Family Reference
Catfish
Siluriformes — corydoras, plecostomus, otocinclus, and the bottom-dwellers that do most of the substrate work in a planted tank.
The Complete Catfish Guide: Corydoras, Plecos & Synodontis
Field reference to Siluriformes in aquaria: corydoras, plecos, otocinclus, synodontis, glass catfish, pictus catfish, and practical husbandry.
Read the guide →Species & Profiles
All articles in this section
Why Is My Pleco Not Eating Algae?
Why your pleco has stopped — or never started — eating algae: species mismatch, adult diet shift, overfeeding, and which loricariids actually control algae long-term.
Why Is My Cory Catfish Gasping at the Surface?
Corydoras do breathe air through the hindgut, so some surfacing is normal. Here is how to tell a healthy gulp from a genuine oxygen or water-quality emergency.
Why Is My Otocinclus Not Eating?
Otocinclus refusing food is almost always arrival starvation or a tank too young to carry biofilm. Here is how to diagnose which, and what can still be done.
Corydoras vs Otocinclus for Cleanup
Corydoras and otocinclus are both sold as cleanup crew but clean different things. Corydoras scavenge substrate detritus and leftover food; otocinclus eat soft algae and biofilm from surfaces. This comparison covers diet, sourcing, tank requirements, and which to choose.
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus spp.): Practical Pleco Care
Field profile of Ancistrus bristlenose plecos: identification, adult size, diet, breeding, caves, planted-tank use, and common mistakes.
Rubber-Lip Pleco (Chaetostoma spp.): Cool Flow Care
Field profile of Chaetostoma rubber-lip plecos: cool-water flow needs, identification, diet, oxygen, tankmates, and common mislabelling.
Synodontis petricola: Tanganyikan Catfish Care
Field profile of Synodontis petricola: Tanganyikan water chemistry, cichlid-tank use, identification, diet, breeding, and group behaviour.
Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda): Soft-Water Care
Field profile of Corydoras panda: panda corydoras identification, cooler soft-water care, shoaling behaviour, breeding triggers, and substrate risks.
Otocinclus (Otocinclus vittatus/cocama): Algae Specialist Care
Field profile of Otocinclus vittatus, O. cocama, and related otos: mature-tank care, algae diet, acclimation, group size, and losses.
Featherfin Synodontis (Synodontis eupterus): Care Guide
Field profile of Synodontis eupterus: featherfin synodontis adult size, dorsal fin, tankmates, diet, behaviour, and long-term housing.
Whiptail Catfish (Rineloricaria/Farlowella): Care Guide
Field profile of Rineloricaria and Farlowella whiptail catfish: twig-like identification, oxygen, feeding, tankmates, breeding, and fragility.
Sterbai Corydoras (Corydoras sterbai): Warm-Water Care
Field profile of Corydoras sterbai: warm-water tolerance, spotted pattern, orange pectoral fins, sand care, breeding, and community use.
Royal Pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus): Wood-Eater Care
Field profile of Panaque nigrolineatus: royal pleco identification, wood-eating biology, tank size, filtration, diet, and long-term care.
Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus): Nano Shoal Care
Field profile of Corydoras pygmaeus: true dwarf size, mid-water shoaling, soft-water husbandry, feeding, breeding, and nano-tank limits.
Clown Pleco (Panaqolus maccus): Small Wood-Eater Care
Field profile of Panaqolus maccus: clown pleco size, wood diet, caves, planted tanks, breeding, and why it differs from algae plecos.
Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus pictus): Active Predator Care
Field profile of Pimelodus pictus: pictus catfish identification, long barbels, activity, tank size, predation risk, diet, and tankmates.
Common Pleco (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus): Adult Size
Field profile of Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus: common pleco identification, adult size shock, tank volume, diet, waste output, and alternatives.
Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus): Care & Breeding
Field profile of Corydoras aeneus: bronze corydoras identification, group size, sand substrate, water parameters, diet, spawning, and common failures.
Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus): Schooling Care
Field profile of Kryptopterus vitreolus: transparent glass catfish identification, soft-water schooling care, diet, tankmates, and stress signs.
Julii Corydoras (Corydoras julii): True Julii vs Trilineatus
Field profile of Corydoras julii and the common trilineatus confusion: identification, husbandry, water parameters, breeding, and buying cautions.