Explore all catfish in our database. Browse detailed care guides, compatibility information, and species data to find the perfect fish for your aquarium.
Ancistrus cirrhosus
A highly popular, hardy, and relatively small suckermouth catfish. Excellent algae eaters that stay much smaller than Common Plecos, making them suitable for standard aquariums. They require dietary wood (driftwood) to aid in digestion and plenty of hiding caves.
Corydoras aeneus
A highly popular, peaceful schooling catfish known for its armor-like scales (scutes) and active bottom-feeding behavior. They are essential clean-up crew members but require a dedicated sinking diet (not just leftovers). Sand substrate is strictly required to prevent erosion and infection of their sensitive barbels. They are 'gut breathers' and will occasionally dart to the surface to gulp atmospheric air.
Panaqolus maccus
A popular, distinctly striped dwarf pleco native to Venezuela. It is a strictly wood-eating species (xylivore); real driftwood is mandatory for its survival and digestion. Because of this diet, it produces massive amounts of sawdust-like waste, requiring excellent mechanical filtration despite its small size. They are shy and predominantly nocturnal.
Hypostomus plecostomus
A heavily armored, nocturnal catfish famous for eating algae. However, they grow incredibly large, produce massive amounts of waste, and frequently outgrow standard aquariums. They require driftwood in their diet for digestion. As they age, they may become territorial or develop a taste for the slime coat of slow-moving, flat-bodied tank mates.
Synodontis multipunctatus
A striking African catfish famous for its 'cuckoo' breeding strategy, where it sneaks its eggs into the clutches of mouthbrooding cichlids. They are highly active, social, and thrive in hard, alkaline water typical of Lake Tanganyika. They must be kept in groups to diffuse conspecific aggression and are best kept with Rift Lake cichlids.
Synodontis eupterus
A striking, large African catfish known for its spectacular, fan-like dorsal fin and its ability to produce a 'squeaking' sound when distressed or asserting dominance. While generally peaceful with similarly sized tank mates, it is highly territorial over its chosen cave and will predate on small fish at night.
Kryptopterus vitreolus
A highly unique, completely transparent catfish from Thailand. Unlike most catfish, they are mid-water swimmers that require being kept in schools to feel secure. They are incredibly peaceful and easily outcompeted for food. They require stable water parameters and dim lighting or shaded areas provided by floating plants.
Baryancistrus xanthellus
A stunning, highly sought-after Loricariid native to the fast-flowing, highly oxygenated waters of the Rio Xingu in Brazil. They feature a dark body covered in bright yellow spots with thick yellow seams on their dorsal and caudal fins. They require high temperatures, high water flow, and a diet rich in biofilm, aufwuchs, and fresh vegetables. They are notoriously territorial towards other bottom-dwellers.
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
The Iridescent Shark is not a true shark, but a highly active, schooling catfish native to Southeast Asia. While frequently sold as tiny juveniles, they are notorious 'tank busters' that grow to massive sizes. They are extremely skittish and easily spooked, often injuring themselves by crashing into aquarium glass. They are best suited for heated indoor ponds or massive custom aquariums.
Corydoras trilineatus
Often sold in the aquarium trade as the 'Julii Cory', the False Julii (Corydoras trilineatus) is a peaceful, highly social bottom-dweller. It features a distinct reticulated (maze-like) pattern on its head and a prominent horizontal stripe down its body. As an obligate schooling fish, it must be kept in groups to thrive and feel secure. A soft sand substrate is absolutely critical to prevent the erosion of their sensitive foraging barbels.
Otocinclus vittatus
A small, peaceful, and highly popular algae-eating catfish native to South America. They are obligate shoaling fish that thrive in mature, heavily planted aquariums with steady water parameters and a constant supply of soft green algae and biofilm. They are extremely sensitive to uncycled or pristine/new tanks without natural food sources.
Corydoras panda
A highly popular, peaceful schooling catfish easily identified by its black eye patches and spotted dorsal/tail fins, resembling a giant panda. Native to the cooler waters of the Ucayali river system in Peru, they require slightly lower temperatures than many standard tropical community fish. They are strict bottom-dwellers that sift through the substrate for food.
Corydoras paleatus
One of the most popular and hardy Corydoras species. Notably, they prefer cooler water temperatures than most tropical fish. They are peaceful, bottom-dwelling schooling fish that use their sensitive barbels to sift through the substrate for food. They must be kept in groups to thrive.
Pimelodus pictus
An extremely active, striking silver catfish with black spots and incredibly long barbels, native to South America. While peaceful toward similarly sized tank mates, they are highly effective nocturnal predators that will easily swallow small fish (like Neon Tetras) whole. They are scaleless and possess sharp pectoral spines that can easily become entangled in aquarium nets.
Corydoras pygmaeus
One of the smallest Corydoras species, the Pygmy Cory is a true nano fish. Unlike most of their bottom-dwelling cousins, Pygmy Corys are famous for hovering and schooling in the mid-water area. They are extremely peaceful but very shy, requiring a proper school to feel secure. A soft sand substrate is absolutely required to protect their delicate barbels.
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
A massive, fast-growing predatory catfish from the Amazon basin. Famous for its voracious appetite, bulldozer-like behavior, and distinct red caudal fin. Due to its enormous adult size (often exceeding 4 feet), it is strictly a 'monster fish' that requires a heated indoor pond or a colossal custom aquarium. It is highly predatory and will swallow absolutely any tank mate that can fit into its cavernous mouth.
Panaque nigrolineatus
A stunning, large-growing pleco famous for its red eyes, grey/green coloration, and dark horizontal stripes. Belonging to the genus Panaque, they are xylophagous (obligate wood-eaters); real driftwood in the aquarium is absolutely essential for their digestion and survival. They produce extreme amounts of sawdust-like waste and require heavy, high-flow filtration.
Corydoras sterbai
A highly popular and peaceful schooling catfish known for its striking white-on-black spotted pattern and bright orange pectoral fins. Uniquely among Corydoras, they thrive in higher temperatures, making them excellent bottom-dwelling companions for warm-water species like Discus. They are obligate shoalers and must be kept on fine sand to prevent the erosion and infection of their delicate barbels.
Platydoras armatulus
A highly robust, armored catfish native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Famous for their ability to produce audible squeaking or grunting sounds when distressed or defending territory. They are nocturnal scavengers that spend most of the day hiding in driftwood or caves. Note: Their rigid pectoral spines can easily become tangled in standard aquarium nets.
Farlowella acus
The Twig Catfish is an extremely elongated, master-of-camouflage suckermouth catfish from South America. True to its name, it mimics a dead twig perfectly, spending most of its time motionless on branches or plant leaves. It is a specialized aufwuchs and algae grazer that requires a mature tank, high oxygenation, and plenty of driftwood. They are completely peaceful but highly sensitive to fluctuating water parameters.
Rineloricaria sp.
A highly cryptic, peaceful, and extremely slender catfish that mimics a twig or dead leaf. They are excellent scavengers and biofilm grazers that require smooth sand and driftwood to thrive. They are completely non-aggressive, lack the heavy armor of larger plecos, and do well in peaceful community setups.
Hypancistrus zebra
A highly sought-after, strikingly beautiful black-and-white striped pleco endemic to the fast-flowing Xingu River in Brazil. Unlike common plecostomus, it is primarily carnivorous (a micropredator) and will not clean algae. They are notoriously shy, slow-growing, and require highly oxygenated, warm water with vigorous flow to thrive.
