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Last Login: 11/29/2012 10:11:51 PM
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Hello. Just the other day we have moved our 10 year old, roughly 8 to 11 inch pimadella catfish from his old tank to a larger 75 gallon. (It took a long time to persuade the parents that an upgrade was needed.)
I would like to add a single tiger oscar to the tank but I do not know if it will bother the catfish during the day due to the catfish's nocturnal habits. I plan to buy an oscar at the size of roughly 3" so that the oscar will grow up knowing to give the catfish his space even when the oscar's size exceeds that of the catfish. Will the catfish's old age hinder his ability to hold his own against a much younger adult oscar?
In addition to this, I have noticed that the catfish's breathing is rather irregular during the day. One minute he will be breathing calmly and the next he is breathing very heavily. Is this just due to the fact he is nocturnal?
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Moderator
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Last Login: 5/1/2013 11:04:10 AM
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Pimelodus spp. catfish, like most of the Pimelodidae, prefer somewhat cool conditions, 22-25 C/72-77 F, so one reason your catfish could be breathing heavily is keeping it too warm. Naturally, you should also be open minded to changes in water chemistry, water quality problems, and potential exposure to parasites like whitespot and velvet that attack the gills.
Assuming the tank is maintained at, say, 24 C/75 F, it could be kept with an Oscar of similar size, and the two species would largely ignore one another. But do remember Oscars will try to eat anything they can swallow, so don't risk a small species like Pimelodus pictus with an Oscar. The real risk here is attempted predation, with the Oscar getting the catfish's spines caught in its jaws or throat, resulting in the death of both fish. Bigger species, like Pimelodus ornatus should be fine though.
Cheers, Neale
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Starting Member
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| I just measured him at roughly 8 inches. Is this too small to be kept with oscar?
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Moderator
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He may be 8 inches long, but I doubt he's more than an inch across. If he can fit inside an Oscar's mouth, there's a good chance your Oscar will try. The danger is when the Oscar gets the catfish halfway into its gullet and then chokes on the pectoral fin spines.
I wouldn't risk it.
P. pictus are better with medium-sized cichlids that like slightly cool conditions. Acara are the obvious bets, but Eartheaters work well, too.
Cheers, Neale
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Starting Member
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| Would 4 or 5 silver dollars serve as good tankmates?
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Moderator
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For who? They'd be outstanding companions for P. pictus.
Silver dollars can work with Oscars, assuming they're too large to be viewed as food. But you may find a semi-robust barb species like Spanner Barbs work better.
Cheers, Neale
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Starting Member
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For the catfish.
I don't think our catfish is a pictus by the way. He's too dark and big. I'm thinking he might be P. blochii.
Considering how small silver dollars are sold I think I might keep them in the catfish's old tank until they are too big to fit into his mouth.
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