Raphael talking catfish

Can i put a Raphael talking catfish with a normal Pleco in the same tank?

 

It depends on the size of the tank - Raphaels are generally docile catfish, but they sometimes squabble with other bottom-dwellers, especially at night when they are most active. It helps to have a larger tank, but you can also provide plenty of hiding places to prevent the two bumping into each other too often.

 

Say goodbye to any tetras or small fish. They are fair game with talking cats

 

Kattz has kept a Pleco and a raphael Catfish together, as SalmonAfrica said, they do squabble at night, plus any food for the pleco is normally eaten fast by the Raphael. A large tank is a must. Currently we have both of the above-mentioned fish together in a 250L tank and are feeding the Pleco cucumber and nori mostly in addition to the algae wafers and pleco logs that the Raphael also partakes in.

They both cause more problems with my Shovelnose actually, with the pleco sometimes sucking on his back and the Raphael shoving him out of hiding places, but those are the exceptional cases rather than the rule.

 

Watching my Raphael and my pleco fight was actually quite a spectacle. (They never hurt one another, probably because both are so armor plated.)
I used to be woken at night by growling and bumping noises coming from my tank, and turn the light on to find them going at each other.

It looked like an aerial battle, with their big pectorals looking like airplane wings, and the rest of their fins in a beautiful swirling flurry as they swirled around one another.

They stopped fighting after I rearranged the rocks and they found territories. Now they are fine in a bigger tank , as Nirv mentioned.

 

Thanks all,i have a 950L tank with plenty of rocks,i am sure they will be fine.

 

950L mmm a bit small. (joke). I have 2 of each and I have no problems at all.

 

I also had 2 of each living together in a 500L for about 5 years - no issues as long as they each had their little spots to hide.