Whether you’re new to fish keeping or want to add members to an established aquarium, catfish are always an excellent choice. There are hundreds of species to choose from – each unique in looks and behavior. Most catfish thrive in freshwater and are usually bottom dwellers, meaning they help keep a tank clean. They’re easy to care for and excellent for beginners, so without further ado, let’s explore five of the best catfish for freshwater aquariums.
1. Bristlenose Pleco Are Hardy Fish
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 5 inches
Lifespan: 5 years
Water Temperature: 72 – 82 Fahrenheit
Ideal pH: 6 – 8
Minimum Tank Size: 30-Gallon
Kicking off our list of the best catfish for freshwater aquariums is the distinctive bristlenose pleco. This popular fish is a fascinating addition to any aquarium and will devote most of its time to tank cleaning. Adding tank cleaners such as plecos to an aquarium is a fantastic way to fix a cloudy fish tank.
Bushynose catfish are hardy and adaptable, making them perfect for first-time fish owners. They are bottom feeders and love to forage on algae, so you must provide lots of surfaces, such as driftwood, for algae to grow. You can supplement their diet with a sinking food or the occasional high protein treat like bloodworms or blanched veggies. Bristlenose catfish are nocturnal, so feed them after dark. They cohabit with most species, but even though they are passive – you shouldn’t home them with small fish. Plecotomus may eat small fish that can fit in its mouth.
2. Cory Catfish Are Peaceful Tank Cleaners
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 1 – 3 inches
Lifespan: 5 years
Water Temperature: 72 – 82 Fahrenheit
Ideal pH: 6.5 – 7.8
Tank Size: 20-Gallon
Cory catfish are incredibly common; you can find them in most freshwater tanks. They are a favorite among fish enthusiasts because of their interesting behavior and unique colors. There are over 160 types of corys, which come in varying shapes, colors, and sizes, including the bandit, panda, bronze, julii, emerald, skunk, and pepper cory.
Corydoras are popular because they are peaceful, hardy, and one of the best freshwater tank cleaners, making them perfect for beginners. They will scavenge from the tank substrate and don’t eat much due to their size. However, you may need to supplement their diet with sinking flakes or pellets if there isn’t enough algae in the tank.
Cory catfish love shuffling around at the bottom of the tank, and you must provide lots of spaces to hide in. You should also keep a small group of at least 6 because they are a schooling species.
3. Glass Catfish Have Translucent Bodies
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 3 inches
Lifespan: 5 years
Water Temperature: 70 – 80 Fahrenheit
Ideal pH: 6 – 8
Minimum Tank Size: 30-Gallon
The glass catfish is the talking point of any aquarium. Sometimes called ghost catfish or phantom catfish, these pretty little creatures don’t have skin pigmentation, meaning they have transparent bodies. You can see all their insides, including their organs and skeleton – and they are fascinating to watch. Some websites report that they act like a prism and create rainbow colors if they catch the sunlight. Phantom catfish aren’t as hardy as other species, so they’re not ideal for beginners.
Glass catfish are different from other breeds because they spend their time in the middle of the tank. You must feed them flakes or pellets and offer high-protein treats occasionally. They are incredibly active and dart around the whole aquarium, and you need at least six – so they can school. Glass catfish appreciate lots of live aquarium plants to hide in – and cohabit with similar-sized fish. Don’t keep them with large or aggressive fish.
4. Pictus Catfish Are an Adaptable Species
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 4 – 6 inches
Lifespan: 8 years
Water Temperature: 70 – 80 Fahrenheit
Ideal pH: 7 – 8
Minimum Tank Size: 55-Gallon
The pictus catfish is the next entry on our list. It’s immediately identifiable by its monochrome markings and long whiskers. Pictus has a slender, grey body with black spots and will bring elegance to any aquarium. The pictus catfish is a hardy, adaptable, low-maintenance fish, making it a favorite for experienced and beginner aquarium enthusiasts.
The pictus is incredibly active and needs lots of space to swim around, and you must provide them with plenty of plants and driftwood. They need a balanced plant/protein diet, and you should feed them sinking food after dark because they are nocturnal. Ideally, you should have at least three Pictus and keep them with similar-sized fish – they are peaceful but may eat smaller species. Be careful when you handle them with a net. Their long bristles can get caught in the gaps – use a plastic container to catch them.
5. Upside-down Catfish Are Fascinating Surface Dwellers
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 2 – 5 inches
Lifespan: up to 5 years
Water Temperature: 72 – 79 Fahrenheit
Ideal pH: 6 – 7.5
Minimum Tank Size: 30-gallon
The upside-down catfish is the most unique member of the catfish family. It can effortlessly swim on its back with its belly pointing to the surface – hence the name. They do this because, in the wild, they forage algae from the underside of driftwood and plants. They are an eye-catching feature of any freshwater aquarium and provide hours of entertainment. These distinctive creatures have large eyes, a forked tail, and an unusually dark underside to help camouflage them during their upside-down adventures.
The upside-down catfish is a surface feeder. You must provide lots of large-leafed plants and driftwood for them to forage on – and provide mental stimulation for your pet fish. They also benefit from regular protein in their diet and eat sinking or floating food. Upside-down catfish are peaceful but are not ideal for tanks with small inhabitants. You must keep them with similar-sized fish because they may eat smaller tankmates.
