high satisfaction for any passionate fish keeper generally with high yield rendement in resell its young, at least here in Europe.

The bullhead family are great for 30 gallons and under because they live up to 15 years and at the biggest ever recorded they can get 18 inchs but my biggest is 15 in a 20 gallon have one or two in there until they get 10 inchs and than a 30 gallon will be they best for 2 for every you can get em at a bait shop or catch em in the wild during april when they are babys they will eat everything but great and funny

are bullhead catfish good?

Check out phyllonemus typus of lake tanganyika realy nice catfish!

African glass catfish?