Sucking Catfish 4cm

Sucking Catfish
 

The sucking catfish is one of the first clean-up crew species that aquarists will be exposed to. These fish are usually the size of a toothpick in aquarium stores and the way they latch onto the glass and scrub it clean is super adorable to watch. These however are actually not catfished at all and are a member of the loach family. The sucking loach as they should rightfully be called is an incredibly hardy, easy to care for, cold water tolerant species that sounds like it would be great for any aquarium however as these fish mature, they can often be a burden if they are not in the right type of aquarium.

Sucking catfish reach a maximum size of around 12 cm and get surprisingly thick. They also tend to become quite aggressive once they pass the 7-8 cm mark and in smaller beginner aquariums which is what these fish are often kept in, they can be incredibly territorial. They do however look almost identical to a siamese algae eater and these fish have their own, unique and wild look. The body colour of the sucking catfish tends to be this clay-coloured brown with light highlights in the form of vertical stripes down the body. They also have a jet-black line that travels from head to tail and you will often see these fish laying completely flat on hardscape or the aquarium glass. Whilst as juveniles these fish are great algae eaters when they mature, they tend to prefer a meatier diet and their care could be compared to that of a slightly more aggressive bristle nose pleco. 

They are however incredibly easy to care for and can even be kept in outdoor ponds all year round as a clean-up crew member with no issues. Breeding these fish isn’t that common in the home aquarium and aquarists do not actively try to breed these fish either. The spawning triggers are still not properly documented and these fish may need multiple triggers in the wild to breed which is why many dedicated attempts in captivity have not been made. These fish are naturally found in the waterways of Southeast Asia.  

Tank Recommendations for your Sucking Catfish

Sucking catfish max out at around 12 cm and due to their territorial behaviour, an aquarium with a minimum volume of 100 liters will be required. They are not concerned with the choice of substrate but will really appreciate an abundance of hardscapes in the aquarium. Giving them a range of driftwood, pipes, and caves may diffuse any aggression due to the visual breaks. Having a well-planted aquarium can accentuate this as well. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

As long as these fish aren’t kept in small systems, they are quite tolerable of most tank mates. Due to their adaptability in water parameters and temperature, they can be kept with both tropical and cold-water fish. 

Usually Compatible

Corydoras, bristlenose plecos, geophagus, goldfish, and other preferably larger or trouble-free tank mates.

Sometime Compatible

When these fish are fully grown it is best to try to avoid keeping them with slow-moving nano fish such as neon tetras. Discus, angelfish, severum, and other large-bodied and slow-moving fish have been reported to have their slime coat being eaten by sucking catfish at night. 

Rarely Compatible 

Shrimp and large aggressive species such as African cichlids, Oscars, and Jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Sucking Catfish

Though sucking catfish are sold to beginners for their algae-eating behavior this is not their only diet. Without added supplementation, in their diet, they will begin to starve and show higher levels of aggression which is why they should also be fed a varied diet of pellets, flakes, and frozen and insect-based live foods. Because of their primarily bottom-dwelling mentality a slow sinking food is best fed to them as this also allows other water column tank mates to eat as well.